Arizona SpringFast ride, HWY 191 Alpine to Morenci

[buelligan]

The legendary Devils Highway. Formally known as Rt 666, is know known as Hwy 191.
Join us in celebrating 11 years of riding one of Arizona's best roads.

Based out of the Tal Wi Wi Lodge, located in Alpine, AZ. May 20, 21, 22, 2016.
AZ group will be heading up Friday morning, here is the info from the New Mexico group.

http://talwiwi.com/Rooms_and_Rates/rooms_and_rates .html
Please state that you are with the SpringFast group. reservations, and room sharing is strongly recommended as the place fills up quick.

Friday, May 20, meet at Dennys, 98th st and I-40 in West Albuquerque around 8AM. Insure you are gassed and ready to go. KSU at 9AM. The route will go west on I-40 to the Quemado exit, gas here if you can not go 150 miles on a tank. South on 117, to 36, to Quemado, NM for fuel and a break. Continue down to Reserve, on 32, to 12, no stops in reserve. This is a VERY scenic, and curvy road, we may stop for photo ops. hwy 180 through Luna, NM across into AZ to Alpine. Dinner and drinks at the Tal Wi Wi that evening.

May 21st, Breakfast is either at the Tal Wi Wi, or in town at the Alpine Café. Both have great food and service. KSU from the gas station in Alpine, AZ at 10AM. Travel east on 180 into NM, south to Glenwood, stop for fuel and short break. Continue south on 180 to hwy 78 west to Clifton/Morenci, AZ. This will be a VERY curvy, and technical stretch of road, with sharp drops, gorgeous overlooks, we will stop at the top near the NM/AZ state line. Lunch in Morenci, at the copper Kettle café, right below the mine. After lunch, head up 191, (the devils highway). this is a very technical, very curvy road, with awesome overlooks, stunning views, and very few guardrails. pay attention, watch your speed, ride within your abilities. 90 miles of switchbacks, and awesome turns will have you thinking the Dragon is just a tiny lizard compared to what the devils highway has to offer. 3 hours later, you will be back in Alpine, dinner and drinks, once again at the Tal Wi Wi. Sunday

May 22nd, Breakfast at your convenience, the Tal Wi Wi, or café in Alpine. meet at the gas station in Alpine, KSU at 10AM. NM group rides back following same route through reserve. Those in a hurry can opt to go north, and then east on US60 to Quemado. (my sport bikes are allergic to straight roads). Stop again in Quemado for gas, and a break before continuing on to Albuquerque. Since this is the 10th anniversary, I am expecting many of the original riders from the first SpringFast ride, and also, many from past years. This may be a big group this year. If so, I will be breaking the ride into smaller 10 person groups, to maintain safety...



for reference of past rides:

http://www.meetup.com/PEGASUS-new-mexico-motorcycle-group-sport-club/events/219908350/?

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=37&post=2464886#POST2464886


http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=37&post=2051610#POST2051610



see ya there!

[Sport-Touring]

[buelligan]

one more week!

[DbleDutch]

Waiting for pics, please. Ran 191 last Oct and stayed at Tal Wi Wi also.

[buelligan]

Only took a few pics, was mostly busy riding, or drinking  
We rode down 191, and across hwy 78 from Clifton to New Mexico, and up 180 through Glenwood, Luna, and back to Alpine.
Hwy 78 is fairly new pavement, and has some awesome curves. Check it out on google earth, you should try it next time youre in the area.

The sign out front of the Lodge welcoming us


Hannagins Meadows


Big Lake, Alpine, AZ.  The road to Big Lake starts about a mile south of the lodge, and goes all the way to Eager. Awesome, tight turns, ALL brand new pavement! drool...


The ZX10 was chasing my shadow most of the day, I teased him about not being able to keep up with an old man packing his woman on a frikken Beemer, lol.
all in all, a good time was had by all. I will be back in October for a final ride before the snows...

 

[rider1a]

Thanks for the report. I plan to be there this summer. It is truly one of the best paved rides in the US.

