Day 5 April 17th, 2003

We had breakfast and left our cozy cabin and hit the Control Rd. which was a road that ran parallel to the Mogollon Rim----which is a high road which runs right on the edge of the rim which you can see in this picture in the far distance. The Mogollon Rim (pronounced-"muggy-own") was to be one of the highlights or our trip as we knew the views upon the high rim were to be fantastic.

Don't go out to Arizona and pronounce the rim "Mogollon"---you'll just get a funny look--stupid tourist !!!

Actually this rim road runs for over 100 miles--we can't wait !!!

We continued on the Control Rd. heading East towards a small town and gas (hopefully) when we ran into an area obviously the result of last years drought and forest fire.

If Don ran out of gas--we would have to leave him out here to die----if only he had a new bike with a huge (arghhh-arghhh-arghh--Tim Allen Grunt) gas tank and electric starter and heated grips and GPS his family wouldn't have to go on life without this fine family man. "Sob-Sob-Sob" :)

Ok Ok wipe up the tears--we got gas and Don lived---- on down the road to hit the Mogollon Rim. We had to ride about 10 miles of pavement to get to it. It was actually a little fun as me and Kenny got into another little road race---around the sharp switchback mountain road.

Watch out for Elk----they are huge and will take you out.

We passed by many locked gates to the Mogollon rim and I finally stopped at the Forest service office to see what's up--seems there is 4 ft. of snow in places on the rim and access is not permitted on this unpaved road just yet-----crap !!!! A good reason to come back later I guess.

On the highway we were at a very high elevation and it was cold----so me and Kenny bucked up and finally turned our heated goodies on------aaaahhhhhh!!! If Don froze to death---I just guess we would have to leave him out here---blah--blah--blah blah etc. If only he had----I better shut up here before his wife Debi gets ticked off.

Almost forgot-----this is Long Lake, which is much longer than you can see here. Kind of weird as we were on a very high plateau and it just seemed weird to have a lake up here. It was still pretty chilly. We came across one dry lake bed--I wanted to blast across it at speed but thought better of it.

I think this is the Coulter Hill Trail and we stopped for a little snack of gatorade and candy bars and to admire the lush green desert scenery. We are missing our big friends the "Seguaro" cactuses.

We later caught a high forest road going West and went thru the town of Mund Park where we would turn South for a couple of miles and ride maybe the most beautiful road out here---The Schnebly Hill road.

We really lucked out-----we just passed a sign that said the road wouldn't be open till April 17th-----well guess what today is ?????
Here is some of the scenery we saw on the first part of the road.
And then it turned to beautiful red rocks and we rode this narrow shelf road around and down the mountain.

The town of Sedona is visible right in the middle of this picture. Kenny was really taken by the beauty of this red rock area---it reminded me of my favorite state---Utah.

We rode very slowly down the mountain taking in every view.

In Sedona we stopped for gas and goodies and sat on a bench and watched the entertainment as some pretty weird people were in this town. A lot of hippy looking people----reminded me of 1969. I always wanted to be a hippy but my mom wouldn't let me :)

This is Boynton Pass Rd. with more pretty red rock.

Kenny had bought me a whole pint of ice cream back at the gas station-----my reward for leading him onto such beautiful country. I ate the whole thing----and could only drink a glass of water for dinner that night.

Looking a little nasty as we head for the "Ghost Town" of Jerome. OOOooooohhhhhhh!!

The cashier back in Sedona told us so many weird things about Jerome we just had to go there. It also had some lodging-----haunted of course. And a bed and breakfast---haunted of course.

It was a very exciting ride up the steep mountain switchbacks to Jerome. Me and Kenny raced all the way. The roads were some of the steepest mountain roads I had ever seen and the town of Jerome was built all around the switchbacks with every house and business sitting on the edge.

This town grew out of money from the famous huge Gold King copper mine. You ought to do a search on the internet and read about this huge mining operation. It is very interesting.

Our motel, the "Jerome Grand Hotel" is on top of the mountain in the middle of the picture.

I was going to get lodging here at this bed and breakfast---it is called the "Ghost City Inn"----I took a tour and it was kind of spooky alright---if my wife had heard all the spooky things we heard about this town she would have been down the mountain and out of here before the sun set----guarantee it !!!!

We needed a room for 3----but each room only had one bed and the nice girl tried to talk us into 3 rooms at $110 a pop. I don't think so---but this included getting scared to death I think.

This is the view from the parking lot of the Jerome Grand Hotel which was the highest spot in town. You can see the valley far below we rode out of earlier.

Here she is-----what a fine restoration. Actually this was originally a hospital for the mining community and somebody spent a huge amount of money restoring it----as it had sat many years empty. The old operating room was suppose to be the most haunted place in town. The nice lady at the registration desk---thought that maybe the only spirits in town were in the lounge. Whatever---anyway---the TV show "Sightings" did an episode here, which I would like to see.

The motel was all still in its original interior---everything in the building was of the period it was built.

Here is our hallway on the 2nd floor. I am a pipefitter and steam fitter by trade, and I got an illegal visit to the boiler room where the original coal fired Kewanee boiler was in a full head of steam. It looked just like a train locomotive. It had been converted to gas---except for that the heating system was original with all the old cast iron radiators thru-out the building. Air conditioning wasn't needed at the high elevation and non humid air. The original elevator was refurbished and usable as was the original phone system. When you rang the desk--the operator had to plug in the connection you were wanting by hand-----amazing to see such old things still in use. If you go to Arizona--by all means visit Jerome--but be out of town before nightfall :)

I suggest you do another search on the internet and read more about his historic town------I have only barely touched on the things to see in this town. I just really couldn't believe my eyes. It'll be a crowded tourist trap some day----better get there quick before the ghosts leave town !!!

On to Day 6

Back to Homepage