Location for 2010 Regional Rally

[Netnorske]

After careful research and consideration, I have listed three sites that I feel would represent the best opportunity for the greatest number of members to participate in our 2010 Regional Rally. I originally had four in mind, but think these three are really all we need to find an awesome location. All are centrally located in the NW Region, and all offer spectacular opportunities for local rides during the duration of the rally.

In no particular order, they are as follows:

Orofino, ID.
Orofino offers a small town atmosphere located right along the Clearwater river. From here we can do a day trip to Missoula, MT and back via Hwy 12 and the famous Lolo Pass (350 miles round trip).

There are also some really nice rural twisties going north on Elk River Rd. to Elk River and Bovill, returning via a more westerly loop (Hwy 8). Those roads offer a very unique ride through some sparsely populated back-country.

Kalispell, MT.
Kalispell is the gateway to Glacier National Park and the famous "Going To The Sun Road". The road through the park is just about 50 miles long, but offers some of the most majestic scenery and viewpoints in all of Montana.

There are some other roads to run in conjunction with the park road and a nice loop up through Libby might be a worthwhile ride as well.

Jackson, WY
Jackson sits nestled near the eastern base of the Grand Teton Mountains and is the gateway to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.

A run north from there will take us up through Grand Teton NP and a spectacular loop through Yellowstone NP, then back south returning to Jackson. That run is 300 miles round trip and would be the major highlight of the rally. There would be a lot of tourists to contend with for sure, but YNP is one of our nations greatest treasures, one that I would very much enjoy seeing sometime in my life.

So.....

Before voting, I would encourage everyone to look these areas over using Google Earth. If you don't have it, it is a free download. Just go to Google, then click on "more..." at the top left of the page. Scroll down to the bottom of the next list and click on "even more.....". Scroll down to the "Earth" program and click on that. Follow the download directions.

Google Earth is one of the coolest programs I have ever seen...and by tilting, circling and zooming you can take virtual rides down any road in the world! Give these three places a good looking over then try to make a pick. To this end....once you pick you will not be able to change your vote, so be sure of your choice before voting! I am fine with any of them and will refrain from the early voting so as not to influence anyone's vote.

I hope these three choices for our initial NW Regional Rally meet with everyone's approval. There are so many great places to choose from, but ultimately we have to narrow the field, so I opted to follow the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid) and tried to pick three places with a lot to offer in their own way.

Again, I ask that only members of our NW Group actually vote. Our 2010 Regional Rally will be open to ALL members who wish to attend, but I think those of us in the NW Region should ultimately decide the location.... !

"All votes are final and once tallied, you will be asked to leave the Tribal Council immediately".....oh wait......that's another deal....sorry.... !

Cheers....Kris

[schoeney]

Kris,

Great job in narrowing the choices. I think they are all great and will abstain from voting for now as I would be happy with any of them...I will let the guys vote and chime in and if nobody gives me a reson to eliminate one of the options I will go with the majority.

[ballast]

I learned my lesson last time. I'm not telling when I vote.

[schoeney]

OK Charlie....we might consider you for security director now. ;)

[landman]

okay guys don't let it get out but i voted for jackson.they are all good choices and i'm okay with any of them.count me in no
matter where the group decides.

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by landman

okay guys don't let it get out but i voted for jackson.they are all good choices and i'm okay with any of them.count me in no
matter where the group decides.

I kinda had a feeling you might like playing in your "backyard"... ! Okay guys....don't be shy....Landman has broken the 0-0-0 tie, so feel free to cast your vote!

[lw]

Regardless of the location y'all choose, the calendar will determine if I can make it or not. I am planning to attend the VROC rally in Yakima July 14-18 2010 (if I can convince the home team to come along) http://www.vulcanicblast.com/ Would be great to be able to make both.

My current dream is to trailer across to meet a buddy in California and ride up the Pacific Coast Highway en-route to Yakima for the rally; then continue up to Glacier NP then head back east possibly via Canada before turning south for home. If the girls don't come, it would turn into a bike-only trip.

[Cajunrider]

I voted Jackson but either of the 3 would be great. I've stayed in Jackson Hole at Togwotee Lodge in 1993. Beautiful place indeed. My parents loved it in Glacier several years back. I really don't care....anyplace is good by me. Let's all retire in Sandpoint, ID.

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by Cajunrider

I voted Jackson but either of the 3 would be great. I've stayed in Jackson Hole at Togwotee Lodge in 1993. Beautiful place indeed. My parents loved it in Glacier several years back. I really don't care....anyplace is good by me. Let's all retire in Sandpoint, ID.

HHhhmmm....last I checked....I don't think Schriever, LA was in our NW region.... ::). Please only vote if you live within the NW region....did I not say that in the original post... :-/??

Don't worry....we still love you terrebonne_nomad.....but we might have to send you to the Tribal Council.... !

[schoeney]

I am giving terrenbone my vote....so no tribal council needed!

LW-I am thinking we (NW members) may want to ride to Yakima that weekend .
Can't have a long distance KawaNow member in the area without saying hello! Yakima in July could be HOT but lots of mountain and west of Cascades routes (cooler) to choose from to get there.

Kris, Let's not forget about Wandering Nomad in the Tri Cities...is he going to Missoula or Custer? Rick (SC) you reading this?

We need to make sure we meet him before his work assignment is done.

I am tied up w/commitments unitl July 1 (including Missoula). But may make a business trip (on the bike) up his way if we don't get a chance to meet him in Missoula or Custer.

[Netnorske]

Last I read....he said he will be working 7 days a week for awhile, but it would indeed be awesome to hook up with him. It would be really cool if he could ride to Missoula for the night Sat. June 13. Damn....that's only 4 weeks away now!

I will be riding right through Tri-Cities over Memorial Weekend on our 3-day trip through Hells Canyon. It would be cool if he could hook up with us for some or all of the ride! I'll send him a PM and see if he can work it out...

[lw]

Originally Posted by schoeney

. . . Yakima in July could be HOT . . .

??? Hotter than Houston, TX? We're already at 90 here, and it isn't even summer.

[bigjohn]

Originally Posted by LW

??? Hotter than Houston, TX? We're already at 90 here, and it isn't even summer.

Yep, Yakama can be hotter than Houston. Ya leave it or not. I've nearly melted a few times while passing through.

Anywho, I'll break the mold and voice my opinion for Kalispel. I"ve done Jellystone aobut 8 times - five or six on a bike. Love the place, but the proposal to do the whole loop in a day would be exhausting, and you wouldn't get a chance to see much of the interesting stuff up close. You'll spend at least two hours a old faithful, and another hour at some of the paint pots, plus time watching for buffalo or looking for wolves or other critters, along with the zillion tourists.

Northern Montana wouldn't be quite so crowded. and the scinery is just as spectacular. Just missing the gysers and hot water places.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Netnorske]

Okay...I voted for Kalispell myself. I too think that northern Montana has a tremendous variety of scenic beauty...and GNP is some very awesome stuff....! Less crowded, small town, all good in my mind.

Schoeney....noble as a gesture as it was.....you do not have to give your vote away. You get to pick what YOU prefer. We can figure things out as a few more votes come in....so get on it guys...but do let us know when you vote!

[Cajunrider]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

HHhhmmm....last I checked....I don't think Schriever, LA was in our NW region.... ::). Please only vote if you live within the NW region....did I not say that in the original post... :-/??

Don't worry....we still love you terrebonne_nomad.....but we might have to send you to the Tribal Council.... !

Oops, I didn't see "Regional" :-[ but I'm showing up anyway Can't have a Northern rally without a Southerner