2010 NW Rally-RL Report

[Netnorske]

Having just returned home from a great week of riding, I thought I would post a briefing on how things went at this years inaugural KawaNOW Northwest Regional Rally.

Tricia and I, Mike and Lorna, Anthony and Steve took a northerly route through Kamloops, BC and Banff, Alberta before dropping south into Montana...









Including early departures (schoeney and his brother...and Landman) and late arrivals (Delivery58 and his wife, and Tom and Larry from Spokane)...I think we had about 15 Nomads total attend the Rally, coming from several different States and a couple Provinces as well!

Gathering at the Holiday Inn Express in Kalispell, MT., we used that as our base for the next few days.




The weather reports upon arrival were iffy at best, with thundershowers here and there, making it a tough call for which day to ride the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park.

Day 1

We chose to stick with the original plan and make that ride the first day (Tue Aug 3). It turned out to be the worst of the three days to make the run, but we didn't/couldn't know that at the time. The first part of the day started out fine over the Marias Pass on Hwy 2, but turned cold and wet as we left East Glacier for St. Mary, where we stopped at the St Mary's Lodge for coffee and lunch.

Riders coming off the hill reported no rain on top, but fog on the east side, so we decided to go for it rather than go back the way we came. The short run up the east side to Logan Pass was unimpressive as we could not see anything in the fog. We stopped for some photos at the pass, where new reports were that things were clear on the longer west side! Within 200 yards west of the pass things did clear up and we got some incredible views and photos! By the time we reached the bottom we were riding in T-shirts for the return trip to Kalispell. The morning and afternoon were like two entirely different rides!






















The hotel had a great fire pit to relax and sit around, so each night that was the gathering place for those sipping cocktails, drinking beer, smoking cigars, or just taking in the laughter and great atmosphere!















Day 2

Wednesday was a do-it-yourself day, so people scattered in all directions, taking in the attractions surrounding Kalispell or just laying low for the day. The weather was spectacular....sunny and hot, causing some regret at not having this kind of weather the day prior. We hit the local dealership, where Lomax's wife Lorna was begging him to buy the new Voyager...!!! A couple others took a ride to the ski resort in Whitefish and rode the lift up for some lunch and great views!









Day 3

Thursday we all gathered about 8:30 for our ride around Flathead Lake, south of Kalispell. Flathead is the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi and takes awhile to make the loop! We stopped to buy some fresh local cherries before rolling into Big Fork, a quaint little town on the east side of the lake for lunch and some window shopping before pressing north up to Hungry Horse Dam. Again, the weather was fabulous and t-shirts were the norm!

















From the dam...the group split up with some heading back to the hotel....and others making another run up the west side of Logan Pass! At 7:00pm, we all met at Perkins Restaurant for a final dinner in the banquet room, where we raffled off the stuff Kawasaki had donated to the Rally!










Friday morning we said our goodbyes and departed in different directions, with four bikes riding with me for a sun soaked run over the famed Lolo Pass from Missoula, MT to Orofino, ID on Hwy 12! What an incredible ride that is as you wind your way along the Lochsa River through well over a hundred miles of total wilderness! This area is so remote that 200 plus years after Lewis and Clark made their famous trek through here...it is still virtually uninhabited.












The NW Rally was a great success and I can't wait for next year's events. I want to thank Greg and CC for their help in putting the thing together and hope to see many of you next year in Crescent City for the "Rally in the Redwoods"!

An added bonus was that there was a huge Rally in the area for old Fords, so we would see and pass them by the gross everywhere we went...all three days! There must have been hundreds of them in the area!









You can see more photos of the NW Rally at the link below:

http://photobucket.com/
Login- nwkawanow
pass- nwkawanow

For a video/slideshow hit the link below:

http://s374.photobucket.com/albums/o...ionalRally.mp4

Thanks to everyone who made the long journey to attend, making it a special memory for us all... ;)!

Ride Safe....Kris

[ballast]

You had to post the hat picture. I'll get you, you wascally wabbit!

[cactusjack]

Looks like a great rally, guys! I love Montana, my mom was from there and I spent a fair amount of time in "Big Sky Country" when I was younger, but I've never been west of the Divide there. My folks spent their honeymoon in Glacier NP back in the 40's. I'd like to visit there someday myself.

Congrats on a safe and memorable rally.

[Cajunrider]

Great pictures and summary. Sure wish we had beautiful riding territory like you guys have up in the NW. Great to hear that all went well with no accidents or close calls.

[lw]

Great writeup Kris.
Thanks for sharing the breath taking pics with us flat-landers

[dabull]

awesome looking trip folks!! thanks for the pics!

[pirate]

Nice job on the report, Kris! Glad to hear that all went well. Too bad the weather wouldn't have been better for the Sun road, but it's still a beautiful ride. Great pics as well!

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Great pictures Kris, thanks for taking the time to post them.

[Loafer]

Thanks for sharing what a great time you all must have had. Awesome pix!

[fish]

cool pics, nothing like riding in the mountains or along a river

[waterman]

Looks like a very nice area to ride in. Quite a bit different than some of the area in the SW rally. Definately different than the eastern plains of Colorado.

[usranger74]

Sure does not look like the flat land of Nebraska.

[audiogooroo]

Nice report Bro! Looks like an awesome time!
Sure wish I could have joined you!

And I love that sign: Winding Road next 99 miles!

[sly]

Nice, Nice... thanks for sharing

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

Oh my... I really feel sorry for you guys for having to ride on a winding road through the mountains for 99 miles!!!!