Our Holiday Tradition

Me and X-Man, Castle Hot
Springs in the background.

What's the use of living in Arizona if you don't celebrate traditions appropriate to your surroundings? There'll be no dreaming of a White Christmas in this house! In fact, we live here because we don't dream of a white Christmas.

Last year was our first holiday season as confirmed Arizonians, and we started our Christmas motorcycle ride tradition in 2014. This year we ventured out on Christmas Eve, and it was an off-road experience we craved.

I was on a mission to see my first burro, so we headed to Lake Pleasant and it's surrounding dirt roads. Mr. J had just fixed my X-Man up with leads on the battery so I could wear my heated gear, and only in AZ can you get away with that under a mesh jacket in December!

Wild burros are abundant around the lake, and I wasn't disappointed! I love nature and wildlife, and it's so cool to be able to visit these guys less than an hour from home. If you visit, please drive slowly. They aren't fast animals.

Out the back of the lake is Castle Hot Springs Road, which you can take to Crown King if you've got the skills to get there (I'm hoping that trip will be on my agenda next summer).

You can also take the road to the actual Castle Hot Springs, which was a resort for the rich and famous in the 20's and 30's, a military rehab center during the War, and a speculator's paradise today. When will someone turn it into the next French Lick/West Baden?
 

Happy Holidays from the Johnsons.

Cut the engines on your bikes, and you can actually hear the hot springs gurgling. Some day I'm going to sneak out there and take a dip.

Enjoying the outdoors on our motorcycles year-round is one of the greatest pleasures of living in Arizona, and I am eternally grateful to enjoy that opportunity.

Now let's get home and put that leg of lamb on the grill!