There is just something about Arizona that is different from the other western states that I always find myself drawn to....
Agreed. Back in the late '90's I loaded my mountain bike on my van took a couple of weeks to make a loop through CO, UT, AZ and NM; I had never been west of TX, other than to a church camp in NM as a kid. There was something about AZ though that drew me back, so after a trip back with my (then new) wife, we decided to move there. Loved it, and seldom does a day go by where I don't think about it. I wish I hadn't left. I try to return at least once a year.
Gotdurt-you mentioned in one of the captions this might have been your last MC trip. I certainly hope it isnt.
Who knows. My bike and my gear are old and tired, and I just don't feel motivated to replace any of it. I have started the bike
once since this trip... and have not ridden it at all. It sits, still covered in AZ filth, untouched. I also think the years of commuting may have drained me, and now that my commute to work is no further than down the hall from my bedroom, it sits. I've explored all that I care to explore in Texas, at least with the limitations of a DS bike. Funny, in Texas I feel limited by a MC, but in AZ I feel limited by an auto... guess it has to do with the size of the states and their land access situations; two very different places. I did enjoy my 4x4 (Isuzu Trooper) in AZ though, after I broke my wrist and couldn't ride for a while. I couldn't cover ground as fast, but it was much less of a hassle to stop for micro-exploration, or just to take it in, and I loved the convenience of carrying a cooler, camera gear, more comfortable clothes, etc... and not need a tent or motel. It was overkill for Texas backroads though.
The other factor is kids; my boys are finally getting to the age where I'd like to start taking them on these adventures, so I recently picked up the platform for another kind of DS:
On top of all this, I have so many expensive and time consuming hobbies, and honestly, MC's have fallen lower on the list. It is also much easier to take my bicycle places, and frankly anytime I get the bug to get away, I ask myself, "would I rather take the DS or the MTB?" The MTB almost always wins. As far as trail riding alone is concerned, I've always enjoyed the MTB more, in fact this trip prompted me go to back again last month with the MTB.