Cyclerides.com Weekly Update
5/23/18

Greetings Riders,

If you missed the newsletter last week about the hilarious mini bike races and video, Click Here to View.


Only 2 Nights Left! We are winding down the season for the Cyclerides.com Bike Night at Westgate Entertainment District. We will have Live Music with "74th Street Band" this Friday night and The "Visitors" for the final night of the season on June 1st. See you there!


Destination: Grand Canyon Caverns
Route 66 Mile Marker 115
Watch Video Below!

I am always looking for new destinations and activities to share with you and this week I am excited to share with you Grand Canyon Caverns located 12 miles East of Peach Springs, AZ on Route 66. This is one of those really cool, under the radar, "hidden gems" that I had never been to in my 37 years in Arizona. I had briefly heard the name from time to time, but just thought it was one of those cheesy road side attractions from yesteryear on Route 66.

Well, after visiting Grand Canyon Caverns this past Sunday, it is a fantastic destination and one that you should put on your list of things to do. It could be a day trip, overnight family trip as they have 48 motel rooms, a motorcycle day/overnight trip or even a private plane trip, as it has its own runway next to it. However you choose to go, it will be a fun and enjoyable adventure. You can even use it for a place to stay while visiting Supai Falls, rafting the Colorado River or visiting the Grand Canyon.

When you arrive at Grand Canyon Caverns located on 800 acres of trust land at 5500 feet in elevation between Peach Springs and Seligman, AZ on Route 66, you will be greeted by the Radiator Springs gas station. You might recall this name from the Disney movie "Cars". This place was the inspiration for the movie as the writers stayed here for a month while writing the movie. This is where you would check into one of the 48 motor inn style, newly refurbished motel rooms. To get to the Caverns you will drive another mile up to the actual entrance to Caverns which also houses the restaurant and gift shop.

As the story goes, in 1927, a woodcutter for the Santa Fe Railroad by the name of Walter Peck was going to a poker game during a heavy rain at the nearby Yampai railroad siding house. He saw water going into a hole that had opened up on his trail due to the heavy rains, but it never filled up. The following morning, Walter and some friends brought ropes and lanterns with them to the new hole in the trail. They tied a rope around the waist of a local cowboy and lowered him into the hole.

By the time the cowboy's feet touched the floor of the hole, 150 feet of rope had been let out and he found himself in a very large and dark cavern. They then coined the phrase, "Dope on a rope". Walter started charging 25 cents to be lowered into the caverns. By 1936 they built a wooden staircase to the caverns and the price went to 50 cents. By 1962 they installed the current elevator and now charge $19.95 to visit. That is some pretty good inflation!

The natural limestone Grand Canyon Caverns are the largest dry caverns in the United States, located 200 to 300 feet below the surface. Only 3 out of every 100 caverns are dry which makes it very rare. You enter the elevator that was installed in 1962 that holds 7 people and take the 20 second ride down 210 feet. When the door opens, you are in the cavern. You enter and leave the caverns by means of this elevator, making the caverns easily accessible. Because the caverns are so deep underground, the temperature is always constant. The day we were there it was 62 degrees and 5% humidity
. This modern cavern is lifeless. Bacteria and viruses cannot live longer than 72 hours in this environment.

The two main rooms: the "Chapel of Ages" (130 yards long) and the "Halls of Gold" (210 yards long) are each large enough to fit a regulation football field in them. In early 1963, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the US government stored enough food and water in the caverns to support 2,000 people for two weeks. Although these rations were never needed, because of the cool-dry conditions of the caverns, the food is still edible. The caverns offer a number of unique geological formations that can be easily viewed from the smoothly paved walking trails including the Snowball Palace, Mammoth Dome, Cave Coral, Winter Crystal and the Giant's Keyhole. The lighting is beautiful and it is sometimes a surreal experience.

The tour winds you around, up and down the 2 huge rooms via stairways and concrete walkways that change elevation by as much as 100 feet, taking you down to 300 feet below the surface. While you are there you will see underground cave suite known as the Cave Motel Room, which they claim is the Largest, Oldest, Deepest, Darkest, Quietest motel room in the world.
Largest: 200 feet by 400 feet with 70 foot ceiling
Oldest: Caverns and walls over 65 million years
Deepest: 220 feet below the surfaces, access via elevator
Darkest: Absent of any light
Quietest: The only sound is your heart beating and your breath. You are the only living thing in the caverns, The only living thing.
Driest: Zero humidity, nothing lives in the caverns, not a fly, no bats, nothing!
You can also have dinner at the Cave Grotto in the Cavern.

