Mongollon Rim Drive to Mormon Lake

That is what happened July 17th on the Mogollon Rim Drive to Mormon Lake and Flagstaff. Another well-planned driving tour was organized and executed by the team of Rook and Debbie Younger. Thirty-nine Boxsters, Caymans, 911s, a Cayenne e-Hybrid, a Panamera and a Taycan drove through spotty showers to Flagstaff. The route took us up State Route 87 (the Beeline Highway), past the burn area from last year’s HUMAN CAUSED (please be careful!) Bush Fire, through Payson, into the cool pines to Mormon Lake on State Route 3, past Upper and Lower Lake Mary and into Flagstaff. The 39 cars were separated into three groups safely lead by Rook and Debbie Younger, Bob Woodwell and Mike and Ruth McBride with Larry Grimes and Chuck and Denise Brasille (driving their new Cayenne e-Hybrid) acting as sweeps. If you have not made this drive before you should. You will experience beautiful scenery, cool temperatures (my car thermometer registered 71 degrees at one point) and little traffic. Plus, it ends near a whole host of nice restaurants.

As is usual for Rook planned trips, driving directions were well prepared and accurate. Well, accurate as long as you passed the embedded test where everyone had to decipher that Milepost 273 was in fact Milepost 293. Everyone passed except for the driver and navigator of the Cayenne e-Hybrid, who were understandably more excited about driving their new vehicle than deciphering the directions test. But all’s well that ends well!

As is usual for Rook planned trips, driving directions were well prepared and accurate. Well, accurate as long as you passed the embedded test where everyone had to decipher that Milepost 273 was in fact Milepost 293. Everyone passed except for the driver and navigator of the Cayenne e-Hybrid, who were understandably more excited about driving their new vehicle than deciphering the directions test. But all’s well that ends well!

The Grand Canyon Brewery was a fitting end to the trip. Attending club members had a selection of five lunch plates which included soup, sandwich with fries or soup and a large salad. I heard no complaints about the food, the beer or the restaurant other than service was a little slow as we overwhelmed the restaurant. The friendly restaurant staff worked hard and did the best they could getting the food from the kitchen to the hungry drivers and passengers quickly. Fortunately, the official trip ended when we arrived at the brewery (as clearly stated by Rook before we left) so everyone could enjoy the beer of which there were twelve to choose from. I especially enjoyed the Sunset Amber Ale and brought a six-pack home with me.

So, all and all a great trip and a great route. Thanks to Rook, Debbie, the three group leaders, the sweeps and most of all to the club members who like to drive, eat and socialize.