Redmond Rally, 2nd installment

[Melena]

Hi all!  More stuff on the Redmond Rally here.  We left off at the start of the rally.

There were so many people and so much to do that we basically just hung around the rally the whole time.   The cell phone idea was a good one and I was able to be in touch with all those from the forum here that got in touch with me.  

Ken Tuvman was the first one to call me.  I met up with him at David Hough's talk on "Being Seen".  The info was very good (now if I can only remember it), and it was really nice to meet Ken.  He called me again on Saturday but I'd forgotten to turn on my cell phone in the morning and missed him.  He was headed for Glacier National Park, if I remember right.

We were coming back to camp when I saw this beautiful and very familiar looking R45 parked right across from out tent.  I turned around and there was a lady walking our way.  Larry asked her if she owned that bike and when she said yes, I asked "Are you Dee?"  She replied with an amazed tone to her voice and a laugh, "How did you know?"    Hee hee.  We got a laugh out of that one when I introduced myself.  She had pitched her tent right behind us.  

Darryl Richman was easy to find as he was hanging around the Vintage Bike area and his tent was right next to that building.   Later I found him in the Beer Garden with Fred Jakobs of the BMW Group from Munich.  You can see those pictures below.  Darryl had been in Munich and had met him there.  That was fun and very interesting.

Neal (R65Guy) and I found each other by cell phone and I think he found me by finding my bike.  I was right next to the "road" where all the foot traffic was, as you can see by the pictures.  Plus I had my crocheted flag hung off the rear turn signals.  

I was in touch with Dave Seip (R65Lust) by phone.  And I think he's already written up about his trip to the rally, with one thing after another going wrong, but he did make it.  

Ed Miller didn't have a cell phone but said he was going to hang out at Airhead Central.  That was pretty close to where we were camped too.  I went over there and was asking about him.  Turns out there was another Ed Miller there too.    No one knew where he was right then.  I started walking away and was looking around when he came up behind me and asked me something.  I recognized him right away from one of the pictures someone posted once.   So, we finally got to meet after all these years on the forum.

A couple of others found the bike and we just started talking.  One of them was "Professor Fate" with his R65GS.  See the pictures of that bike below.  Also there was an "older" (whatever older is - older than me?) gentleman who has an R65 with his son.  He thought it was great that there was an R65 and and R45 there at the rally.  I invited them all to sign the flag and meet everyone else at the "photo shoot".  Those pictures are at http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1215487904/30#30

Finally got most of them together on Saturday evening to meet everyone else and take the obligatory pictures.  

Wednesday when we were checking in at registration, Arlie from Canada was right next to us.  That was how the whole weekend went.  When I wanted to see someone there they would be.   8-)  Anyway, she was volunteering at the sewing center all weekend to sew people's patches on and do other sewing for people as needed.  She easily talked me into volunteering there for a few hours on Thursday.  That was fun for me and I was able to hand sew the rally patch on a riding jacket for a young girl.  

Friday was shopping day.  It was hot and windy in the afternoon so it was nice to be in the buildings.  There were lots of vendors there and I was able to find just the thing I was looking for.  I got a new Givi windshield, which they installed for me there.   8-)  I'm still working on getting it adjusted right for me.  I think it shows up on one of the photos on the 1st installment of the trip report.  I also got a really nice sheep skin seat cover from Alaska Leather.  It is so nice and cushy.  I saw lots of other things that I would love to have left lots of money for, but unfortunately I didn't have lots of money.  

Saturday I was going to try to take in more of the seminars.  I did see the GS events at the arena.  That was interesting to see those guys go through the different obstacles (water, rocks, loose dirt, etc).  I could see lots of things to learn there.  But somehow I kept missing the seminars I wanted to go to.  We'd get talking to people and suddenly the time would have gone by and it would be too late to get there.  

The rally site was huge.  They had 2 trams going to carry people around the whole place.  Thank goodness for that.  We took the tram around more than a few times just to rest from all the walking.  

We had a great time and were kind of sad to leave on Sunday.  But it was good to be heading back to the cool of the coast.  

