GWRRA AZK Copper Butt Ride 2009

Early morning departure = beautiful southern Arizona sunrise

Heading out of Tucson toward Oracle we noticed a rainbow off on the horizon - That was the shot across our front wheels and the best was yet to come

It was a beautiful sun filled morning as we headed north to Show Low / Pinetop--this is Smitty and Elizabeth, the only way they ever get pictures of themselves riding

Dan Levens and Neil & Barbara Hejny riding in that perfect staggered formation

Kodie couldn't resist trying on a VW powered trike for size - This was in Globe where we stopped at Jerry's restaurant for breakfast

The day's gang Neil & Barbara Hejny, Maryann & Jerry Jordan, Smitty Smith & Elizabeth Bottka-Smith, Dan Levens and of course Kodie

Some of the wonderful scenery climbing out of the Salt River Canyon on AZ-60

The clouds were beginning to build -up! Hint hint

More awesome scenery

The climb out of the Salt River canyon is always a beautiful sight

Taking a photo op break in Pinetop

OK everyone, time to climb down off the big chair

Dan: No! I don't wanna get off the big red chair, it makes me big and tall

Pick a color any color - 4 beautiful 1800s parked in formation in Pinetop

Dan Levens leading the group east out of Pinetop toward Eager and some very gray skies

Yes, the temperature was gerat - and this is in early September

Neil Hejny didn't get the memo that we were putting ON the rain gear - Dude nice legs!

Dan Levens, Jerry & Maryann Jordan wasted no time putting in their frog togs - I think Dan is doing his impression of a lemming

The temperature dropped 6 degrees in about 10 miles of riding

We were actually riding in the cloud - this was in Alpine, AZ

Yep, we got rain and plenty of it

No, that's not snow in September. Actually, it was hail and it was getting colder - I think Elizabeth was talking about her electrics at this time

Riding into the clouds

I told you it was getting cold - can I say again it is early September

Closing in on Hannagan Meadow

It was wet and chilly, but the ride was totally awesome and 100% enjoyable

We stopped at Hannagan Meadow and had a wonderful, relaxing and warm lunch at the hotel / cafe. (left to right are: Smitty, Elizabeth, Neil, Barbara, Dan, Maryann, & Jerry)--you can't see it, but there was a fire going in the fireplace and it felt good.

This is the arrow tree - you have to look closely but there are hundreds of arrows in this tree - Dan asked the question - where do the arrows that missed the tree end up? I wouldn't want to be down range of this tree

Our trip down AZ-191 looked pretty much like this, gray skies and lots of rain

Although it was gray and wet it was still breath taking scenery - like this photo

Somewhere over the rainbow!

This rainbow was very bright - this was heading out of Safford

We were all glad we didn't take our raingear off when the sun came out - those skies in the distance don't look very inviting

We were racing this huge thunderhead

Elizabeth being creative with her photography

Theres that big thunderhead again, I think our paths will meet in the near future

Neil and Barbara Hejny waving hi to the camera

What an awesome scene

Neil & Barbara Hejny in motion

A rare double rainbow

This rainbow seemed to be only one color "RED" so does it still qualify as a rainbow or maybe it should be called a redbow

The setting sun on a great day of riding

We started at sunrise and finished just after sunset - 13 1/2 hours and 500+ miles = AZ-K Copper Butt 2009