GT Getaway Weekend 2 - PHOTOS - page 5&6

[RALPHIE]

Arizona GT Getaway 2 - Day 2 ( Part 2)

We took a break at the Oatman Hotel for beers and snacks. The walls of the bar and dining room of the hotel are covered with dollar bills - they estimate there is mor than $90,000 on these walls -

Royce & Charlie at the bar -

View attachment 29205​

Dining room -

View attachment 29206

View attachment 29207​

Our bartender - hmmmm!

View attachment 29208​

They also sell ice cream at the front of the hotel - here's a cutie licking one!

View attachment 29209​

 

[RALPHIE]

Arizona GT Getaway 2 - Day 2 ( Part 3)

Well, we made it about 20 miles south of Oatman - almost to I-40 when another valve stem on the Shelby failed. The 1st time it was the right rear - now it was the right front! We got it parked at a convenience store & called AAA. Of course, they sent one from Lake Havasu City, AZ (35 miles away) instead of Needles, CA (7 miles away). Probably have to stay in the same state? While we were waiting, Mary Jo decided to start heading home, as she needed to get home to Colorado that night. However, the ramp on the tow bed was too steep to load the Shelby without tearing the splitter completely off, so we sent him back and left the car at the convenience store. Charlie and Royce climbed in with Rich and Evie, and we continued on to Lake Havasu City (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Havasu_City,_Arizona). There, we stopped at the London Bridge, walked down to the channel where Charlie jumped in - see Renea's photos above.

View attachment 29210​

Charlie, surveying his jump -

View attachment 29211​

We then went over to the other side of the bridge and wandered around London Bridge Beach, then went to dinner at Barley Brothers Restaurant and Brewery (Royce, Charlie, Evie, Rich, Renea, Chip) -

View attachment 29212​

The sun was setting, as seen from our table, so we returned to the cars, driving back to Kingman for the night -

View attachment 29213​

I just want to thank Rich for putting together a great Ford GT weekend. In spite of the minor disruptions to the program, he made it very enjoyable to all of us. I look forward to "Arizona GT Getaway 3" next year!

:thumbsup :thumbsup

 

[twobjshelbys]

I was going to ask about the picture in Chip's set about the flat on the Shelby GT, but it sounds like maybe two failed? I've never heard about any kind of failure like that. Valve stems on the SGT era cars aren't part of the TPMS - there is a band around the wheel.

 

[Piccola]

As Ralphie mentioned, I drove from Grand Junction down to the South Rim to get in a little rim to rim power hike in the morning before meeting up with Ralphie to finish the drive down to Kingman. This was Chip's fault as I had the bug ever since he posted of his trip to Phantom Ranch with Renea. :biggrin

The Grand Canyon hike was beautiful. If you haven't been to the bottom, I highly recommend it!! This is a picture of the South Rim just before sunset the night before the hike.



I started the hike at 3 AM, thinking it would be really difficult and take all day. I also wanted to miss the triple digit temperatures down in the inner gorge of the canyon... The first 8 miles were done in the dark jogging down the South Kaibab trail toward Phantom Ranch. I couldn't see the dropoffs in the dark, or the river at the bottom, but I could hear the roar of the water beneath me as I crossed over the CO River.





There were curious mule deer walking right up to sniff at me and bats filling the night sky. It was beautiful even in the dark. By 5 AM I was relaxing by the creek at Phantom Ranch as the sun started to rise along with several sleepy hikers.

During the next 6 miles, the trail followed the gentle curve of a small creek with only mild elevation gains. The best parts were the tall black walls of rock close to the trail on both sides. I took a few dips in the creek to stay cool. Even though the sun had just poked its head over the canyon walls, it was still fairly hot down there. Until the end of this section ("the wall"), I was alone on the trail for the most part. It was very peaceful and oddly quiet compared to what I read about opening weekend.





-MJ

 

[Piccola]

Once I exited the wall, the canyon opened up and was surprisingly green! Due to the low rainfall, Ribbon Falls was little more than a dribble of water coming down over the moss covered rock, but was still one of the canyon's treasures.











-MJ

 

[Piccola]

After a few more miles, I hiked up to Cottonwood campground and met a few crazy (and nice looking) trail runners who were doing the rim-to-rim-to-rim!! For the rest of the hike, they would pass me and then I'd catch up when they were taking a break. So much fun to make friends at the bottom of the Grand Canyon!! :lol



This is Roaring Springs. You could hike down 400' to get a closer look, but with a few thousand feet of elevation to still hike up, I opted to just enjoy the view from the trail.



You can see how the trail was created by cutting into the rock on the side of the cliff. It looks scarier in the photo than it really was.



About 2000' from the top I saw a helicopter carrying tourists. Thought it was "search and rescue" at first!



Here is a nice view looking back from the trail on the hike up. The bridge I had "just" crossed looks tiny!



