Long, cold, ride coming up.

Hello again everyone! Hit some hard times the past few months, but things are looking up again. Bent a rim, then an axle, got cut off and nearly killed, and a number of other things.
Now, Tanglebones and I are preparing for our longest trip yet, from my ranch east of snowflake, down the rim to Mesa, Tempe, Phoenix and Glendale. The distance is around 200 miles, and I leave on the first of February. I'll likely catch a cold, be miserable, and have an excellent adventure. I plan to visit some family, maybe look up my estranged wife... But back to the ride...

If anyone cares to look at a map, I'll be following Hwy 277 to Hwy 260 in Heber, then to SR87 in Payson, then to Fort McDowell and into the Phoenix metropolitan area.
I recently recived a 56t sprocket from Dax, and due to a minor oversight on my part, I need a chain, as I shortened mine when I built the bike. The same five inches or so I took off, is exactly how much I need. I have no idea what my real world speeds will be, although thanks to members here, I've a pretty good idea.
I figure to start early on the first, ride down to Fort McDowell and pitch a camp. I've no intention of fighting that traffic in the dark, and the trip across the cities will take hours.
Anyone care to join me, either on the way down, or across town once I get there? It takes a bit of bravery to cross the rim in February, on a motorbike.

Hope you all had very happy holidays, and a happy new year's.

Yep, it'll be a long ride for sure. I checked the mileage on Google, one way is about 209 miles one way, and I'll be hauling a trailer. I'll be all kitted out in my safety vest, with three flashers mounted to the back of my trailer, also I'll be making a point to ride in the daylight.

I plan to make the long run down in one day, set camp outside Fort McDowell, then ride through the next day. Phoenix traffic sucks, I think they aim rather than drive.

Thanks fasteddie, my beloved and I haven't been apart for long, and we are still good friends. She said she was having an identity crisis, which is something I can't understand, as I've always loved who I am. The problems really stem from money, I think, my lack of concern for it, and her materialisim. In truth, I'm making the trip for her. She's hit some hard times and the first person she calls is me of course.

Curt, Payson is indeed beautiful, as are Pine and Strawberry, just too many people for my taste. Where did you have your RV worked on? I may be related to the tech lol, I've got a pile of kinfolks there.

All in all, I'm really looking forward to the trip. I figure it'll cost me about $12 in fuel, my cheapest trip down the mountain with my own vehicle, ever. Something like four hundred miles had ought to be an adventure. Because I'll either pitch a tent or stay with friends and family, I figure the trip will cost about $40 or less, which is less than what my last truck needed for fuel, one way. **** of a cheap way to travel, I just hope the bike holds together, I wish I could have made this trip sooner, when the weather was better, and the bike had less mileage on it.

Yep, I'll be riding the bike back up, hopefully. That's why I picked up the 56t sprocket. Between now and then I need to pick up a longer chain. I'll be wearing plenty of winter gear, so I should stay warm, if not I'll pull over and light a little fire. I don't foresee it being to miserably cold in that concrete jungle, in fact it'll likely be perfect temps for me, providing they don't get too much rain, which would cool me down considerable.