THE 2021 Montana MOA Re-Schedule (previous 2020 Great Falls Thread)

[AKsuited]

FWIW Americade just announced that it will move from early June to end of September to increase the probability that it will actually happen.

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Bike Week in Daytona is still on: https://www.officialbikeweek.com/

If I ever pry a vaccination out of the State of New York, I'm outta here. I'll create my own bike week somewhere. And it is way too early to cancel our big rally.

Harry

[glenfiddich]

FWIW Americade just announced that it will move from early June to end of September to increase the probability that it will actually happen.

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I wonder how the vendors will handle that move. Typically they plan way in advance...on the other hand this is anything but a typical year

Pete

[wkoppa]

Bike Week in Daytona is still on: https://www.officialbikeweek.com/

If I ever pry a vaccination out of the State of New York, I'm outta here. I'll create my own bike week somewhere. And it is way too early to cancel our big rally.

Harry

Harry - I hope to see you there.

My wife and I usually go to Key West in March and catch the Daytona 200 on the way back north. Key West may not happen this year raising the opportunity to try and ride to see the 200. Were talking Bucket List. I remember reading an article in the AMA magazine about someone riding their Triumph to Daytona from Flint Michigan in something like 1966. Fast riders in dirt track from Flint back then and now. Very fast. I think my first in person 200 was 1971. Used to listen to it on the motor racing network before that, back as far as High School. AM radio. Its not the race it used to be but it is still one rider 200 miles. The weather is really iffy but all I need is a weather window, lots of stops and the heated gear. I am scheduled for my second vaccine on February 4th so that box should get checked. Roadracers really work at getting on the track. For extra dollars the raceway has a pit walk and you get to talk to the riders, crews and some sponsors. When I get to a sponsor - I thank them for their participation. One of my favorites is the Broaster Chicken Racing. If there was a Porta John sponsor available those riders would mob them like a starving dog after a cheeseburger. The bad boy of the 200 in recent years has been Danny Eslick. He has home state fans show up with a bus in the infield with a roof top platform. He has won the race in the past, several times, leaned his bike against the fence, climbed over and joined them on top of the bus. Lets start hoping for some global warming on or about March 1st.

In more ways than one - this would be a pretty cool way to start the riding year.



Wayne Koppa
Grayling, MI
#71449

[flyhi2cfar]

"In more ways than one - this would be a pretty cool way to start the riding year".

Neat memories of the "better days" of Bike Week Wayne. Your one of the guy's that made it what it was!
So much of that began to change about 15 years back though; and now it's hardly recognizable, from the 90's for sure.
This last decade it's been April's Leesburg (FL) 3 day BikeFest... that has root's from the past.
A very enjoyable "throw-back" Main Street setting; without the foolishness.

Last weekend we had BMW's all over the State coming and going... for the BMWNEF Winter Rally.
It was great to see some normalcy on the Rally front once again, even with the new precautions necessary.

And we had very comfortable temperatures, no heated gear required. Hopefully that will continue for your arrival.
One thing that remains interesting; the racing. Hope you can make it.

Would like to have this weather in Great Falls, lot's of morning 50's to afternoon high 70's (low 80's Central Florida and south)

One thing on the horizon is also true...
"Shot's in the arm, you in the seat... a ride to Montana can't be beat!"

[AKsuited]

Here is some more good news:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/comp...?ocid=msedgdhp

Pfizer plans to deliver 200 million doses of Covid vaccine to U.S. by May, sooner than expected

Harry

[flyhi2cfar]

I reckon there's a few of you like myself, eager for a substantial trip beginning of this summer.
I'm about 120 days until departure ride for the Montana National. It's just four months until June... and February seems to fly by.
Thinking of mostly riding the 3 weeks before the Rally (Tuesday until Sunday for me) and 1 week after, for at least a month long journey.
Hoping to enjoy a few days in/around Yellowstone before the larger crowds arrive later in June/July. And significant riding throughout the entire multi-state region.

Without the pandemic and the CN/US Border nearby, Great Falls would have been an exceptional "destination" for our Club.
With very good attendance and the resulting financial impact.
I don't rule out, at a reduced level this "could" still be possible; but the time clock is running.
One thing likely true; our membership (collectively) should be inoculated by end of May.
Plus many of us have time to travel, and will ride somewhere anyway.
Would a 4 or 6 week postponement of the Rally date really help our situation? Somewhat IMO.
Enough to justify when everything logistically is considered? There's the real question.

Saddle up!

[gsinnc]

I reckon there's a few of you like myself, eager for a substantial trip beginning of this summer.
I'm about 120 days until departure ride for the Montana National. It's just four months until June... and February seems to fly by.
Thinking of mostly riding the 3 weeks before the Rally (Tuesday until Sunday for me) and 1 week after, for at least a month long journey.
Hoping to enjoy a few days in/around Yellowstone before the larger crowds arrive later in June/July. And significant riding throughout the entire multi-state region.

