How many have even BEEN to WYO.?;

robnye said:

I live in Rhode Island.

I have ridden in Wyoming and I loved it.

I am looking forward to riding in Wyoming again next summer.

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Greenwald,
I asked you in other threads and never got a reply. I'll be a little more blunt:
Do you really think anyone in their right mind went to Wisconsin for the riding?

knary said:

Greenwald,
I asked you in other threads and never got a reply. I'll be a little more blunt:
Do you really think anyone in their right mind went to South Eastern Wisconsin for the riding?

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Fixed. You have never heard of Coulee country I take it? There is great riding all over Wisconsin.
The riding by Wildcat Mountain and area has been compared to Vermont by a buddy from Mass. Unfortunately, there are no facilities whatsoever for the BMWMOA to have a Rally in that area, or I would have suggested it

For what it is worth, I never went into West Bend for the 3 days of the Nat'l.

I Love Wyoming

Jackson Hole is the primo place to ski if not in North America, certainly in the U.S.

Regards,



Randy Kasal

Greenwald said:

Hey Kenk - with my law enforcement contacts, I can probably get us a group rate in the Witness Protection Program. We may need it.

Our comments about Gillette have irked a certain fraternity within this forum, so now my "civility has been declared contrived," and your credibility (despite the fact you grew up in S. Dakota with Gillette in your proverbial backyard) is being ignored, in favor of experts who have visited there "once in July."

Between the two of us, we have logged over 50,000 miles on our Beemers this summer, not to mention I got a B+ in college Geography (OK - it was an A-, but I didn't want to sound like I was bragging), yet we don't know good locales from marginal ones and can't see flaws with a site by perusing a map - need a hands-on visit, apparently.

Gillette is a done deal - I get that. The sabor-rattling was to alert those who are looking ahead to 2009 that you need to consider proximity riding with the same passion you approach the beer tent.

I'll pick you up at midnight in a nondescript white Ford (a later model rental) - wait for two beeps, following by one beep. Bring cash and poptarts.

KG (aka 'Mr. Smith')

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Ok so you don't think Gillette is a great site for the rally because in your opinion the riding at the rally site sucks.

What gets offputting is the fact that because you don't like the area you feel it necessary to warn us that the rally will suck. I got news for you, the rally isn't going to suck, not one bit, even if the roads out the front door are not like the roads in Vermont.

As someone who lives on the east coast I am totally psyched the rally is in Wyoming. I love it when the rally is out wast because I can build a nice tour with a few days at the rally as just one part of my vacation.

In 04 the Sheepshagger and I loaded the bikes in his truck and made it to Montrose, Colorado in about 35 hours, then we went to the Top of the Rockies, the MOA National and the Adventure Riders Ouray Campout all in two and a half weeks.

As an east coast boy I was happy to park and enjoy the solitude for a moment.

photo taken somewhere in Wyoming


We had a great time in Moab which is about 700 miles from Gillette.



Got the friends together for this shot outside of Ketchum, ID which is also around 700 miles from the rally site.


Hit some high mountain passes near Ouray, also inside of 700 miles from Gillette



Yup, we hated every minute of it.



You you are right, riding out west totally sucks.




I am totally psyched that the rally is back out west. I will build a tour based on spending a few days at the rally. My average mileage will be around 400 a day with two days at the rally site without going any further than the beer store. For myself and the majority of members the roads within 100 miles of the site do not matter as much as being able to take a shower, find a clean restroom, get fed etc.

I guess what is offensive is some retired guy who logged over 25,000 miles this summer telling me that my two week vacation is going to suck because the riding at the rally site is in his expert opinion, no good, when the riding at the site is the last thing I would consider and important part of my vacation. For me a vital part of my annual vacation is the rally iteslf, i.e. the people, bikes and good times that just happen when you combine the two.

Nice ride report Rob!

Greenwald said:

To Rapid-Roy: No, I do not strive to convince everyone that the rally site lacks a certain allure (realistic proximity riding) that I value - to some, it is already Valhalla. This forum would be of little use (and not very informative, either) should we all agree.

