DAY 5 Trip To Tucson Arizona 4-24-09

Day 5, Friday, 4-24-09, took us down to Sonoita & Patagonia Arizona. Dale's Harley still wasn't finished (at the shop), and he borrowed Bill's Triumph and the three of us headed out..Scroll down and just us on this ride and REMEMBER: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURE BIGGER, JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE..









Bill up front on the Harley, Dale behind him on the Triumph and me in back

Heading down South towards Sonoita

Heading out of town

This is a Cholla cactus

Dale & the 08 Triumph Bonneville

Dale rolling East on I-10 as we head to the Patagonia/Sonoita cutoff..

A view to the right

Dale at a rest stop..He went and watered the mesquites and was doing some, as he put it, rearranging...Dale is a former Marine & Vietnam Vet. He stepped on a landmine in Nam & is disabled..

A pic of the bikes at the rest stop

Another pic of the bikes

Another biker pulled up & took pics for us. He declined to give his name or get his pic taken...Thanks to the unknown biker..Ride safe!!

Another pic of Bill, me, & Dale between Tucson & Sonoita

While stopped, I decided to take pics of Bill's Harley. Here is his tool kit...

Right side

Bars with the Stars & Bars

Another Battle flag on the bars

Left side. Note the custom made shifting arm. Bill is originally from the Rolla Missouri area and has gone by the nick: Missouri Redneck, hence the tag, & custom parts

Here is a better pic of the shifting arm & the horn

And he does have the US Flag..Bill is 150% American & a Vet as well

We get to Sonoita and I had to gas up Ms. Clone. The Sonoita Mercantile is co-located with the Shell Station. For more on Sonoita & the Sonoita Mercantile, check out this link: http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/36519/The-Town-in-the-middle-of-NOWHERE-lol-Sonoita-1

We leave Sonoita and get to Patagonia and Bill's friend, Nate's place. We go inside and I get to meet Nate's pet Diamondback Rattlesnake...What is with these guys & their pet Rattlesnakes?..

As I kill the Rattlesnake, this is Nate's reaction... Nate is a world renown expert on moth's, butterfly's, beetles, spider's etc. and he has a large exhibit of these as well as a large assortment of wildlife as he is also a taxidermist. I'll do a brief post on the wildlife & other exibits he has later

After subduing me to keep me from getting some button (the rattles) souvenirs, Dale takes a break on the recliner

The bikes at Nate's house in Patagonia Arizona..

We leave Nate's & head back to Tucson. On the way, we stop at the Wagon Wheel Saloon, for some liquid refreshment. For more info on the Wagon Wheel see:
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/76/789214/restaurant/Arizona/Nogales/Wagon-Wheel-Saloon-Patagonia and http://www.city-data.com/picfilesv/picv18608.php

Inside the Wagon Wheel Saloon, Patagonia Arizona

We went out back to drink our drinks. Here is Dale. I got my customary picture of ice water.. I just can't seem to get enough water here in the desert

Dale takes this pic of me with the bikes outside the fence. Bill was still inside checking out the restroom...

We made it back to Tucson a short time later and this will conclude this post. I look forward to tomorrow's ride with Jason & Kim...

Scroll down for more rides, events & posts and don't forget to click on the "older posts" link at the bottom of EACH page for more rides and posts. Check out North Texas Bikers (1) at http://www.jjskewlstuff.blogspot.com/ for rides, events & posts from January 08-November 08. Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, ride safe, keep the rubber on the road & pray for our Troops................JOHN