Nothing says ?Arizona? like tall saguaros. These thorny towers are in the Sonoran Desert National Monument.

Arizona is known for its five Cs ? copper, cattle, cotton, citrus, and climate ? all of which are represented on the state?s great seal. I experienced three of them in abundance on this scenic southern Arizona loop, rolling past harvest-ready cotton fields and large dairy farms and enjoying spectacular weather. Two more Cs ? cactus and cars ? were also highlights of this entertaining ride. 

Scan QR code above or click here to view the route on REVER

Before you get the wrong impression from the title, I did not get locked up on this trip. ?Big house? is the English translation of the Spanish ?Casa Grande,? the starting and ending point of this loop ride. My trip began with a walk around the city?s downtown, which includes a tidy and interesting neon sign park, a nicely curated museum, a city park, and an impressive city square. Every January, the annual Historic Downtown Street Fair/Car and Bike Show draws upwards of 40,000 visitors to Casa Grande.
A roadside display in Casa Grande highlights some of the state?s foundational Cs.

After the stroll, I mounted my BMW R 1200 GS for the short ride to the Francisco Grande Hotel and Golf Resort. Tall palm trees stood sentinel as I rolled onto the resort?s beautiful property, which was established in the early 1960s as the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants. It was also a favorite haunt of Jo...