SW VBA Rally '16

[riderdyer]

So....

After MUCH deliberation, not nearly as much perspiration, a little (or a lot, depending on your perspective) irritation, and PLENTY of anticipation, the LONG awaited announcement of the location and dates for the SW Region 2016 Rally is ready to be released.....


The Rally will be held in Safford Arizona, on June 5th through the 9th. That's arrival on Sunday, and departure on Thursday.

Safford (and it's next door cousin cities Pima/Thatcher) is approximately 170 miles SE of Phoenix, there are at least 2 or 3 ways to get there depending on your starting point and your sights along the way. It's much cooler than the Phoenix Valley, is an agricultural area, and if you've ever heard of Pima Cotton, that's the area it originally came from....

We'll be staying at the Comfort Inn Safford (There's also one in Thatcher, DON'T book there... even though it's only a mile or two apart) the rate is $65 a night, about a 35% discount. It's right on the main street, though the office and address is not. (450 E Entertainment Ave, Safford AZ ) You can call for reservations at (928) 348-9400, mention Vulcan Bagger Rally or VBA and you should have no problem with the rate. IF you do, tell them Becky made the arrangements and we have a contract.

We'll be taking at least 3 fabulous rides starting on Monday. One is The Devil's Highway, about a 300 mile loop. It's called the Devil's Highway because up until the mid 80's it was numbered 666 (now US 191). It'll take us by the Morenci Copper Mine, an open pit mine that not too terribly long ago was the worlds largest open pit copper mine. We can stop and watch a few minutes at their observation point if you're interested... It continues to the White Mountains through a couple of Native American reservations, and through some beautiful forest. (No, it's not ALL desert in Arizona!) We'll venture into western New Mexico for 50 miles or so before cutting across some beautiful ranchland plains and back to Safford. It's got TERRIFIC twisties, fabulous scenery, and I ususally see a bit of wildlife (bighorn sheep, elk, wild turkeys, etc.) besides the common cattle.

Another ride that's planned is another approximately 300 mile loop to Tombstone and Bisbee AZ, two historic towns with VERY different perspectives... IF there's enough interest, we could extend that ride another 120 miles or so and visit Biosphere 2, an enclosed habitat that housed 8 people for almost 2 years without anyone or anything entering or leaving.... It was meant to help prepare astronauts and other scientists for interplanetary travels, and in fact one of the women who had the experience now heads the private firm that intends to put humans on Mars in 2020... It's currently owned and used for a wide variety of international research projects because 5 biomes are all under one roof: Mountain Rainforest, Marsh, Savannah, Ocean, and High Desert Coast. It's pretty cool.... but that 120 miles would add another 4 hours probably to the already reasonably full day. OR.... you could just go there on your way into town or back home if it sounds like it's something you don't want to miss but don't want to cram into one day either.....

The third planned ride is up Mount Graham. It's not nearly as long distance wise, but is more than a half day long, and terrifically scenic and challenging. I've been there when there's been a nearly 30 degree drop in temperature from the bottom to the top. If you really want a challenge (and I DON'T recommend it), there's another 12 miles or so on a dirt road at the top to a BEAUTiful lake, but it's long, slow, and can be VERY rough depending on the prior weather and maintenance.... (I've done it, it was worth it, but I wouldn't do it again on my Nomad... I've got permanent marks in the top of my front fender from the shocks compressing enough to touch my guardian bell below the triple tree.)

There's a GREAT steakhouse restaurant right across the street from the hotel, The Manor House, where we can have at least one group dinner. Arrangements have NOT been made, I'm thinking we'd just make reservations for however many RSVP to the forum they intend to go, and we can all go and order whatever we want. It puts you in charge of your tastes and your costs. There's plenty of other things to do, places to ride, fish, hike, eat, etc. There's camping available close by, I didn't look into any, but they're there if you want to go that route.


We're looking at getting a commemorative t-shirt made. If (I'm pretty sure it will, almost ready to get it to the printer for costs) it happens, It'll get it posted and priced. It'll be black, have the VBA logo and rally year/location on the front, more or less pocket area/size. The back will be full print with the ride names, and an appropriate saying in "western font".

ALL that info is just so you can get your chops whetted, and your gear in top running shape for a FANTASTIC rally adventure.

Since the only thing outside of the venue/ride/meeting entertainment stuff that we'll be providing is the possible t-shirt, the cost will be FREE (except your travel and lodging of course), no additional charges are planned or anticipated at this time (until the shirt thing is finalized, if you choose).

So if you're thinking you'd like to attend and participate in a REALLY great rally experience, follow up here on the forum with an RSVP, the sooner the better so we can start to see if we need to add/change anything because of underestimates or anything.

If you have any questions, either Brandon Hayes or myself would be the quickest most accurate answers.