Wickenburg area Bradshaw Mnts 08-04-07
Well here we go for another Excellent Adventure. What are we thinking? It's going to be over 100 in the desert and we are going on a 110 mile all day ride. I guess it is better than not riding at all. This day there will be 2 groups starting at the same staging area. We met at McDonalds in
Wickenburg at 6:00 AM so we could go together to the start of our
Adventure. Luke's group was 8 or nine riders ( 1 brave female, Kathy) and our group had 7 total.
As we were leaving the staging area Zane went over to a tree to relieve himself and was startled by a large rattlesnake in that same tree. The snake was a bit cranky so Zane picked another spot. So off we went down to the Hassayampa river to play in the water in Box Canyon. The morning was nice and cool. Especially as we were splashing in the water. As we came out of the river Mark and Zane put on a show in the sand. Zane won the contest for the best air but his Suzuki does weigh about 200 lbs less than Mark's Polaris.
After a short play time we hit the trail. I was next to last in our line and waited for Mike at a Y. When he could see me I took off on the smooth open trail. As I cane around a corner I saw the rest of the group stopped on the trail. I was feeling good so I put the quad into a slide, it was sliding very easy on the sand until it came to the downward hump. All of a sudden the sidewalls grabbed and the pig slammed me to the ground. As it was rolling I did a barrel roll and came up running. She tried to land on me but I was to quick for the old girl thank goodness. I was barley off the ground when Zane and Terrance were there to roll it back on it's wheels. Also to quick for Roy. He did not get a photo. I hope you don't get another chance Roy. The quad was not hurt at all but my thumb was killing me. Someone noticed I was missing a screw on the side by my pull start so of course they put some duck tape and a band aid on it for a fix. After catching my breath I tried to continue but knew I would never make an all day rough ride. Terrance to the rescue. He said how about if we rotate the thumb throttle around so you could pull it with your fingers. We tried it and it worked. It wasn't great because I couldn't hand on with my right hand but I could use the throttle.
We met up with Luke's group on one of the side loops to the top of Death Rock where we took a break to take in the views. The next leg of the trip was on a not so well traveled trail. We even came on a few riders that were trying to get out. Apparently they had some trouble with their Rhino wanna bees. I'm sure the got some desert pin striping along the way. We were headed to the creek for some shade and lunch when we came upon an old truck. Roy of course had to get in and try to get some extra riding time. No luck this time. Mark was checking out the back of the truck when he started flailing his arms around wildly. He was getting stung by Wasps that had made a home of the rear tail light. Ball bearing was yelling run don't stand there and try to fight them off. He did get away but they got him 4 or 5 times. Shortly after this we stopped by under a tree by the creek for lunch. It was cooler riding along the creek although the black mud did not smell very good.
After lunch we took a side road to a meadow. There were lots of old beds and stuff near a corral. We found out later from the rancher that his mother used to live in a house here but the house fell down some time ago. The Rancher also told Roy about some other roads in the area that we missed. I would bet Roy cataloged them already and is planning another assault. The Rancher and his wife were very friendly. If you are in the area stop and say hi. They have a ton of history to share. They said a lot of quad riders get lost and come to them out of gas and lost. They sell them some gas and give directions. They do not mind riders going through as long as they respect their property. He did say some people go into their barn which is about 2 miles and help themselves which really torques them off as it should.
Back on the road heading towards S near Crown King. Mike is having trouble with his Polaris again. You know those Polaris machines, it's not if they are going to break but when. Next we headed to the Grave site for Isaac Bradshaw. It was a bit hot here so we didn't stay long. After this stop we come to a spot in a wash where Roy says he has a short cut route planned. We head up the wash where we have to boulder crawl until we come to a near vertical trail up the side of the wash. At the top this is another dead end. Now we have to go back through the boulders and find the original route. At this point we are tired and low on fuel. Roy is feeling good because he knows we are at least another hour or hour and a half from the trucks. As we are within about 30 miles we are watching the sun go down and the lightning start off in the distance.
Finally we hit the wash at dusk. Roy almost runs over a rattlesnake that is very grumpy and strikes at his quad. Right after that a javelina is on my left next to a 40 foot straight up bank. He panics seeing the quads and sprints straight up the cliff wall. That was amazing to watch. Now it is dark and we have to watch out for 2 barbed wire fences across the wash and navigate through the water in Box Canyon. That was a very interesting run in the dark.
