reader
Scouts Back from Peach Springs
22-May-2007 15:25
Attention Adventure
Rider's heading for Injun country! Recieved this from
a fellow rider, Jim who tried and failed to complete
the Peach Springs ride. Although I mentioned that it
took some talking to get a permit to go down Diamond
Creek wash, it appears that the rules change on a
daily basis. I know that BMW did a press ride upon
the release of the new 1200 Adventure and managed to
get thier group down there, but maybe they have
deeper pocketws than we do. So, read the folliwing
and make your own decisionas to whether to give a
shot or not.
– Dagger
From: Jim
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007
To: Dagger
Subject: Re: Dagger Trails
Some friends and I each bought a GS Adventure and are just going thru the baby turtle stages so we thought the Peach Springs ride would be a great first adventure. We planned a great beginner ride mixed with pavement and dirt. It started in Gilbert to Strawberry where we turned West on Fossil Creek road until we got to Cherry Creek road and on to Jerome. I thought I spotted one of the models in your guide book at the local bar but as she got closer..... let's just say she was good from far but far from good! From Jerome we took another dirt road to Williams where we stayed the night at one of my buddies house. The day was absolutely perfect, just what I envisioned when I bought the bike.
Day two was the quickest route to Peach Springs. We arrived and stopped at the city planners office to get directions to the lodge (even though we already had them since three of us printed them from your website). The city planner met us with great enthusiasm and encouragement. He said the canyon was blooming and it was a great time of year to go. He mentioned there was a Phoenix area dealership that was planning a ride soon as well. We were obviously excited and rode off to buy the permit and see the canyon.
Trouble started when we were asked the question "what kind of vehicle are you driving"? We were then told that no motorcycles were ever allowed on that road. After a little whining on our part we were passed on to the concierge. This lady like the first was not very friendly. She looked up a memo of another group that would soon be arriving later in the week checked her calendar and basically told us to pound sand. After a little more pleading she referred us to the President, Sherry Yellowhawk in the bldg. next door. Of course Sherry wasn't coming in that day and the General manager was out to lunch we thought we were screwed. However, the office lady tried to do her best for us....she got a hold of Sherry on the phone and basically explained to us that the only way they let motorcycles on that road is if they call in advance, pay a special fee, and are guided by a park ranger. She said it was for our own safety and that she was concerned of the damage our bikes may cause to the road. It was no use arguing our case because we could tell that they could really give a damn. On the way out we ran into the GM and pleaded our case one more time. He came back and explained that we would have to pay $50 instead of the normal $12 plus an hour of the park rangers time. A couple of the guys (we had a group of five) wanted to stand on principle and said screw it...seeing the canyon wasn't worth a little extortion. I think if they had just told us at the desk the fee for motorcycles was $50 plus the rangers time, it would have been fine. Anyway, long story short, we never saw the canyon. We politely declined the invitation and rode away.
After lunch in Seligman, we were off to Flagstaff. The rest of the day was great, we rode mostly dirt and ended up in downtown Flagstaff about 6pm where another buddy had a house. The day was capped with scotch, cigars, beer, wine and steak. We couldn't have asked for a better trip. The next day we had breakfast in Sedona then rode home. Three of the guys did the Bloody Basin trail on the way home and said it was great.
Just wanted to say thanks for letting us know about all the different rides that are out there. I don't have a lot of time to go exploring, so when I can get away it makes it a whole lot easier. Your friend mentioned that you were riding in New Zealand, I'm sure you're having the time of your life. Can't wait to hear about it. Have a couple cold ones for me.
Jim
– Dagger
From: Jim
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007
To: Dagger
Subject: Re: Dagger Trails
Some friends and I each bought a GS Adventure and are just going thru the baby turtle stages so we thought the Peach Springs ride would be a great first adventure. We planned a great beginner ride mixed with pavement and dirt. It started in Gilbert to Strawberry where we turned West on Fossil Creek road until we got to Cherry Creek road and on to Jerome. I thought I spotted one of the models in your guide book at the local bar but as she got closer..... let's just say she was good from far but far from good! From Jerome we took another dirt road to Williams where we stayed the night at one of my buddies house. The day was absolutely perfect, just what I envisioned when I bought the bike.
Day two was the quickest route to Peach Springs. We arrived and stopped at the city planners office to get directions to the lodge (even though we already had them since three of us printed them from your website). The city planner met us with great enthusiasm and encouragement. He said the canyon was blooming and it was a great time of year to go. He mentioned there was a Phoenix area dealership that was planning a ride soon as well. We were obviously excited and rode off to buy the permit and see the canyon.
Trouble started when we were asked the question "what kind of vehicle are you driving"? We were then told that no motorcycles were ever allowed on that road. After a little whining on our part we were passed on to the concierge. This lady like the first was not very friendly. She looked up a memo of another group that would soon be arriving later in the week checked her calendar and basically told us to pound sand. After a little more pleading she referred us to the President, Sherry Yellowhawk in the bldg. next door. Of course Sherry wasn't coming in that day and the General manager was out to lunch we thought we were screwed. However, the office lady tried to do her best for us....she got a hold of Sherry on the phone and basically explained to us that the only way they let motorcycles on that road is if they call in advance, pay a special fee, and are guided by a park ranger. She said it was for our own safety and that she was concerned of the damage our bikes may cause to the road. It was no use arguing our case because we could tell that they could really give a damn. On the way out we ran into the GM and pleaded our case one more time. He came back and explained that we would have to pay $50 instead of the normal $12 plus an hour of the park rangers time. A couple of the guys (we had a group of five) wanted to stand on principle and said screw it...seeing the canyon wasn't worth a little extortion. I think if they had just told us at the desk the fee for motorcycles was $50 plus the rangers time, it would have been fine. Anyway, long story short, we never saw the canyon. We politely declined the invitation and rode away.
After lunch in Seligman, we were off to Flagstaff. The rest of the day was great, we rode mostly dirt and ended up in downtown Flagstaff about 6pm where another buddy had a house. The day was capped with scotch, cigars, beer, wine and steak. We couldn't have asked for a better trip. The next day we had breakfast in Sedona then rode home. Three of the guys did the Bloody Basin trail on the way home and said it was great.
Just wanted to say thanks for letting us know about all the different rides that are out there. I don't have a lot of time to go exploring, so when I can get away it makes it a whole lot easier. Your friend mentioned that you were riding in New Zealand, I'm sure you're having the time of your life. Can't wait to hear about it. Have a couple cold ones for me.
Jim
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