This is my first day on the road, riding my BMW motorcycle on a 53-day/8,000 mile motorcycle tour from Bisbee, Arizona to British Columbia and back. I leave my home at the Jonquil Motel in Bisbee, Arizona and travel across southern Arizona to Arivaca Lake for a night of solo motorcycle camping and cooking, something that I enjoy doing when time permits.
Riding Solo | AZ to BC | Episode 2
Details
- Distance: 158 miles
- Location: Arizona
- Start: Bisbee, Arizona
- End: Arivaca Lake, Arizona
- Roads: Montezuma Canyon Road, I-19, W Arivaca Road, S Ruby Road
- Conditions: pavement and graded dirt
- Cities: Bisbee, Nogales, Arivaca
- Camping: Coronado National Forest
Huachuca Mountains
The gravel roads begin about 25 miles west of Bisbee as I approach the Huachuca Mountains. The route I am taking passes through the Coronado National Memorial which is part of the Coronado National Forest. I always enjoy the view from Montezuma Pass and Montezuma Canyon Road is a great way to travel the border roads between Bisbee and Nogales.
San Rafael Ranch
I pass through the beautiful grasslands of the San Rafael Ranch Natural Area, a place that never fails to capture my heart with its peaceful tranquility. Although I was hoping to take the Ruby Road to Arivaca, it was closed for road construction so I had to head up the highway a little further north to the pavement.
Arivaca Lake
I’ve camped a few times at Arivaca Lake and I really enjoy it. The camping is free, close to water, and there are no other people in the area this evening. After a really nice sunset and a simple meal it’s time to call it a night, thus ending my first day of riding on this long adventure.
Unbound Merino Wool
I’m using some new travel clothing from Unbound Merino which doesn’t absorb odors the way normal clothing does because it is made out of high quality merino wool from sheep. The only thing I have to do is air it out every night, so I’ve improvised a clothesline from the monopod on the back of my motorcycle.
Motorcycle Camping Nirvana
Not too bad for my first evening on the road, right?
Tonight’s meal is a simple tomatoe and avocado salad with some Sriracha salt that I pick up from the little grocery store in Arivaca.