Tuesday March 22, 2005
Last night and this morning we watched the weather reports. Flagstaff, about half way to the south rim, was having a low temperature in the 20s. Furthermore, rain was in the forecast for Wednesday. (Last year, we rode through Arizona during a time of record high temperatures, but that was last year.) We decided that there may be things to see in the south where the elevations were much lower, temperatures were higher, and rain was less likely. So instead of taking 89 toward Chino Valley, we followed US 89A to Jerome, Cottonwood, and Sedona. The 7000 foot pass on the way to Sedona was a reminder that we'd made a good decision.
Between Prescott and Jerome
Above Jerome eastbound
Jerome is a former mining town that is now an artist colony. We rode through last year, but didn't stop. We didn't plan to make the same mistake this time. Jerome is perched on the side of a mountain. Dave and Barry soon discovered that their mobile phones worked well so they took the opportunity to conduct some business while overlooking the view below and enjoying the sunshine. Ed was soon taking pictures and visiting the many shops. Spend a little time at the Jerome Chamber of Commerce web site: http://www.jeromechamber.com.
Leaving Jerome, we continued on through Cottonwood where Barry had been two days earlier for the Hot Air Engine Show. The next stop was to get the panoramic view of the red rock area of Sedona.
Approaching Sedona
Last year, we were getting hungry approaching Sedona and stopped there for lunch. We decided to do the same this year and had agreed to stop at Fast Eddie's, which we remembered riding past last year. We saw the sign and pulled in only to find that Fast Eddie's was now defunct. So we took a picture and were about to walk across the road when we were rescued by locals who directed us to Pizza Picasso, where pizza is art.
Pizza Picasso
Leaving Sedona to the south on AZ 179 our heads were turning to try to take in all the scenery as we rode past Red Rock State Park. We did stop and hiked in just enough to get some good views.
We continued south on 179 to I-17 south to AZ 260. When 260 joined AZ 87, we turned right at a huge bank of snow. Our destination for the day was Payson, where we checked in at the Paysonglo Lodge. One of the attractions to this place was the hot tub. Dave needed to make a trip to the local Goodwill for his $1 swimming trunks. Then we were all in the water.
Coming into town, Ed needed fuel. His Sportster fuel tank was much smaller than the tanks on Dave's Road Glide and Barry's Low Rider. So our routine was that every other fuel stop Dave and Barry didn't need to add. While Ed was fueling, Dave and Barry got into conversation with a local who recommended that we have dinner at the Mazatzal Casino. So after the hot tub, we called for the casino shuttle.
The casino was about a mile away on a small plot of land that was granted to the Tonto Apache Tribe in 1970.
http://www.777play.com/Mazatzal_Casino_Home_Page.htm
Dinner at the Mazatzal Casino was a good time,
but gambling is serious business.
When Barry and Dave were finally able to convince Ed that it was time to leave, we had a short wait for the shuttle bus. We slept well.