-MJ

 

[Piccola]

I finally made it to the last water stop by the Supai Tunnel, 1400' and 2 miles from the top. I wondered if Ralphie was up there somewhere...



This is a view from the Coconino Overlook. Only 400' left! (I had just dumped a liter of water over my head 10 minutes ago and it was already dry :lol)



I met those trail runners at the top, and after talking with them for a bit, I realized I didn't have cell service and was 3 hours early. This is the last picture I took before continuing on along the road to the Visitor Center to find Ralphie.



The hike was not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be, and I was done at 11 AM - just in time for lunch. I was tired, but also feeling great and couldn't wait to see my favorite red GT and surprise Ralphie as I was done 3 hours earlier than expected!! What a beautiful sight I came upon in the parking lot at the Visitor Center! :biggrin



-MJ

 

[Piccola]

Ralphie and I stopped by Navajo Bridge on the way to dropping me off at the South Rim to pick up my car. He was having a lot of fun trying out his new camera. :biggrin



One last picture at sunset of the south rim. Ralphie went on to Williams and I stayed behind for a few hours at the South Kaibab trailhead hoping to see Mark and the other guys come up from their rim to rim to rim run and congratulate them. I was either there too early or too late, but after 2 hours and very little sleep over the past 2 days, I left and headed to Ralphie's motel. :eek



In the morning, I followed Ralphie and Barrie (Flagstaff GT) to Kingman, dropped off my car in the hotel's parking lot, and that was the last I saw of my keys... :frown



The cars at the distillery made a nice photo.



And here is Renea in action taking one of her many wonderful photos of our getaway cruise.



-MJ

 

[Piccola]

Ralphie made a new friend!!



Chip and Rich swap vehicles for part of the cruise...



We had fun following Barry until he kicked up a stone that found Ralphie's windshield.



But as usual, that didn't dampen Ralphie's spirits!



At the Valle Vista Country Club for a nice lunch.

 

[RALPHIE]

That was Renae's friend!

View attachment 29252​

 

[Piccola]

Ralphie is planning where he and his GT will go now that he has a passport.



What a great day to have a birthday!



Who's that in my rear view?



Who knew you could rent a room a few hundred feet underground in a dark cave?



I bet that cute couple in pink knew! (Hey Chip, I love how you color coordinated your shirt to match Renea's purse.)

 

[Piccola]

At a car show off Route 66. The GTs were a hit!





What is it with guys and engines? :lol

 

[Piccola]

At least the Shelby was in good company (and had Rich present w/his tools and spare) when the tire went.



Ralphie and MJ at the car show on Route 66.



My new GT40. :wink Thanks Rich!



My car decided to join in on the fun the last day and was very excited to be surrounded by her 2 favorite GTs!

 

[Piccola]

Last ones...

 

[GT Tech]

Well, another GT Getaway Weekend is in the books. I'm still decompressing. I hope everyone had a great time. It was great seeing old friends, and making new ones. That Renea is a real firecracker. Chip obviously has GREAT taste. (but I think Renea has better) It was an honor having Royce (birthday boy), and Charlie (crazy kid) spend Sunday night at my humble abode. What can I say about MJ and Ralphie. Where do these people get so much energy? Next year we will insist that Barry leave his cell phone at home.

As you can see from the pictures (WHAT is that cave sloth doing against the wall?) we had a very busy weekend. Despite a few mechanical hick-ups, things went pretty well. I had the chance to drive Chip's Yellow Monster. Definitely a wolf in sheep's clothing. (BIG boost is our friend) I didn't check the miles we drove, but it was a lot.

I'm already getting ideas for next years event. Maybe a southern tour this time. Visit copper mine , a shoot out at the OK corral, a movie studio town. We shall see. :thumbsup

 

[Piccola]

It was great seeing Charlie and Chip again, and I enjoyed talking with Renea (great girl Chip!!). Thanks for inviting birthday boy Royce. Rich, maybe Chip won't agree, but the key incident and 2 flats just added to the adventure. It was a pleasure seeing you and Evelyn again. You guys did a fantastic job planning this trip and I'm looking forward to next year. Barry, I hope everything went okay with your son. I agree. Next year, we will have to steal your phone...but at least you made it through lunch. Ralphie, I'm sure we will have more adventures with #2 before next year. Thanks again for helping me get back to my car and letting me copilot.

-MJ

 

[Shelby#18]

Sorry I couldn't make it. I really, really want to do this. The reason I couldn't go this year was well worth it though, as wife wife pulled out a first place win at the Banjo contest. (She even won money which we didn't expect.)

 

[Empty Pockets]

For crying out the window, 18 - WHERE'S THE VID????????????!!!!!!!!

 

[ChipBeck]

For crying out the window, 18 - WHERE'S THE VID????????????!!!!!!!!

+1

 

[Shelby#18]

+1

Trying... I don't know how to get it yet.