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As with many things, the real answer may be somewhere in between, not either extreme.

Gees, RobNye - how do you keep that BMW balanced with all that gear strapped on?!

Nice set of photos - very scenic. You make your point that for you, good riding near the rally site is not high on the short list. So be it.

For some of us, it ranks further up. The fact that all of your spectacular scenery is 700 miles away from Gillette sort of makes all this 'paintball bickering' moot.

And for the record, no 'expert' resides at this end - never, ever said so - actually, have never met one myself, but then I'm only 54 years old - need to keep looking.

Enjoy your pilgrimage out west - I share coffee from time to time with our District Attorney (Joe DeCecco), a R.I. native - lot's of lobster stories. Sounds like an interesting place to hang your helmet.

Ride On.

Kids, bring your knobs.

I've been there several times. This was the year (1990, I think) when the MOA was in Rapid City, S.D.

The beauty of it is....I won't be spending any nights in Gillette.
I will spend them at the Rally.
I won't make any excuses for Gillette at all. Nor will I make disparaging comments.
I'll just wait and see if I have fun (My money is on yes)

We had sudden rain storms in WB this year too.
We have Tornados in Wisconsin, we could have had one of those too..................... but we didn't. *shrug*

co_bmw_rider said:

Touche' ! I experienced several rain & thunder storms during this year's pilgrimage to the Sturgis Rally, including 3 rain storms in a single day. One was a total downpour and I ended up soaked, despite my gear. Another storm turned into hail and the wind blowing sideways caused a near-total whiteout. I was grateful to be wearing a full-face helmet, armored jacket and gloves as I tucked in behind the RT's fairing and windshield.

If you plan to go, the you should go and have a wonderful time. However, Kenk's words ring true for those of us who have been there. Go prepared for unexpected weather. Stake your tent well. And be certain to monitor your fuel too ... there are stretches of road where gas stations are 100 miles or more apart.

To be sure, you'll come across some wonderful, hearty local residents throughout the area.

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I drove throught the same kind of storm this year, almost took me off my GS sideways! I started just north of Albert Lee in Minnesota and following me North to the cities. Happened to me many times just outside of Fort Collins; bad winds down the canyons! Seems like every where is full face country!

wind? in the CO Front Range? Nonsense. We only got hit by gusts of 55-60 today. Not like it really got going, now.

WhyRoaming ride

Wyoming is a fine state in which to stretch your bike. Good roads, lots of good scenery of the Western kind.

It is a fine state in which to stretch your bike. Just watch for cars parked at the side of straight, lonely roads waaaaaaaay up ahead as they are often state patrol who say they use Golden Eagle radar ... but my Escort never beeped.

It is a fine state in which to stretch your bike. In the morning and late afternoon, watch for deer, antelope and moose, jackrabbits, rabbits, raccattycoons, etc. I will say, it is memorable to come up on a moose trotting down the road along side of you as the sun comes up. Just remember, moose are mean, especially if you get between a cow and her calf.

It is a fine state in which to stretch your bike. Watch the horizon for storms, as it is *good* to have a place to hide during some of them. And it is good to have a place to get out of the sun when you dismount.

Try the rally in Gillette. You'll probably enjoy the fest, love the ride. If you don't, well, then you now know and don't have to make the same mistake twice when they rally is in, say, Goodland, Kansas, in 2011.

Stopwatch said:

Wyoming is a fine state in which to stretch your bike. Good roads, lots of good scenery of the Western kind.

It is a fine state in which to stretch your bike. Just watch for cars parked at the side of straight, lonely roads waaaaaaaay up ahead as they are often state patrol who say they use Golden Eagle radar ... but my Escort never beeped.

It is a fine state in which to stretch your bike. In the morning and late afternoon, watch for deer, antelope and moose, jackrabbits, rabbits, raccattycoons, etc. I will say, it is memorable to come up on a moose trotting down the road along side of you as the sun comes up. Just remember, moose are mean, especially if you get between a cow and her calf.