This would be a very unique experience to say the least, but it comes at a price of $900 per night. Paranormal activity is free. Yes, there are signs everywhere alerting you to paranormal activity. Our tour guide claims to be a conduit for the ghosts and has some interesting stories of his encounters. But if this is not your thing, they have 48 regular motel rooms on the surface.

Grand Canyon Caverns currently offers 5 tours. The brand new Wild Tour (2:30) into the newly discovered caves. A Short Guided walking tour (25 min.) for those with very limited time or need for maximum accessibility. Our Regular Guided walking tour, which is 45 minutes long, covers 3/4 of a mile and departs every half hour. The Explorer Tour, which goes off the beaten path for the more adventurous. And the Ghost Walk tour. Prices range from $15.95 to $99.95 per person. We took the regular tour with the Senior discount for $15.95. ($20.95 for non-senior). This was an excellent 45 minute tour with plenty of sensory overload. I would recommend taking this one. Dino, our tour guide was great and full of information and facts about the Caverns. You pay for the tour, but the corny jokes are free. You will see what I mean.

The Caverns are privately owned and we had a chance to talk with John, the owner who acquired the property in 2010. He is there every day working hard to refurbish the property and to make this a world class destination. Be sure to say hi to John while you are there and tell him Cyclerides.com sent you. They currently get over 70,000 visitors a year from all over the world.

Rating: I give this 5 Spokes!
I would without a doubt recommend a trip to the Grand Canyon Caverns.
It is truly a one of a kind experience and very enjoyable for just a quick trip or an overnight stay to enjoy the surrounding area. They also have a large RV Park with facilities, 48 motel rooms, restaurant and gift shops along with some party rooms for bigger groups. This would be the perfect Chapter Ride for motorcycles or a family trip to see some geological history. If you have access to a plane, they also have a 5100 foot dirt runway right next the place that you are welcomed to fly into. Fly into L37.

If you would like to experience a part of the Caverns, watch this short video of the tour. It is really cool to see. Turn on sound to hear the tour guide.
Click Here to View Video.

I took several photos but the pictures do not do it justice at all. I have chosen 66 for you to view that will get you a feel for what you are about to see. Click Here to View Photos.

Details:
Location: Route 66 at Mile Marker 115 between Seligman and Peach Springs, AZ
The shortest distance to drive to the Caverns is 177 miles from I-17 and the loop 101 in Phoenix which Google Maps says takes 2:45. Click Here for Map.
Phone: 928-422-3223. Email: info@gccaverns.com
Tour Times: 9am - 5pm
For more information on tours and reservations, go the Grand Canyon Caverns web site.
Here is a great History of the Caverns
Click Here for Cavern Tours & Times Information

Check and "LIKE" Cyclerides.com Facebook Page for updates rides, photos and video posted throughout the week.

Please Ride Safe!
Barry


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Cyclerides.com Bike Night at Westgate Entertainment District
Only 2 nights left for the season!

This Week Live Music with "74th Street Band"

The Cyclerides.com Bike Night at Westgate Entertainment District
from 5-9pm.  Put this on your calendar, forward this email to your riding buddies, and come join us for Live Music, Vendors, Food, Fun and lots of Motorcycles. There are many new restaurants that have opened at Westgate in the last few months, so there are plenty of choices of places to eat and drink. Bike Night specials are posted below.

As usual there will be plenty of vendors for you to browse including Arrowhead Harley-Davidson, Ridenow Powersports, Indian Motorcycle of Peoria, Law Tigers, Phoenix Motor Leathers,  The Clip Man.

Please take advantage of the great weather and help us make our 10th Season of the Cyclerides.com Bike Night at Westgate Entertainment District the best yet. Westgate is located at the Loop 101 & Glendale Ave. in Glendale, AZ. Gates open 5pm and Live Music this week with "Skarlett Fever" begins at 6pm - 9pm. Come early, get your parking spot and enjoy some good food, drink and Live Music.

Great food and drink specials this season are:
Good Bad Ugly Brewing Co. (located inside Tavern+Bowl) - $1 GBU Beers All Night Long
Whiskey Rose – 25% off regular-priced menu items. Plus, enjoy happy hour from 3-7pm.
Salt - $3 Bud Light, Ultra, & Estrella bottles, $5 Jack Daniels & 20% off regular menu items.