 

[DbleDutch]

Thanks for the pics. We will make this trip again some day and try the New Mexico loop.

[buelligan]

this years event starts next friday,  May 17th, 2019
The Tal Wi Wi lodge where we usually stay is already packed, I'm staying at the Sportsmans downtown.
Hopefully the weather will be agreeable, and the roads clear.
See ya there!

[WBill]

US 191 is one of my favorite roads, by motorcycle or car, and I wish you all the best.  Like the buelligan, I have ridden it several times, both north and south bound.  Never have I managed to keep from crossing the center line, try as I might.  

Be advised that this time of year, that center line is a depository for cinders, left over from the snows, and those cinders are as tricky as ice in a skid.  Add to that the fact that you can't see oncoming traffic in the twistiest of twisties, and you'll be sure to play it safe.  Heck, there's a good chance there will be ice on the road now, particularly in the shadows.  Maybe that's why they used to call it The Devil's Highway.  I still do!

BTW: My favorite place to stay over there is the lodge at Hannagan Meadow, but that is a fair distance from Alpine.  WBill

[Blue is Best]

I've ridden this trip several times. Just absolutely great. I'll try to make this trip but I wouldn't bet on me. I have a ten day trip beginning on Monday June 3. Between that, preparing bike, house stuff, family stuff...…….

[Blue is Best]

Pictures, report, details?

[zer0netgain]

Be advised that this time of year, that center line is a depository for cinders, left over from the snows, and those cinders are as tricky as ice in a skid.  Add to that the fact that you can't see oncoming traffic in the twistiest of twisties, and you'll be sure to play it safe.  Heck, there's a good chance there will be ice on the road now, particularly in the shadows.  Maybe that's why they used to call it The Devil's Highway.  I still do!

First and only time I did 191 (to date), I had ridden all day...late into the night...ended up taking a cat nap in the saddle on a farmer's road...and was hitting the road with probably 30 hours +/- with no sleep.

Needless to say, I took it slow.  

[buelligan]

Sorry for the delay in posting the ride report, the ride didn't quite end as I had anticipated, but I did have a great 2 days riding 191 in Arizona, and 180 in New Mexico.

One of the many switchbacks


Hannagans Meadows


watch out for falling trees


Burn scars outside of Alpine


https://photos.smugmug.com/Rides/i-MtrqHV6/0/194cb8e1/XL/2019051814072038-IMG_5622-XL.jpg



The third, and final day, turned into a 3 month ordeal, as I hit a deer about 14 miles east of Alpine, heading towards Luna on hwy 180.


I was going about 45mph, when I spied the two bambi's standing on the opposite side of the road. Slowed down, and let them run across, and was just starting to accelerate when a third Bambi ran out of the bushes to catch up with it's siblings.  I nailed it dead center in the ribs as I was dumping the throttle and grabbing the front brake.
It all happened all quickly.  The bike pitched to the left, the deer came up through my dash/headlight assembly and hit me on my left shoulder as it went over.
The bike slammed down on the left side, and slid about 50' coming to a stop facing back the way I came.
I couldn't breath, (punctured left lung), had trouble removing my helmet and gloves, (broken right thumb), and hurt like hell.
(9 broken ribs left side, broken collarbone, and shattered shoulder blade).
Luckily someone with Onstar pulled up and contacted the cops, and an ambulance.  I was brought to Springerville hospital where they stabilized my lung, and then transported by ambulance again, to Show Low.  Spent 3 days there getting well enough to travel home.

deer fur between the front rim and tire


Ribs are just a little busted up


Right thumb isn't so happy


Collarbone is good as new


Insurance totaled the bike


So I was forced to get a new one.



It's been a long 3 months, I just started back to work last week, with work restrictions, but I already have 4k miles on my new bike

[Blue is Best]

Oh no! Sorry to hear about that, Bart. Glad that you are healed up and getting on with things. I sustained an injury very similar to yours about 26 years ago. You have a bit more healing to go I'm sure.



Nice bike. Too bad they MADE you buy another one!!!