Still at the Rally

It's been hot but enjoyable here at the rally. Jerry took a ride to Custer's Battlefeild. Steve and I hung around the rally. I went to a vintage bike restoration seminar and walked around the vendor areas. Tonight a bunch of the BMW K1600 owners gathered to talk about our bikes, drink beer and listen to music.

Steve relaxing

Custer monument 

The town of Forsyth

Jerry almost ran out of gas

Steve "letting" someone take picture of his bike

BMW MOA rally

Here we are in Billings, MT for the next 4 days attending the annual BMW rally with 5,000 other BMW enthuisist. It was a short 70 mile ride from Red Lodge to here. We were met by 93 deg temperatures which will make the cool nights feel good.

We got our tents set up and are just relaxing and visiting. Registration for the rally is in the morning so we'll start investigating the goings on at that time.

The domed building is one of the beer gardens that I'm sure will be well attended this weekend

Here is our camp spot. Since this picture was taken several other tents squeezed in.

Just some of the bikes that showed up early like us.

Red Lodge, MT

We had a leisurely breakfast in Cody this morning and headed out on the highway for a short drive of 118 miles to Red Lodge, MT over Chief Joseph and Beartooth pass unarguably the top 2 motorcycle roads in the country. The views are spectacular and the winding road with 65-70 mph speed limits is icing on the cake.

We rolled into town under threatening storm clouds but we're able to set up camp with dry weather. Steve decided to stay in camp while Jerry and I went to town for a burger.

My cockpit

Jerry in the rear

Beartooth mountain 

We will be in this state for a week.

Our camp sight in the Custer National Forest.

Cody Wyoming

I split off from Steve and Jerry and road to Dubois, WY to see a friend, Mark Quigley, who is guiding fly fisherman this summer in the area. We had a meal at the Cowboy Cafe and then Mark showed me some local sights. One was a lake that is the head waters of the Wind River. From there we went to the top of a pass where we could see the Grand Teton Mountains.

After saying our goodbyes Mark took off to do some fishing on his own and I headed for Cody by driving through Teton and Yellowstone National parks to catch up with the guys. We spent the night tent camping and doing laundry at a KOA.
 

I almost got run over by a very large bull Bison while leaving Yellowstone. He came lumbering out of the bushes and onto the road just as I went past. Literally had I been a second later he would have bowled me over. No time for a picture but I have the incident imprinted in my mind.

The sign is pretty intimidating so we didn't go in to the property

Head waters of the Wind River 

Mark Quigley and his ride

The Grand Tetons

Us with the Tetons in the back ground

Monumental Day

We left Paonia this morning and ended up at Rock Springs, WY. Along the way we ran through Colorado Monument out side of Grand Junction. None of us had been through there before so that was fun to see for the first time. 

Later we drove beside the Flaming Gorge National Monument which was another great ride section for the day. We arrived at the KOA in Rock Springs, WY at 6:00. Enjoy the pictures.

Breakfast was eaten here.

Steve at the entrance 

Jerry 

Jerry again

Jerry

Jim and Steve

Another state crossing

Flaming Gorge

Jerry is now in the same state as Carmel.

Top O'the Rockies rally

Jerry and I met Thursday morning in Flagstaff for breakfast and then got back on the road at 9:00 am. We had nice weather for the rest of the almost 500 miles and arrived in Paonia, CO at 6:30 pm. Steve had already arrived and met us in the parking lot. I ran into folks I had met last year at this and other bike events.

After pitching our tents we had a bite to eat and then found the beer garden for a cold beverage and listened to some live music.

Friday morning found us taking showers and eating a pancake and eggs breakfast hosted by local young adults raising money for their school activities. Jerry and I took a 173 mile ride down highway 92 (in the rain) along the Blue Mesa Reservoir to Gunnison for lunch and back. The return trip was nice and dry and made for a great ride back up 92 to the rally. Steve elected to hang out at the rally grounds and visit with other riders many of whom will be continuing on to Billings, MT, like us, to attend the big MOA rally next week.

Another evening of live music and then to bed. Today, Saturday, the activities are yet to be planned. Such is the relaxed life on the road.

Breakfast in Flagstaff

At the border

Our first home away from home

Black Canyon of the Gunnison along Hwy 92

Packed and ready to leave

I'll be leaving at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow. Vroom.

The Big summer trip of 2015

Well Thursday morning I'll be starting my main summer trip for this year. Jerry Stutler and I will meet up in Flagstaff that morning for breakfast and then proceed to Paonia, CO where we will connect with Steve at the Top O'the Rockies BMW rally for the weekend. Steve will have started out on Wednesday.

At the end of this weekend the 3 of us will meander North through Colorado and Wyoming and end up in Billings, MT for the annual BMW MOA (motorcycle owners of America) rally. Afterwards we will catch up with Frank and Bruce in Montana and then zig zag across Idaho and Utah for another week of great riding.

I'll try and post often while on this trip with pictures and words of wisdom (or at least tell about the daily activities).

Thanks for following along.

Bike all cleaned up, new tires, brake pads and front wheel bearings ready to be loaded

Some of the "stuff" to go on the bike

More "stuff"

Back home

Tuesday I left my cousins at 6:00 am MDT and after 645 miles I arrived home at 6:00 pm AZ time which made the trip 13 hours long. The temperatures were in the 50s most of the morning as I rode southwesterly through Colorado. Then in the four corners area it was up in the 90s and finally around Tuba City, AZ it hit 108 but fortunately that only lasted for maybe a 1/2 hour then I started to gain elevation going into Flagstaff. I hit a little sprinkle after Flagstaff so that was refreshing.

Now to get some chores out of the way and put new tires on the bike so that it's ready for the "big" trip starting July 16th. Stay tuned for that one folks and thanks for following along.