San Diego, CA to Farmington, NM, via Phoenix and Painted Desert

Motorcycling across the Southwest is spectacular in the springtime. People who've never spent much time in the desert don't realize the remarkable amount of color one can see on the arid landscape. My hubs Steve and I traveled from San Diego, CA, spent a few days in Phoenix, then rolled on to Farmington, NM, with a couple of stops along the way.

Day 1: San Diego to Phoenix

Rounding a turn near Inko-Pah on Interstate 8

Interstate 8 near the California-Arizona border, near Yuma

Near the Colorado River, along Interstate 8

Traveling between Yuma and Phoenix on Interstate 8

We spent 3 nights in Phoenix, but it felt like we got no rest. We were going non-stop, visiting our friends and getting to know the crew from Monkey Butt Radio. Watch our appearance on Monkey Butt Radio here.

Day 2: Phoenix and the Monkey Butt Radio/YouTube Show

Monkey Butt Radio Crew - Scooter, Mike, Guest Aaron Cutrano, Biggus, me and Highway

Day 3: Phoenix and Cave Creek Ride and Dinner at Z-tejas

We had a great day riding around Phoenix and out to Bartlett Lake with Paul. Read about it here.

Riding with Arizona Harley Dude in Cave Creek, AZ

Drinks at Cartwright's (my maiden name!) in Cave Creek with Paul, aka Arizona Harley Dude

Dinner with my high school classmate Kelly & her daughter Kassie

Day 4: Phoenix to Holbrook AZ

Our ride on Day 4 from Phoenix to Payson, then on to Holbrook was refreshing, going from dry desert filled with Saguaro Cactus to pine treed forests and finally into the tall grasses on the mesas. 

Riding from Phoenix to Holbrook AZ, so grateful to get out of the 100* F heat

This couple was having a fantastic time, weaving from lane to lane in the sweepers, and waving as we went by

When you gotta go, you gotta go. Not a restroom to be found for over 50 miles

Fantastic lunch in Payson, AZ, spent talking with a couple of off-road riders, Rienhold and JP

In the grasslands along State Highway 277 from Heber to Holbrook AZ

Day 5: Holbrook AZ to Farmington, NM

Most of Day 5 was spent in the Petrified Forest National Park. We rarely hit the road before noon, but astonishingly, we were out of the hotel by 9:30am. By the time we stopped for lunch at 2pm, we had only traveled 88 miles, with another 157 to go. But we pushed through the afternoon of blowing sand and a broken speedometer on my V*Star Tatonka, rolling into Farmington, NM at 5:30pm. 

Blackbird at the entrance to the Petrified Forest, with a crystal log

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Painted Desert in the Petrified Forest National Park, AZ

Admiring the unbelievable landscape of the Painted Desert

Sky so big, I had to stop just to take it all in