It tried to rain over night and it dusted the bikes. We cheekily parked them out front under the canopy. The bikes are looking a bit road tripped by now, they're going to need a bit a clean.
Rain jacket on for the first time and off we go, maybe to Flagstaff, but certainly Sedona. Left in sunshine but expecting to get a bit wet. Half way up Interstate 17 sun turned into cloud turned in spits, turned into sleet. We wimped out and stopped at MacDs for a coffee and to put our leggings on. Nev looked dead sexy in his one piece suit. Enjoyed our coffee and back out into it. Definitely snow flakes! Cleared up and turned off to Sedona. This town looked real nice and we did stop to look for a nice cafe, definite snow now, what's going on? We hadn't expected snow!
Photo - Starting to snow, Nev in distance struggling into his 1-piece. This is the only time we wore wet weather gear...
We decided to carry on up and press through to Flagstaff. Sedona is quite high up and you could feel the temperature dropping on our legs. The snow got heavier, real big soft flakes that started to accumulate on helmets and jackets. The snow was getting real thick and heavy further up the road and we were feeling less happy with it. We decided to turn back and head back down to Sedona. It wasn't easy to find anywhere to turn -
Nek Minute! See 'No Silly Grin From Nev' post...
With our tail between our pipes we slunk back down to Sedona. A very tricky nerve racking ride back down when I finally managed to turn and follow Nev. we were warm enough, just miserable. Stopped at a Dairy Maid. I spotted an Inn across the road called Oak Creek Terraces, that looked very inviting and we crossed the road and stopped outside office. I went in and said please tell us you have room. They did but it wasn't quite ready. We went back over to Dairy Maid for a coffee. Nev was feeling a bit stiff with some possible bruising. It was snowing real heavy now and lots of people were calling in for a break. We were the only bikes around.
Photos - Snow bound in Sedona
We had a quick look at the damage, smashed front fairing, a bent crash bar and grazing on the top box latch. It could have been a lot worse. Important thing was is that Nev wasn't badly hurt, and that another car wasn't evolved.
The lodge was more than we would normally pay but under the circumstances it was a safe warm haven. It had a spa bath which I was confident Nev would put to good use.
I organized a taxi to down to Tlaquepaque (pronounce that one then, go on!). Four miles down the still snowing road to a real nice ale house, Oak Creek Brewery & grillhad , crab cakes and I had a broccoli & blue cheese sauce. Yum, my mouth is watering as I type! Oh and a couple a beers too! It's pronounced 'Tu-lack-a-parkie'.
Home in a crazy taxi drivers four wheel drive, "Don't worry guys, I was born here, I know these roads like the back of my hands" kind of a guy! Overtaking on yellow lines and swinging around corners way too fast. I was relieved to get out of the thing. He was a diesel mechanic by day. I felt safer on my bike on the LA freeway!
Both feeling the strain of the day we retired early but not before watching the Weather Channel closely. The worst of the storm had passed us and was creating a lot of interest in the mid-west with severe tornado alerts issued. We had heard from Phil & Murray, it was heading their way. They were OK but storm catching up with them.
We heard the next morning that thy had been as many as 5 tornados that hit through the night and 5 people had lost their lives. Tornados are bad enough during the day but they must be absolutely terrifying during the night! They hadn't finished yet, they were heading westward still.
The road would still not be passible for us tomorrow so we will sit out in Sedona for another day!
Nighty nite!
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