It is a fine state in which to stretch your bike. Watch the horizon for storms, as it is *good* to have a place to hide during some of them. And it is good to have a place to get out of the sun when you dismount.

Try the rally in Gillette. You'll probably enjoy the fest, love the ride. If you don't, well, then you now know and don't have to make the same mistake twice when they rally is in, say, Goodland, Kansas, in 2011.

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Sorry...but Goodland wouldn't qualify for a BMW MOA Rally. It only has 5,000 folks.

However, Hays, Kansas meets all the qualifications. It's along an interstate, so has plenty of motels (may I add much cheaper), about 20,000 people (we're forbidden from having a rally in any town larger), it has a large fair grounds with plenty of livestock buildings (same as West Bend) for vendors and limitless camping area and great scenic rides (if you travel 300 miles west to the Rockies like Gillette).

For what it's worth, Hutchinson, KS would be a better choice. It's population may be a bit too high (40,000) for a BMW rally. However, it has the state fairgrounds and tons of hotel rooms if you what to include Wichita (only 45 miles east).

To Late to Change

Rapid_Roy said:

I think it is safe to say that you, and some others, do not like the rally site.
That is all I am getting out of this exchange.
Correct me if I am wrong, but it sounds as if you are trying to convince everyone the rally will be bad because of the site.
I believe that remains to be seen. If it does suck, you can come back on here and say "I told you so." Fair enough?

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I disagree people are throwing stones. As a membership group everyone should take notice. Without members this association does not exist. The 08 Site is bad, the event might be special but when piloting an aircraft a bad approach does not make a good landing.

I suggest you put out some MEMBERSHIP feelers for 09 Rally. Or has the decision already been made for 3 mile island campsite?

smilingcouple said:

Love the pictures that are not "Gillette". The State is beautiful but the Rally Site is in the worst, hot, dusty, windblown, flat and toxic, part of the state. Beautiful places all around the Rally Site 100 miles away. I hope the beer tent has a great selection, it will be needed greatly.

I am the most upbeat person ever but this site is the pitts.

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After that statement, it appears I am the most upbeat person (about Gillette anyway).

Rapid_Roy said:

Thanks for the hug, but a drink would have been fine.

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at least he didn't kiss you

Did you look at the hug emoticon?
I am fairly certain that he is a confident heterosexual with big hands so I do not feel threatened by it. Not that there is anything wrong with anything else.

I know everyone is having fun disputing this but, if I might, I will return to the original question....

I live/work in Denver and am pretty busy so when I had the opportunity for a long weekend ride this past July, I decided to take a ride up into Wyoming on my way to the Black Hills in S. Dakota. I had never been in Wyoming for any length of time, nor had I been in SD before.

I took I-25 north to Cheyenne, WY then ran Route 85 north all the way up to Newcastle which I found to be a relaxing and enjoyable ride with outstanding scenery overlooking the open range. Once I hit Newcastle, I knew I was entering hill country. I ended my day in Sundance, WY which appears to be about 40 miles east of Gillette. There is some great riding outside Sundance; including Devils Tower made famous in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

After visiting Devils Tower, I continued northeast into Belle Fourche, SD and then down into the town of Spearfish and then Spearfish Canyon (a first class motorcycling road). Once I was out of the canyon, I found myself in the middle of all the great riding the Black Hills has to offer including the areas surrounding Deadwood, Sturgis and Custer. I called it a day when I arrived in Keystone, SD just outside Mount Rushmore. I spent a couple of hours at Mt. Rushmore and enjoyed it immensely.

I understand all the anxiety because I live in Denver and have ridden all over Colorado, New Mexico and Utah but never got around to Wyoming or the Black Hills. Mostly because given my limited time, I wanted a sure thing...lots of great riding. I didn't know what to expect. Well I wasn't disappointed in the region around Gillette and the Black Hills.

It'll be my first National and I am looking forward to it! Camping too...Heaven help me!