Continued below.

[Melena]

I think that's all the pictures.  I tried to take more, but the camera memory was either full or the memory chip had some errors on it and it wouldn't let me take any more pictures.

It's too bad too, because we saw some beautiful country on Sunday.  We stopped at a park off Hwy 97 for a break after a gas stop.  This is very definitely high desert.  It was very peaceful and quiet after the hustle and bustle of the rally.  

We were going to go back the way we came, but there is a turn off to the Crater Lake Hwy that goes to Medford and we missed it.  We ended up going straight and by the time I figured it out we were too far to go back.  I was glad of that though as I got to see a place I hadn't been before.  The road we took went along the Umpqua River and we ended up in Roseburg.  

The Umpqua River is a fisherman's heaven.  And the road is a motorcyclist's heaven.  Great road!  We made a few stops along the river to enjoy the beauty of the area...................oh yeah, and to stretch a bit too.  Nice to take breaks.  There was one little town but not much else along that area.  Lots of Forest Service campgrounds though.  

We got to Roseburg and stayed there for the night at a small motel.  It's a pretty small town and we didn't see any other motels around.  There were a couple of other BMW's parked outside one of the rooms.  Looks like we weren't the only ones to take that route out of Redmond.  The motel was pretty old.  The decor of the rooms was maybe out of the 60's.  But it was comfortable and there was a Chinese Restaurant right across the street.  I wanted a shower immediately, Larry wanted food.  So he got Chinese to go and I took a long hot shower.  Ahhhhh.  

Distance for the day:  197 miles  Ride Time:  3 hrs, 47 min.  Max Speed:  78.7

The next day, after the breakfast put out by the motel, we headed out for Grants Pass.  The only way to get there is on the Interstate, so I-5 it was.  This is really a great road with wide sweeping curves through the mountains.   Beautiful scenery, wide roads, and really not that much traffic.  But oh no!    I forgot to fasten my  helmet.  I don't want to stop along the freeway, and Larry is in front of me.  There is another motorcyclist on the side of the road and he stops to make sure he's okay.  He is.  I take this opportunity to fix my helmet.  But they both take off.  The way he'll ride I'll never catch up with  him.  Well, I can try.    I'm really twisting that throttle.  I can see him way ahead of me a few curves away.  This road is great and I'm finding this bike moves at over 80 mph very well.   [smiley=happy.gif]  But he's gaining on me and I realize he thinks he's trying to catch up with me.    I found myself laughing in my helmet.  Finally I catch up with him.  He figured out what happened when he couldn't catch me.   Just after I pass him there is a Rest Area and we pull off.  What a ride!  

We get off the bikes to stretch and have a good laugh about the chased being the chaser.  And this is where I meet the other motorcyclists that ride in that know Darryl Richman.  That is so funny!  We leave there and finally get to Grants Pass and take the first off ramp.  Oh!  This is where all the motels are.  Now I know.   We see a Taco Bell and stop for a bite to eat and then head on out for the next stop at Cave Junction where we stop for gas.  And Oh!  They have ice cream bars.  Yummmm.  A nice cold treat and rest under the shade and we're off again down the Smith River to Crescent City where we stop for the night.  Nice motel, and a Mexican Restaurant right next door.  We do find the best places to stay, don't we.    Of course, we meet some other BMW riders staying there.  

Distance for the day:  155 miles  Ride Time:  3 hrs.  Max Speed:  85.8    

The next morning we have the motel breakfast again, chat with our new Beemer Rider friends for a bit and head on out down Hwy 101.  It is foggy, but not nearly like it was when we came up this road.  We stop for lunch at Trinidad, just north of Eureka.  Very good food at this little place, but then it is close to Arcata, a university town.  We get through Eureka as fast as we can and into the Redwoods.  It's still foggy, but there are patches of sun.  There is this one spot we ride through where the sun is coming through the Redwoods and the fog with streamers of light.  It is so beautiful, but my camera is full and there isn't any place to stop here anyway.  This is when a mounted camera would be great to have.

