1/19/06
It felt good to finally get on the road again, even if it was overcast, and only 40 degres. I took highway 93 out of town, which lets traffic drive across Hoover dam. One of the modern marvels. I know it looks sunny in the pitures, but they are looking west and I was riding east and south, I didn't get to clear skies until I got 200 miles down the road. The picture is of the dam and the road across the top. The other piture is of the new bypass road that, when done, will allow traffic to get from Arizona to Vegas without crossing the dam. It will probably end up costing as much to build as the dam did,thanks 9-11.
By the time I got out of the overcast the temperature was up to 50 degres but the wind had really statrted to blow as I got to the tail of the front that was moving through. I stopped for gas every 120 miles so I wouldn't have the same out of gas experience as before. The temperature in Phoenix was up to 60 and the traffic was heavy. Since I live in California I know wherever I go the traffic won't be as bad, and it isn't.





When I got to Casa Grande I called an old friend, from my home town Fort Dodge Iowa, Paul Nelson. We met for lunch at the local Burger King, had a nice visit and I took off for Tucson to spend the night with Jim Bond, also from Ft. Dodge.

If you ever need a tow in the Casa Grande area give Paul a call.
I got to Jim's house just as it was getting dark, perfect timing, even though Jim didn't get home from work untill 11:00 PM.

1/20/06
Today Jim was off work so we toured Tucson and visited a few antique shops, somthing we always liked to do back when we both lived in Denver, GO BRONCO'S. Jim has a lot of nice pieces in his home but one of the neatest is this haunted house. You put a penny in a slot on the side and

the room starts to move, a spider comes out of the fireplace,the chair folds, the ghost lifts up and a bunch more starts to happen. the pictures don't do it justice.
I'm leaving for Mexico tomorrow morning and will write more as I find Internet cafe's.
Thanks again Vern and Jim for letting me stay at your houses.