Afraid not. I will be out of the country.

 

If you are going to Tarbell's...Scotch Beef on the menu is awesome, frankly everything is good. Was also voted best in Phoenix for eating at the bar. You will need to make a reservation.

anecdote off topic - when I was there last year, I stopped at the Safeway grocery located nearby - Bugatti Veyron parked by the deli entrance!

 

Steve, hope the weather on the return trip didn't cause too much of an issue.

(CNN) -- A winter storm packing heavy snow and gusty winds forced authorities to close 180 miles of Interstate 40 in northern Arizona on Sunday until further notice.
The road was closed in both directions about 6:30 a.m. (9:30 a.m. ET), said David Beck, dispatch supervisor for the Flagstaff office of the Arizona Highway Patrol. The closure stretched roughly from Kingman in western Arizona to eastward to Winslow, including the city of Flagstaff, he said.
Portions of Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff were also closed, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation's website, as were several state roads.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/18/us/win...html?hpt=hp_t3

 

You are off by a week paddyh. I leave for Phoenix this Thursday. The cold rolled into CO today and should be gone by the time we leave.

 

Sorry I missed the travel date, too. Cold front moving through AZ right now (cold for us, anyway). Should be all warmed up by the time you head this way.

Customer is a large medical implant manufacturer - Synthes.
Maybe the largest employer in the booming metropolis of Monument?

Beautiful town you live in, and a quaint downtown.

Last year in May I visited there, and got caught in a blizzard! Last week was mid-60's while I was there, though. Nice!
Have a safe trip!

 

I saw the Flagstaff saw 10 inches of snow this weekend. You're right that the weather looks good for later this week. I'm ready.

Small towns are great. Other than going to my office on the north end of the Springs, I rarely venture into Colo Springs - have everything I need in Monument. I had no idea that Synthes existed - funny how that works.

Next time you're out this way, hit me up and we can grab a beer at our new brewery.

Steve

 

Thanks for the invite!
Actually, I'm a Carolina's man, myself. Grew up in "Little" Washington, ECU graduate (late 70's, when Pat Dye was our fottball coach), and lived in Columbia, SC for 10 years prior to moving to PHX.
I'll be back there in 5 years or so, when I retire.
I know where yonder is, and how many folks is in y'all...

 

I grew up in Winston-Salem, 4 years in Jacksonville/LeJeune while in the Corps, then Chapel Hill for school. I don't know if I will ever move back, mostly because my family is now so spread out, but I do miss it sometimes. Main negative with Colorado is finding good BBQ and grits.

 

But the roads - oh the roads - make up for all that.

 

You can't find "good" BBQ in the Carolinas either, since it is pork soaked in vinegar. You have to go to Texas for real BBQ!

 

Them is fighting words.

 

If you go via I40 thru Flagstaff, definitely go thru Sedona into Phoenix. The segment between Flagstaff and Sedona is my favorite road, decreasing radius corners, big elevation drop, some great straights in the woods.

 

If you end up going through Sedona, take Hwy. 89/89A headed towards Prescott. You'll go through the town of Jerome, which is at the top of Mingus Mountain. There are at least 50 switchbacks going up and coming down the other side of Mingus. Beautiful scenery, and a blast to drive.

 

All of the poor weather has passed. With rare exception everything is dry and reasonably warm. We have decided to take 160 across southern CO - through Wolf Creek Pass, Pagosa Springs, Durango - and into AZ.
Continue on 160 through Flagstaff, then into Sedona. If we leaver early enough tomorrow I should have time to take 89/89A (sounds like fun).
I have the HD GoPro mounted so post-trip I will report back with pics/videos and trip report.
Thanks again for all of the suggestions.
Steve

 

Hee hee!