We eventually get to where we can get off the Freeway and get on the Avenue of the Giants.  There is no traffic along this road and the Redwoods are so peaceful, the trees are giants.  A wonderful part of the ride.  But we get back on the freeway as we have a long way to go yet.  We  have decided to turn off on Hwy 1 at Legget and go to Fort Bragg.  

We get to Leggett and have a bite to eat before we head down Hwy 1.

Uh oh.  Here we go again.  Cont. below

[Melena]

So we get to Legget and take a look at the map while we are eating.  Hwy 1 looks pretty curvy from here to the coast.  In fact, it looks very narrow with hairpin turns.  I'm tired, but what the heck.  Let's go.

We take off down the road and the map doesn't do it justice.  It has really tight curves and the people that drive this all the time know those curves and want to drive fast.  I'm thinking what the heck did I get myself into.  I pull over when I can and let the cars go by and just take the road at my own speed.  I'd say this road most likely is at least equal to The Dragon.  

http: // maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=w  - Edit! - Don't follow this.  I didn't do it right.    Darryl Richman has the correct link below.  

I think this will work.  This Google map is supposed to show Hwy 1 from Legget to the ocean.  You can see those twists and turns.  I'd like to do it again without all the stuff on the back of my bike and do it in the morning when I'm fresh.

I finally pull over and let a car go by and stop to rest.  I'm too tired to do this, but I go on.  I know I can finish this and when we take off again I realize that there is only 1 more big curve left and we are at the ocean.  I did it!!!!   The rest of the way into Fort Bragg is a nice easy ride.  We have a place to stay there and spend Wednesday relaxing, watering the plants and enjoying the cool of the coast.  

Distance for the day:  233 miles  Ride Time:  5 1/2 hours  Max Speed:  75.8

Thursday we head on down Hwy 1 to Hwy 128 and on out to Hwy 101.  This is familiar territory.  This is our back yard.  Hwy 128 from the coast is another beautiful road through the Redwoods.  We stop in Boonville for a snack and a stretch and we're on the road to Cloverdale where Hwy 128 joins Hwy 101.  Just a few more miles and I'm home.

Distance for the day:  106 miles  Ride Time 2 1/2 hours  Max Speed 71

The total trip miles to Redmond and back:  1,303 miles

[SCJJR65]

Bravo, Melena!!!  Excellent account of the rally!   [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

I would give anything to be able to ride through the Redwoods you described.  Pattimarie grew up in Southern California (Anaheim), and has been up the Pacific Coast Hwy. and gone through the area you got to see on your bike.  It is on my "Bucket List" to ride on a bike some day, if I recover sufficiently.

Thanks for providing such a well-written and descriptive account of the rally, the forum friends you met, and the "ride itself"! Well done!  

[darrylri]

Here's a map of CA-1 from Legget to Westport:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=103965714409811887980.00048cecac6368e5f497d&ll=39.821194,-123.778152&spn=0.204622,0.22934&t=h&z=12

[Ed Miller]

"Turns out there was another Ed Miller there too. "

I wondered if he had showed up when I saw the FL Airheads flag, as he is in the Airmail a lot more often than I am.  I guess if we met we would have obliterated each other, so it's just as well.

Thanks for the report, Melena, you do a great job.  I agree about that part of I5 you mentioned, it actually is a pretty area.  When I rode down to Medford I guess I normally cruised at 6,000 rpms through there.  The bike likes it.

[trolle]

Really good reading, Melena, I enjoy your tales.

greetings from a windy and cold north

[Melena]

Here's a map of CA-1 from Legget to Westport:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=103965714409811887980.00048cecac6368e5f497d&ll=39.821194,-123.778152&spn=0.204622,0.22934&t=h&z=12

Thanks Darryl!  I've never tried to link to a Google Map before.  Mine didn't work at all, did it.    Now I think I know what to do.  

So, you think it's better than the Dragon too, eh?   8-)   But since I've never been down the Dragon I didn't  have anything to compare it to - just a guess.  

