Multi Shots from the trail.

DG Rider

DG Rider

Member: Triple Clutch Club
Lifetime Member
Aug 14, 2013
9,466
43,161
113
Casa Grande, AZ
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  1. 700-2
I was in Florence yesterday. Headed home around 1:00pm and the temp was 75. Ran through some pretty good rains, but by the time we got to Oracle Jct., the temp was back up to 97. Really nice rain later in the afternoon.
I was out on Florence Kelvin highway. That's kinda my go-to for a just-to-get-out ride. I missed the 1st one that rolled through about 9:00ish by minutes. But It looked like it had dumped pretty good on Florence. Couldn't even see north and south buttes until I was almost even with them.

If you haven't been out there lately, they are finally doing a bridge/culvert over the big wash just past Cochran road that always runs under heavy rains. I was worried the fresh dozing dirt might be impassable after the rain, but I was surprised to see the bridge completed and the run up paved. By the time I unloaded at Tecote ranch road, it was sunny and in the 90's again. I did my usual meandering around.

My intentions were to do the loop around Ripsey mine, over to hackberry wash and back up to Tecote ranch road. By the time I goof around a lot, that's usually a pretty good few hours, time wise, but by the time I was into the head of Ripsey wash, another cell was over me with lots of thunder and lightning strikes within probably 5-10 miles, so I hauled down into Ripsey wash to get low.

For those of you reading this who "know", you're probably thinking aren't you supposed to avoid low places like a wash during rain? And you're right, BUT...Ripsey is a wide "wash", really more like a small canyon at it's lowest points. It'll take a biblical downpour to make it flow with a dangerous amount of water up that far, and I was parked right next to the turn up out of the wash under a small tree (where I broke my tailight). The lightning was of far more concern than water at that point.

It passed, but my view of the direction the weather was approaching is blocked by about 3/4 of the loop I was planning and another shower hit before I could even get over to Ripsey mine. I backtracked up to the wide valley with Tecote ranch road and thought about just going that way for a bit, but at that point I could see that rains were going to be continuing for some time, so I called it and headed back to the Tahoe. It just started raining as I was loading...and it was good timing because it POURED all the way back into Florence. The 700 is clean as a whistle.

I only have a rain poncho. I guess if a had a full rain suit on a warmer day like that, it wouldn't be all that just to keep going...but that area up out of the washes is fairly flat with lots of exposure, and the lightning was flashing in the distance. Just had to do the smart thing and live to ride another day.
 
PJon

PJon

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Dec 9, 2020
792
3,215
93
Arizona
Ownership

  1. 1000-5
I was out on Florence Kelvin highway. That's kinda my go-to for a just-to-get-out ride. I missed the 1st one that rolled through about 9:00ish by minutes. But It looked like it had dumped pretty good on Florence. Couldn't even see north and south buttes until I was almost even with them.

If you haven't been out there lately, they are finally doing a bridge/culvert over the big wash just past Cochran road that always runs under heavy rains. I was worried the fresh dozing dirt might be impassable after the rain, but I was surprised to see the bridge completed and the run up paved. By the time I unloaded at Tecote ranch road, it was sunny and in the 90's again. I did my usual meandering around.

My intentions were to do the loop around Ripsey mine, over to hackberry wash and back up to Tecote ranch road. By the time I goof around a lot, that's usually a pretty good few hours, time wise, but by the time I was into the head of Ripsey wash, another cell was over me with lots of thunder and lightning strikes within probably 5-10 miles, so I hauled down into Ripsey wash to get low.

For those of you reading this who "know", you're probably thinking aren't you supposed to avoid low places like a wash during rain? And you're right, BUT...Ripsey is a wide "wash", really more like a small canyon at it's lowest points. It'll take a biblical downpour to make it flow with a dangerous amount of water up that far, and I was parked right next to the turn up out of the wash under a small tree (where I broke my tailight). The lightning was of far more concern than water at that point.

It passed, but my view of the direction the weather was approaching is blocked by about 3/4 of the loop I was planning and another shower hit before I could even get over to Ripsey mine. I backtracked up to the wide valley with Tecote ranch road and thought about just going that way for a bit, but at that point I could see that rains were going to be continuing for some time, so I called it and headed back to the Tahoe. It just started raining as I was loading...and it was good timing because it POURED all the way back into Florence. The 700 is clean as a whistle.

I only have a rain poncho. I guess if a had a full rain suit on a warmer day like that, it wouldn't be all that just to keep going...but that area up out of the washes is fairly flat with lots of exposure, and the lightning was flashing in the distance. Just had to do the smart thing and live to ride another day.
Good decision.
 
Soaz1000

Soaz1000

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Oct 7, 2018
167
914
93
Soaz
Ownership

  1. 1000-5
I was in Florence yesterday. Headed home around 1:00pm and the temp was 75. Ran through some pretty good rains, but by the time we got to Oracle Jct., the temp was back up to 97. Really nice rain later in the afternoon.
Glad it's raining somewhere in the state. South of Tucson it clouds up with high winds and dust all we get is enough sprinkles to mud up your vehicles.
 
CID

CID

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Supporting Member
Oct 27, 2019
5,456
25,103
113
SE Denver-ish
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  1. Talon R
Out the damn way, Talon commin’ through. :cool:
1656034754208
 
DG Rider

DG Rider

Member: Triple Clutch Club
Lifetime Member
Aug 14, 2013
9,466
43,161
113
Casa Grande, AZ
Ownership

  1. 700-2
Sitting here listening to the occasional thunder boom in the distance, I'm reminded of the song "And The thunder rolls". The Girth Brookes version. Not that newer one by Skrillex or whatever with that crazy b**** singing through her nose...

IMG 20220625 133743656 HDR
 
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Smitty335

Smitty335

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Lifetime Member
Supporting Member
Oct 3, 2016
35,445
208,726
113
NWA Arkansas
Ownership

  1. 1000-3

  2. 1000-5
Sitting here listening to the occasional thunder boom in the distance, I'm reminded of the song "And The thunder rolls". The Girth Brookes version. Not that newer one by Skrillex or whatever with that crazy b**** singing through her nose...

View attachment 340764
Garth's the best version!
 
PJon

PJon

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Dec 9, 2020
792
3,215
93
Arizona
Ownership

  1. 1000-5
Sitting here listening to the occasional thunder boom in the distance, I'm reminded of the song "And The thunder rolls". The Girth Brookes version. Not that newer one by Skrillex or whatever with that crazy b**** singing through her nose...

View attachment 340764
Looks like the early monsoon season is upon us.
 
PJon

PJon

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Dec 9, 2020
792
3,215
93
Arizona
Ownership

  1. 1000-5
I know, all we ever see see are palmetto bushes and water holes.
Before moving to Arizona, I lived in Florida for 14 yrs. Here, I can be in the desert in about 5 minutes from my house or a 10 minute drive on state roads to get to the mountains. Unfortunately, 100 degree temps are not a lot of fun anywhere.
 
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