Feb 19, 2013

Crown King and Cleator... again

The good ol stand by. It was one of the first trails I did in Arizona over a decade ago and it still is a great one. It's gotten harder then easier and now much of it is a graded road. No matter, mother nature has a way of fixing things back to a happy medium of tough enough to be exciting and easy enough to still get through.  photo IMG_1184.jpg The skys were threatening, but that's okay. This trip get's even prettier with a little snow or drizzle. Most of the trail is sand or rock so the moisture doesn't cause trucks to ruin the trail.  photo IMG_1185.jpg This has been the best winter rain season I've seen in Phoenix. The desert is green!  photo IMG_1186.jpg Future cabin.  photo IMG_1187.jpg  photo IMG_1189.jpg Don't miss this turn.  photo IMG_1192.jpg Love Brian's truck. It's like watching an Elephant Tip-Toe through a china shop. Big, but amazingly graceful.  photo IMG_1193.jpg  photo IMG_1197.jpg  photo IMG_1198.jpg  photo IMG_1199.jpg Missed the shot by THAT much. About a second before this shot Brandt's right front tire was about 4.5 to 5 feet in the air and the traction control was working away to get it all to hook up. Hook up it did and the dern camera snapped just a second after that.  photo IMG_1202.jpg The road behind.  photo IMG_1203.jpg Some spots that used to have alternates to avoid the "difficult" spot were now the more challenging route. Road maintenance has to get done and it's a necessary thing. That being said, when I saw a dozer up here making it smooth the last time I was here it was sort of sad.  photo IMG_1204.jpg  photo IMG_1206.jpg  photo IMG_1208.jpg  photo IMG_1213.jpg Darn pumpkins. I swear sometimes they are attracted to rocks.  photo IMG_1212.jpg Always seems like a Toyota commercial at this very spot.  photo IMG_1214.jpg Looks like I am looking DOWN at Jon's truck. Nope, he is just that vertical while he was climbing this rock ledge.  photo IMG_1215.jpg See what I mean!  photo IMG_1216.jpg Easy peasy.  photo IMG_1217.jpg Water flowing.  photo IMG_1220.jpg  photo IMG_1222.jpg My favorite sign.  photo IMG_1227.jpg  photo IMG_1229.jpg  photo IMG_1230.jpg  photo IMG_1231.jpg So many remnants of man made mines, walls, buildings etc.  photo IMG_1232.jpg  photo IMG_1233.jpg Special swiss cheese metal.  photo IMG_1235.jpg You can see bits of the road behind, down below.  photo IMG_1236.jpg As you go up, so do the trees in stature.  photo IMG_1239.jpg Welcome to CK  photo IMG_1243.jpg Always a welcome site on bicycle, motorcycle or truck.  photo IMG_1244.jpg Main street.  photo IMG_1245.jpg  photo IMG_1247.jpg  photo IMG_1248.jpg  photo IMG_1254.jpg Lotsa dogs hanging out.  photo IMG_1256.jpg  photo IMG_1258.jpg  photo IMG_1259.jpg  photo IMG_1260.jpg  photo IMG_1264.jpg  photo IMG_1267.jpg Another great stop. This one is on the main "smooth" road into and out of CK.  photo IMG_1268.jpg  photo IMG_1269.jpg  photo IMG_1270.jpg If you know Cleator from even 5 or 10 years ago, you know that this town is bustling! Many more inhabited old shacks than before. I just hope they don't all go corporate! Well, that was out quickie day trip up to the Bradshaws. Never a bad trip up there and always at least 1 new thing to see.  photo IMG_1274.jpg

Feb 18, 2013

Barrett Jackson week in Scottsdale

Another great week to be in AZ. The summer is tolerable, but it's October to April that make this place great.  photo IMG_1088.jpg Hanging out at the rock and roll Mc Donald's car show.  photo IMG_1089.jpg  photo IMG_1090.jpg  photo IMG_1092.jpg  photo IMG_1093.jpg  photo IMG_1094.jpg  photo IMG_1095.jpg Blastolene! Google him! Okay, just click here. Blastolene  photo IMG_1097.jpg  photo IMG_1098.jpg  photo IMG_1100.jpg  photo IMG_1101.jpg  photo IMG_1102.jpg  photo IMG_1103.jpg  photo IMG_1105.jpg  photo IMG_1106.jpg  photo IMG_1107.jpg  photo IMG_1110.jpg  photo IMG_1111.jpg  photo IMG_1117.jpg  photo IMG_1118.jpg Un Macho T/A!! Okay then!  photo IMG_1120.jpg There has always gotta be a general.  photo IMG_1123.jpg Simple and awesome. Uncut.  photo IMG_1125.jpg 1.21 Gigawatts!  photo IMG_1133.jpg  photo IMG_1134.jpg They always look like they are puckering up!  photo IMG_1135.jpg Love the truck, hate the wheels and lowering!  photo IMG_1138.jpg  photo IMG_1139.jpg Jag baby!  photo IMG_1141.jpg  photo IMG_1144.jpg The car, picks the driver.  photo IMG_1145.jpg  photo IMG_1146.jpg  photo IMG_1148.jpg  photo IMG_1149.jpg  photo IMG_1151.jpg Ural love.  photo IMG_1152.jpg Oldest car at the show, and it's a driver!  photo IMG_1153.jpg  photo IMG_1154.jpg  photo IMG_1155.jpg  photo IMG_1156.jpg Waa waa wee waa!  photo IMG_1157.jpg  photo IMG_1158.jpg Gunna drive me to drinkin with this hot, rod, Lincoln. 12 cylinders of awesome. Sounds like a p-51 idling.  photo IMG_1161.jpg  photo IMG_1159.jpg  photo IMG_1160.jpg  photo IMG_1162.jpg Over to the circus, that is Barrett Jackson. Best people watching around. Plus, there are a few cars too.  photo IMG_1165.jpg Okay, DO WANT.  photo IMG_1167.jpg or this.  photo IMG_1169.jpg  photo IMG_1171.jpg They always look happy!  photo IMG_1172.jpg  photo IMG_1173.jpg Pure, simple and understated. How a muscle car should be. No "plum crazy" here.  photo IMG_1175.jpg FJ40's have reached a new level of pricing stupidity. Too bad, I'd love one! haha.  photo IMG_1178.jpg  photo IMG_1179.jpg  photo IMG_1180.jpg That's all for this year!!  photo IMG_1183.jpg

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