Music of the open road

The highlight of the first day was arrival in Red Rock Country around Sedona after a breath-taking ride up and down Cleopatra Hill to reach historic Jerome. Click on the map (or any other image in the blog) to view it larger.

A fully dressed touring machine like the Harley-Davidsons we’re riding is equipped with a radio and CD player. Some guys like to listen to country or rock when they’re tooling down the road, me, I prefer the V-twin symphony.
Although my Electra Glide Classic has sixth gear, overdrive, if you will, I find I’m shifting up and down between third, fourth and fifth when the road starts to curve in order to keep the V-twin engine between 3,000 and 4,000 RPM, mainly because of the sound.
All V-configuration engines have a distinctive sound, whether the motor is barely turning over or starting to build revs. Between 3,000 and 4,000 RPM, my Harley is in full song.
The factory-standard mufflers keep it civilized, but we do thunder down the road.
--Georgs

Snapshots on the road to Sedona

Painting in the bar of the Connor Hotel in Jerome,rest stop after a breathtaking ride down up and down Cleopatra Hill.

After four hours in the saddle, Brandon enjoys an ice cream with a cold water chaser in Jerome, Arizona, once known as the wickedest town in the west.

Sporting a Snake Harley-Davidson, E.B. takes in the view from Jerome across the valley to Sedona.

You meet the nicest people on a Honda towing the strangest trailer.

Mountains, lake, sand traps, the Seven Canyons private golf and country club outside Sedona has it all, including two guys on Harleys looking to take scenic photographs.

The scenery around Sedona, Arizona, is simply spectacular.

We're off!

The 2007 ride to Sturgis and beyond is just about ready to get under way from Chester's Harley-Davidson in Mesa, Arizona. Photo by Ryan Stevenson.

Day 1: Mesa to Sedona, 198 miles

The anticipation for the start is building in the pit of my stomach.
Today, we'll ride 198 miles from Chester's Harley-Davidson in Mesa, Arizona, to the Sedona Real, a hotel in Sedona, Arizona, which should take about five hours. It's a relatively short day to let everyone get back into the groove of riding the open road.