So time has gone by--

It has been a while since I have even thought about a blog but now I am planning a ride out to Phoenix with the Gold Wing Road Riders “40 to Phoenix”.

One day at the local GWRRA “Old Farts” breakfast (retired male riders), I mentioned I was thinking about doing this ride in 2015. I wondered if anyone was interested in doing the ride with me. Turns out one of our most active members said he would and he thought others might also want to try the ride.

Turns out there are several people who are interested. Several are going to start the ride at the official starting point in Wilmington NC but I will not be going there but meeting them on their third day out in Arkansas Oklahoma. One rider will be teaming up with me at that point and we will share our room s the rest of the way to Phoenix. He is going to  stay in Phoenix for  several days at his daughters and I will be staying with a family friend who put me up in 2013.

Did some research and found motels from here to Conway Arkansas

Oklahoma and also  am using the ones the ride leaders have lined up and use each year.

So for the past year I have spend much time watching the Food Network and the Triple D series, Ina Garten on Barefoot Contessa and Ree Drummond and “Pioneer Woman”. I have been cooking and eating my way through life. I have also had the experience of finding “No Knead Bread” on YouTube. I have made bread of various types in the past few months. Olive, Fennel, Caraway, Plain, Dill and others. I love this bread, rolls and baguette.

Well this ride to Phoenix will get me to a town I used to live in and  allow me to see old friends who have made a big difference in my life. Bob who allowed me to be a serious bike rider, Peter who allowed me to enjoy meeting people in the most unusual places and Wes who showed our family how to enjoy roller skating and trying new things.

I am thinking about riding around Phoenix and the rest of  the state. There is a route along the eastern side of the state that is on Route 129 for a ride of 100+ miles of twists and turns. I rode to Prescott Arizona last time and want to try it again. Also the Genghis Grill is on my list of places to get to. I want to eat my way through Phoenix.  I also want to cook for our friend Wes who is a bachelor. He recently found redemption by using a pellet smoker for cooking his food(bless him).

On the way home I want to visit the Virgin Atlantic Spaceport in New Mexico. Then  to stop and visit if possible Ree Drummond in Oklahoma. Who knows after that where I will wind up on this ride.