Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1366987
May 2021 25 We finally rolled out of Bedford, NH mida ernoon and pointed the rig west toward Benson, AZ. It didn't take long to discover that the mechanic wasn't kidding when he said a proper alignment would have to wait un l the wheel wells had been expanded to accommodate the new, larger res. Steering in a par cular direc on was unsa sfying and ineffec ve. The proper technique involved con nuously steering away from where you didn't want to go. When the big tractor trailers passed we'd sway all over our lane and into the adjacent lanes with great gusto and much adrenaline. Not the adventure we were looking for but an adven- ture nevertheless. We also learned that going over 55 mph dropped the mileage to about 4 mpg. Ouch. During a bio break in the New Mexico high desert, we no ced the trailer had a flat re. The next town was 48 miles away so we back-tracked to… get this… Corona, NM. A four and a half foot angel in the local general store directed us to Gil- bert, the Corona, NM re guy. I wondered why the four women in this ny store were all a li le over four feet tall, but there was no me for small talk. 25 minutes and $15 dollars later we were on our way with a patched trailer re. End result, we le New Hampshire on a Thursday a ernoon and by Saturday evening we were checking into the Tucson Hilton. A er washing off the road stank, we Ubered to a fine diner which was followed by the sleep of the dead. Yes, there was a pre y comfortable bed in the van, but road bouncing had prevented the necessary deep sleep cycles. Those Hilton beds were just what the doctor ordered. Sunday was the day our crew of eight met in the Benson compound and began the process of get- ng to know each other. Some knew one or two of the others, but at this point we were danger-seek- ing strangers brought together by our love of moto adventures. The planned cookout turned into pizza indoors due to high, cold winds whipping across the Sonoran desert. As far as bikes go, my 690 was the toy bike in the group. There were six BMW GSA 1200/1250s, one barely broken-in KTM 890, and my feather- weight 690. As long as we didn't need to go over 85 mph I wasn't worried. Sunday night we end- ed up in a cheap Benson highway hotel where a few hours were spent doing final packing for the next week. Tomorrow we'd rise with the sun for an early ride to breakfast in Tombstone on the way to the Agua Prieta border crossing. CC Caper DAY ONE: Benson, AZ to Sahuaripa, SON - It was a frosty ride to Tombstone Monday morning. To the point that my hydra on hose bite valve was decorated with an icicle when we arrived at the breakfast joint. Yikes. All were pleased to get inside and start chugging coffee. Or, at least, hold hot coffee cups in numb hands. Cold or not, we were all smiles since the trip had officially started. A er bulking up on breakfast burritos it was another 50 miles of desert back- roads to the border crossing at Agua Prieta.