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Ajo and Gila Bend  - 2/10/18

Just for a change in scenery we decided a tour to the south would be interesting and insure good weather for the drive. We made this same tour in 2016, pretty scenery and something a bit different from our many tours to the north of the Valley. There are no suitable restaurants in Ajo that can take a group our size during their busy lunch period so this is a picnic tour, bring your lunch in an ice chest.

The Gang gathers at the Love’s truck stop at 56th Street and Sundust Rd. at 9:15AM and we'll depart at 9:30 AM. 

To get to Sundust Rd., you will want to leave I-10 at Exit 162 (which is also the exit for Firebird Lake and Wild Horse Pass) Turn left under the overpass to get onto Sundust and the truck stop will be on your right about a ¼ mile from the off ramp.

When we leave the truck stop, follow the signs to Interstate 10, South, and drive toward Casa Grande, get off Int. 10 at Sunland Gin Road exit #200, there will be a Love's truck stop at the bottom of the off ramp on your right, we’ll make a quick stop there to be sure the group is together. Make a right turn out of the station and continue south to Battaglia Drive where you will turn right. Continue west on Battaglia Drive approximately 6 miles to Chuichu Rd. also called hwy 15.

Turn south on hwy 15 and follow it about 50 miles to hwy 86. We will drive through the communities of Jackrabbit, North Komelik and Santa Rosa . It will be about 8 miles from Santa Rosa to Hwy 86 a main waypoint. Turn right (west) and follow hwy 86 to Ajo, about 47 miles. We will pass through the communities of Covered Wells, Gunsight and "Why." "Why" is where hwy 86 is renumbered to hwy 85, same road.

We will be having our gourmet lunch at the Bud Walker Park. Go to the Bud Walker link  and you can print out a map that will make it easy for you to find the park. We’ll be entering town on Hwy 85 toward the bottom right on the map. Turn right on to N. Malacate St. and follow it to Cedar St. where you will turn right again and in about 8 short blocks turn right on to W. 4th Ave. In 2 short blocks you will be at Palm St. and the
park will be on your left, you can’t miss it. There is a large parking lot there. The best way to get back on Hwy 85 after lunch is to go back to Cedar St. turn left and then turn right on to West First St. and it will take you right back to Hwy 85. We’ll turn right on Hwy 85 & proceed to Gila Bend, about 44 miles.

There are gas stations in Ajo and also Gila Bend where we can get fuel, we'll decide and call it out on the radio. We should be able to make good time on hwy 86/85 since it is not heavily traveled. At Gila Bend we will pick up Hwy 238 which takes us back to the town of Maricopa where we can pick up Hwy 347 back to Int 10 and we can separate there and head for our respective homes.  A rough estimate is a 325 mile round trip and Including the time for lunch, a fuel stop and comfort stops it will be a long day, probably 7 hours but that's about average for our in state luncheon tours.

At the start of the tour, please have a full fuel tank, club radio, club name tag and this guide. I have no idea if it will be top down weather but we'll find out as the date approaches, please bring appropriate clothing so you will be comfortable.

Please email your RSVP so I will know who to expect at the starting point.

Paul Ebeyer, President Arizona BMW Z Series Club

 


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REMEMBER - THE OFFICIAL CLUB POLICY IS TO OBEY ALL TRAFFIC LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND TO BE COURTEOUS TO OTHER DRIVERS