McFadden's Restaurant & Saloon - Burger & a beer for $10, ˝ off all appetizers and $3 drafts from 4-10pm.
Calico Jack's - $3 Bud Light & Michelob Ultra bottles & 1/2 off appetizers
Saddle Ranch – Enjoy 2 chicken tacos for $6.75 and classic drafts for only $3.75. Additionally, happy hour specials from 4-6:30pm with 50% off all appetizers and drinks.
Kabuki – 10% off total bill. Visit kabukirestaurants.com/westgate for restrictions.
Popbar – Free unlimited dippings & toppings with any pop purchase.
Opa Life Greek Café - 20% off total bill.
Dave & Buster’s – Free $20 game card with the purchase of a $20 game card.
Mama Gina’s – 10% off total bill.

Where: Westgate Entertainment District, Loop 101 and Glendale Ave. SE Corner. Next to Gila River Arena.
When: Friday nights beginning April 6th – June 1st
Time: Gates open at 5 PM -– 9 PM
What: Bike Night. Live Music, Food, Fun, Vendors, Motorcycles and Sturgis Style Cruising down Coyote Blvd.
Click Here for Flyer.

Special Thanks to our presenting Sponsors, Arrowhead Harley-Davidson, Ridenow Powersports and Indian Motorcycle Peoria. And to our Associate Sponsor Law Tigers.

LIKE the Cyclerides.com Facebook for weekly updates about
upcoming events at the Cyclerides.com Bike Night, Photos and Video.



 
This Week

Saturday - Monday
May 26th, 27th & 28th
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AT ARROWHEAD HARLEY-DAVIDSON.
HUGE pre-owned inventory REDUCTION SALE!
1 hour free labor for every $750 spent on parts.
SATURDAY ONLY from 10am to 1pm - FREE BBQ & Free Bikini Bike Wash.
Step into our MONEY MACHINE all weekend long!
Buy ANY bike and step into the money machine to win H-D bucks! (H-D Bucks valid towards H-D licensed merchandise.)
Arrowhead Harley-Davidson is located at 16130 N. Arrowhead Fountain Center Dr. in Peoria, AZ. 623-247-5542.

Saturday, May 26th
Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson Hogs & Dogs. Join Buddy Stubbs Arizona Harley-Davidson on Saturday, May 26th between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM for our monthly Hogs & Dogs customer appreciation. Grab some friends and enjoy museum tours, free hamburgers, hot dogs, and ice cold drinks. Listen to some awesome live music provided by Pappy's Fire and Soul.
Join us for the free Summer Touring Clinic at 12:00 PM. We will have the pro's showing you how to efficiently pack your gear on your summer road trips. Buddy Stubbs Arizona Harley-Davidson is located at 13850 N. Cave Creek Road or on the web at www.buddystubbshd.com. For more information e-mail marketing@buddystubbs.com or Call (602) 971-3400. See you there!

Monday, May 28th
12th Annual Memorial Day Rally - Flags For Our Fallen. Started in 2006 by a handful of patriotic bikers, this event now draws 200+ of the best bikers around. Who else would get up this early in the morning to pay tribute to those who have served our Nation. We line Cave Creek Road with 500 American Flags on 10' tall Flagpoles and park the Motorcycles alongside those Flags while greeting people arriving at the National Cemetery for the 8:00 am official State Sponsored Event. Event pins for the first 300 bikes. Location is the SE Corner of Cave Creek Rd. and Pinnacle Peak Rd. in Phoenix, AZ. For more detailed information, go to http://www.ridersusa.net/page-1506903 or email RidersUSA@cox.net
Itinerary:
4:00 AM, All RidersUSA members arrive.
5:30 AM, Start Parking MOTORCYCLES!!!!!
7:00 AM, National Anthem performed.
7:45 AM, Bi-planes flyover, missing man formation.
8:00 AM, Official Ceremony starts in Cemetery
12PM, Tear Down



Extras
 
Mid Week Updates will be made on the Cyclerides.com Facebook. New Easy to remember Facebook address. Go to www.facebook.com/cycleridescom. Over 6900 LIKES! Take a look at all the new photos posted on the wall. If you are not on Facebook, you can still view the  page, but you will not be able to post. There will be a link there for you to sign up for Facebook if you are inclined. Click the LIKE button!

Here is how NOT to get out of the bathtub in Moab in a side by side. Click Here to View.

Video of the Week
Some of the worst bull riding wrecks of 2017. These guys are either crazy or tough! Click Here.
Click on the Video of the Week graphic to view.
 
If you would like to sign up for the Cyclerides.com Weekly Update Click Here.

Until Next Week,
Blessings and Safe Riding To All,

Barry Caraway
"The Road Is Yours - Take The Ride"
www.cyclerides.com

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