Well we all made it back to the trucks although Mark missed the turn and ball bearing had to go find him in the dark. It was another successful adventure from dark to dark. Another 119 miles added to the total for the day.
Read MoreWickenburg at 6:00 AM so we could go together to the start of our
Adventure. Luke's group was 8 or nine riders ( 1 brave female, Kathy) and our group had 7 total.
As we were leaving the staging area Zane went over to a tree to relieve himself and was startled by a large rattlesnake in that same tree. The snake was a bit cranky so Zane picked another spot. So off we went down to the Hassayampa river to play in the water in Box Canyon. The morning was nice and cool. Especially as we were splashing in the water. As we came out of the river Mark and Zane put on a show in the sand. Zane won the contest for the best air but his Suzuki does weigh about 200 lbs less than Mark's Polaris.
After a short play time we hit the trail. I was next to last in our line and waited for Mike at a Y. When he could see me I took off on the smooth open trail. As I cane around a corner I saw the rest of the group stopped on the trail. I was feeling good so I put the quad into a slide, it was sliding very easy on the sand until it came to the downward hump. All of a sudden the sidewalls grabbed and the pig slammed me to the ground. As it was rolling I did a barrel roll and came up running. She tried to land on me but I was to quick for the old girl thank goodness. I was barley off the ground when Zane and Terrance were there to roll it back on it's wheels. Also to quick for Roy. He did not get a photo. I hope you don't get another chance Roy. The quad was not hurt at all but my thumb was killing me. Someone noticed I was missing a screw on the side by my pull start so of course they put some duck tape and a band aid on it for a fix. After catching my breath I tried to continue but knew I would never make an all day rough ride. Terrance to the rescue. He said how about if we rotate the thumb throttle around so you could pull it with your fingers. We tried it and it worked. It wasn't great because I couldn't hand on with my right hand but I could use the throttle.
We met up with Luke's group on one of the side loops to the top of Death Rock where we took a break to take in the views. The next leg of the trip was on a not so well traveled trail. We even came on a few riders that were trying to get out. Apparently they had some trouble with their Rhino wanna bees. I'm sure the got some desert pin striping along the way. We were headed to the creek for some shade and lunch when we came upon an old truck. Roy of course had to get in and try to get some extra riding time. No luck this time. Mark was checking out the back of the truck when he started flailing his arms around wildly. He was getting stung by Wasps that had made a home of the rear tail light. Ball bearing was yelling run don't stand there and try to fight them off. He did get away but they got him 4 or 5 times. Shortly after this we stopped by under a tree by the creek for lunch. It was cooler riding along the creek although the black mud did not smell very good.
After lunch we took a side road to a meadow. There were lots of old beds and stuff near a corral. We found out later from the rancher that his mother used to live in a house here but the house fell down some time ago. The Rancher also told Roy about some other roads in the area that we missed. I would bet Roy cataloged them already and is planning another assault. The Rancher and his wife were very friendly. If you are in the area stop and say hi. They have a ton of history to share. They said a lot of quad riders get lost and come to them out of gas and lost. They sell them some gas and give directions. They do not mind riders going through as long as they respect their property. He did say some people go into their barn which is about 2 miles and help themselves which really torques them off as it should.
Back on the road heading towards S near Crown King. Mike is having trouble with his Polaris again. You know those Polaris machines, it's not if they are going to break but when. Next we headed to the Grave site for Isaac Bradshaw. It was a bit hot here so we didn't stay long. After this stop we come to a spot in a wash where Roy says he has a short cut route planned. We head up the wash where we have to boulder crawl until we come to a near vertical trail up the side of the wash. At the top this is another dead end. Now we have to go back through the boulders and find the original route. At this point we are tired and low on fuel. Roy is feeling good because he knows we are at least another hour or hour and a half from the trucks. As we are within about 30 miles we are watching the sun go down and the lightning start off in the distance.
Finally we hit the wash at dusk. Roy almost runs over a rattlesnake that is very grumpy and strikes at his quad. Right after that a javelina is on my left next to a 40 foot straight up bank. He panics seeing the quads and sprints straight up the cliff wall. That was amazing to watch. Now it is dark and we have to watch out for 2 barbed wire fences across the wash and navigate through the water in Box Canyon. That was a very interesting run in the dark.
Well we all made it back to the trucks although Mark missed the turn and ball bearing had to go find him in the dark. It was another successful adventure from dark to dark. Another 119 miles added to the total for the day.