Without the pandemic and the CN/US Border nearby, Great Falls would have been an exceptional "destination" for our Club.
With very good attendance and the resulting financial impact.
I don't rule out, at a reduced level this "could" still be possible; but the time clock is running.
One thing likely true; our membership (collectively) should be inoculated by end of May.
Plus many of us have time to travel, and will ride somewhere anyway.
Would a 4 or 6 week postponement of the Rally date really help our situation? Somewhat IMO.
Enough to justify when everything logistically is considered? There's the real question.

Saddle up!

I have a very similar plan .... riding from Charlotte to Great Falls ... starting about 2 weeks before the Rally and then on to Portland OR and home. So planning about 4 weeks all in. Hoping to hit some POI's along the way and the Iron Butt National Park Challenge too. But honestly even if (and I hope not) COVID impact the 2021 Rally I will still probably take this trip.

Word of caution on Yellowstone and Grand Teton areas ... even in June they will be more populated than I suspect you'd like. And with the pent up demand this year I bet they are even more packed. All the lodging in the park is already pretty much booked. We have reservation later in the year around Labor Day at Jackson Lake Lodge but had to make them 3 months ago. If you can camping then it is probably much easier to find a spot.

[Lee]

Word of caution on Yellowstone and Grand Teton areas ... even in June they will be more populated than I suspect you'd like. .

I bet all the National Parks will be very busy.
We visited Dinosaur NP (Utah) and Great Sand Dunes NP (Colorado) this last September and both were very busy. These are not well known parks and we expected small crowds.
We visited both places during June in the 80s and pretty much had both parks to our-self.

[akbeemer]

I think Yellowstone's attendance was up last year. We were there three times and it was certainly busy even during the shoulder seasons when we go there. We will do our annual April ride through if the weather permits. Normally very quiet that time of year.

[gsinnc]

I think Yellowstone's attendance was up last year. We were there three times and it was certainly busy even during the shoulder seasons when we go there. We will do our annual April ride through if the weather permits. Normally very quiet that time of year.

My wife and I go every year during the shoulder seasons ... usually right after Labor Day. For years it was pretty nice and not too crowded. However, in recent years (2020 excluded for COVID Reasons) the shoulder seasons have been more and more busy due to a lot or tour companies running trips in those "slower" seasons. Most seem to be Asian tours but I am sure there are others as well.

Getting to be that the popular NP's are just getting too popular. We loved Teddy Roosevelt NP in North Dakota but my wife's favorite place on the face of the earth is Grand Teton so we usually make at least one trip there each year.

[AKsuited]

Johnson & Johnson requested emergency approval of their COVID vaccine today:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/jo...?ocid=msedgdhp

It is 66 percent effective rather than the 95 percent of the Pfizer vaccine, but 66 percent protection is way better than none and getting more vaccines in more arms will definitely help bring the plague to an end.

Harry

[lkraus]

I bet all the National Parks will be very busy.
We visited Dinosaur NP (Utah) and Great Sand Dunes NP (Colorado) this last September and both were very busy. These are not well known parks and we expected small crowds.
We visited both places during June in the 80s and pretty much had both parks to our-self.

U.S. population in 1980 was about 226.5 million, just over 331 million in 2020.

[flyhi2cfar]

I think Yellowstone's attendance was up last year. We were there three times and it was certainly busy even during the shoulder seasons when we go there. We will do our annual April ride through if the weather permits. Normally very quiet that time of year.

Your's, and other's comments boast well for very reduced Yellowstone attendance during 2021.
Especially between June 7 through 9, when I want to be there, for example.
It's simple human behavior, because of Covid. So many folks tried to distance themselves from others last summer that they all showed up in the same place!
This year, they are telling everyone how busy it was and they'll never go back, plus those they tell... wont go either.
Along with a non-Covid return to normalcy by June onward (school, school sports, brewpubs, ect.)... the place is all ours!

Don't tell anybody of my savvy foresight.

[gsinnc]

Your's, and other's comments boast well for very reduced Yellowstone attendance during 2021.
Especially between June 7 through 9, when I want to be there, for example.
It's simple human behavior, because of Covid. So many folks tried to distance themselves from others last summer that they all showed up in the same place!
This year, they are telling everyone how busy it was and they'll never go back, plus those they tell... wont go either.
Along with a non-Covid return to normalcy by June onward (school, school sports, brewpubs, ect.)... the place is all ours!

Don't tell anybody of my savvy foresight.

I’m thinking just the opposite. With vaccines going strong and pent up demand from COVID in general I suspect the parks, especially the popular ones will be slammed this year. The only thing that may help the crowds would be international travelers. But they did not impact the parks in 2020 and that was a year when NONE of the Yellowstone/Grand Teton lodges opened. Very early June may be tolerable especially if there is still snow around.

[akbeemer]

Your's, and other's comments boast well for very reduced Yellowstone attendance during 2021.
Especially between June 7 through 9, when I want to be there, for example.
It's simple human behavior, because of Covid. So many folks tried to distance themselves from others last summer that they all showed up in the same place!
This year, they are telling everyone how busy it was and they'll never go back, plus those they tell... wont go either.
Along with a non-Covid return to normalcy by June onward (school, school sports, brewpubs, ect.)... the place is all ours!

Don't tell anybody of my savvy foresight.

Be sure to share your prediction with the 10,000 other people at Old Faithful while there in June. There are normally around 20-40 there in late April when we ride down there.