Capt Steve
US Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2008
- Messages
- 1,678
- Reaction score
- 3,014
We just returned from a 4 day RV/bike trip up to the Big Lake campground {9,200'}, in the White Mountains of Arizona. While the Monsoon usually arrives around July first this year the upper elevations have been getting monsoonal thunderstorms in the afternoon for a couple of weeks now. You can count on temps in the high 70's to low 80's at this elevation so it provides a welcome respite from the heat of the high Sonoran desert back home.
We rolled in last Wednesday at 1:15 and the first very large drops from the leading edge of a huge {100 mile + diameter}, thunderstorm began to fall. we set up in our site and soon the rain became steady accompanied by constant intense overhead lightning. Soon the rain got louder, a lot louder and we realized it was hailing.
I scrambled to throw a towel over my Harley to protect the paint {no damage was done}, and we settled in with a beverage {or two}, to enjoy the show. Momma nature was up on her hind legs and did not disappoint. The hail started out about pea size and quickly grew. As it began to melt on the hot black asphalt eerie waves of steam wafted down the campground roads.
About 6 we experienced the mother of all lightning strikes, an 80 - 90' pine tree took a direct hit exploding over the adjacent campsite a mere 100 yards away. The bulk of the trunk came crashing down directly across the center of the pull through loop. Happily the site was unoccupied or people would have died... not likely to be anywhere but sitting in your rig in such weather.
Pieces of the pine the size of railroad ties were hurled 30 yards in every direction and I am here to tell you when the the strike is that close there is not much time between flash and BOOM!
The storm blew itself out and passed by 9 and the next few days were glorious. We got up every morning and went for a 4+hour ride which always included a great breakfast {Bear Wallow Cafe in Alpine, the Rendezevous Cafe in Greer etc.},on some of the finest motorcycle roads in America.
"The Devils Highway" formerly "666" now Arizona 191 from Clifton to Eagar is considered by many to be the finest bike road in the lower 48 {opinions may vary but you get no argument from me}, was just one of many great roads we got to ride. It is only 224 miles from home to Big lake but we managed to ride another 250+ miles on Thursday and Friday. This morning we awoke to 20+ mph winds and a Red Flag warning so we cut our trip short a day and rolled on home.
We had 105 every day this week at home so the trip up to Big Lake was a no brainer {and not our first time}. The 5 hour ride is spectacular and we will be going again as soon as the triple digit temps are in the forecast again.
Hope you enjoy the pics.
We rolled in last Wednesday at 1:15 and the first very large drops from the leading edge of a huge {100 mile + diameter}, thunderstorm began to fall. we set up in our site and soon the rain became steady accompanied by constant intense overhead lightning. Soon the rain got louder, a lot louder and we realized it was hailing.
I scrambled to throw a towel over my Harley to protect the paint {no damage was done}, and we settled in with a beverage {or two}, to enjoy the show. Momma nature was up on her hind legs and did not disappoint. The hail started out about pea size and quickly grew. As it began to melt on the hot black asphalt eerie waves of steam wafted down the campground roads.
About 6 we experienced the mother of all lightning strikes, an 80 - 90' pine tree took a direct hit exploding over the adjacent campsite a mere 100 yards away. The bulk of the trunk came crashing down directly across the center of the pull through loop. Happily the site was unoccupied or people would have died... not likely to be anywhere but sitting in your rig in such weather.
Pieces of the pine the size of railroad ties were hurled 30 yards in every direction and I am here to tell you when the the strike is that close there is not much time between flash and BOOM!
The storm blew itself out and passed by 9 and the next few days were glorious. We got up every morning and went for a 4+hour ride which always included a great breakfast {Bear Wallow Cafe in Alpine, the Rendezevous Cafe in Greer etc.},on some of the finest motorcycle roads in America.
"The Devils Highway" formerly "666" now Arizona 191 from Clifton to Eagar is considered by many to be the finest bike road in the lower 48 {opinions may vary but you get no argument from me}, was just one of many great roads we got to ride. It is only 224 miles from home to Big lake but we managed to ride another 250+ miles on Thursday and Friday. This morning we awoke to 20+ mph winds and a Red Flag warning so we cut our trip short a day and rolled on home.
We had 105 every day this week at home so the trip up to Big Lake was a no brainer {and not our first time}. The 5 hour ride is spectacular and we will be going again as soon as the triple digit temps are in the forecast again.
Hope you enjoy the pics.
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