Chicago Region BMW Motorcycle Owners Assoccrbmw

It may be a little early, but I'm already starting to plan for the ride out to Oregon. My wife, Jodii, doesn't want me to ride alone. So I figured that someone will be riding out and, if possible, I could ride along. But I don't see where anyone has brought up the rally ride yet, so I am checking to see if anyone, or maybe a group of people, are planning to ride out to the rally in Redmond and what your plans are. Thanks!

Hello Peter,

Your planning might be a tad earlier than others, though I am sure people have started their thoughts on the trip. There will be more and more duscussion on this at our monthly meetings and interest will increase. Be sure to attend! I am sure you will learn of what other members are looking for riding partners. Hang in there!

For those headed to Redmond and planning to put some extra vacation time on the back end of the trip, there are a couple of good activities you may want to consider the following weekend on your way back. Right along the way back, in Cheyenne, Wyoming is Frontier Days. It runs from July 23 - August 1st. If you are into the wild west, rodeo activities and especially country music, you may want to give this serious consideration. Especially if you are traveling with your spouse or family. Tons of activities and great concerts featuring the likes of Brooks & Dunn, Sugarland, Alan Jackson, Josh Turner, Dierks Bentley, Aaron Tippin, Maranda Lambert, Clay Walker and even Kiss (for those baby boomer rockers that just want to wander back in time). For more details, go to www.cfdrodeo.com
For those interested in a bit more of an intimate motorcycle rally and willing to wander off the direct path of getting back, there is the Top of the Rockies Rally in Paonia, CO also from July 22-25 sponsored by the Colorado Beemers. It gathers in the City Park and typically has a few vendors, some terrific local music, good food and some great socializing. Given how crowded the park gets, you'd have to be a hermit to not socialize. And the surrounding area is absolutely terrific for riding. If you go, don't miss riding route 92 south of Crawford to the Morrow Point Reservoir. Also known as the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. And for those a bit more adventerous, head out early NE out of Paonia on 133 and then go west on route 12 over to Crested Butte. Give yourself some time to enjoy the scenery, slow down for cows on the road and don't travel during commuting hours. This is a well traveled "hard pack" road. Crested Butte is a delightful little town with some great eateries and if the road scared you on the way over AND you left early as advised, you will have time to take a highway loop back to Paonia by traveling south out of Crested Butte on 135, connecting to route 50 west all the way back to Delta or taking a right at the reservoir to go north on 92 for the route suggested earlier. Just be aware of one thing while you are out there at this time of year. It is highly likely you will get rain showers starting about 2 or 3 pm every afternoon. So if you don't enjoy riding twisties in the rain, allow for that consideration in your travel plans. I rode Rt 92 three times and two of those were in the pouring rain. For more information on this rally go to: http://www.coloradobeemers.org/content/view/2/25/
Either way, Redmond is a long way to travel to a rally and the once you get past the flat, boring plains there are just so many really great roads to ride. I hope you have the time to tack on to your journey and enjoy some of them.