[Melena]

Pattimarie grew up in Southern California (Anaheim),

Really?  Wow!  I never would have guessed that.  I'll bet she's glad she's outa there.     Well, I do have to say it used to be nice down that way when I was a little kid.  

So, when you heal and get back in shape, you will have to come out for a ride.  You will just love the Redwoods!!!  In the summer anyway (kinda wet in the winter).

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Very good ride report Melena.  Thanks for that and the great photos, too.  I love seeing ride photos but for some reason when we're riding we seldom stop to take the pix.

BTW, what is the make of that waterproof bag on the back of your bike?

[darrylri]

Here's a map of CA-1 from Legget to Westport:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=103965714409811887980.00048cecac6368e5f497d&ll=39.821194,-123.778152&spn=0.204622,0.22934&t=h&z=12

Thanks Darryl!  I've never tried to link to a Google Map before.  Mine didn't work at all, did it.    Now I think I know what to do.  

No problem.

So, you think it's better than the Dragon too, eh?   8-)   But since I've never been down the Dragon I didn't  have anything to compare it to - just a guess.  

I've been there and ridden it.  There's no question that it's a great road, but the publicity has drawn every fool on two wheels there.  On one pass I took through there, I came up behind a couple on a cruiser.  He was spending much more than half the time in the opposing lane, and he wasn't doing above about 30mph.  Scary.  I pulled over so I wouldn't be involved in his accident.

Then, there's the fact that there's all the RVs and trucks towing boat trailers running through there.  Add some logging trucks to the mix, too.  

I'd much rather be in the isolated Shasta-Trinity wilderness where I don't have to share the road with so many rolling pylons.  

(However, there are a number of other fine roads in the neighborhood of the Dragon that, while perhaps not quite so tight, are still a joy to ride and don't have nearly the notoriety and attendant traffic.  And the area is really lovely.)

[darrylri]

Pattimarie grew up in Southern California (Anaheim),

Really?  Wow!  I never would have guessed that.  I'll bet she's glad she's outa there.     Well, I do have to say it used to be nice down that way when I was a little kid.  

Hey, I resemble that.  

I'm a native Angelino (from, like, the Valley, dude.)  

[darrylri]

Just to add another photo to the thread, I spent most of my time in the Vintage Display, as Melena noted:

[Melena]

Very good ride report Melena.  Thanks for that and the great photos, too.  I love seeing ride photos but for some reason when we're riding we seldom stop to take the pix.

BTW, what is the make of that waterproof bag on the back of your bike?

I know what you mean about taking the pix.  I have to really make myself do it.  I love  having the photos later.

The bag is from Mag's Bags.  She's from Sonora, California, and used to be at the 49er Rally and the Autumn Beemer Bash in Quincy.  I love the bag.  And the one on the R100T is the next size up and holds quite a bit more.   There is even a bigger one that wraps around.  They are really well made.  These yellow ones really show up when on the road and make me and my bike look bigger - a very good strategy against the predator cages (   ).  

But, she was in a bad accident in the fall and had some major injuries.  They also found out she had breast cancer while they were doing all the x-rays and whatever else they do now.     Fortunately they seemed to have caught the cancer at the right time and she is cancer free now but did go.  But she is still recuperating from the accident and just went into surgery last week for her hip replacement that was giving her trouble.  Right now she is trying to get back so she can finish the orders she had when the accident happened.  Her website is still up.  Just Google Mag's Bags and it should come up.

Oh, and she happens to have been in my class in high school.  I had no idea she rode motorcycles until I met her at the 49er Rally.  In fact, I hadn't seen her since high school.  It was a nice reunion.  I'm sorry to see her go through all that stuff.  Hopefully she'll be getting back to her business.  It's at her home and would be very good therapy, I think.  

In fact, I told her I'd send her pictures of the Redmond Rally.  Thanks for reminding me.  

[Melena]

Just to add another photo to the thread, I spent most of my time in the Vintage Display, as Melena noted:

Ummmm, where is the photo?  I'd love to see it.