BMWMOA Rally

[Airman]

Is anyone planning to go to the 2010 BMWMOA rally in Redmond Oregon in July? I'm seriously considering going down for the event. I read on ADVRider that hwy 97 should be avoided due to low speed limits and over zealous LEOs. What's the best route from the Seattle area?

[jas]

If it were me, I'd take 169 from Renton to the 410, Hwy 12 to Yakima and 97 down to Redmond, or follow I-5 to 84 and at Hood River take 35 south to 97.

I-84 from Portland to Hood River can be full of idiots, you may want to follow the Columbia on Hwy 14 (WA side) and cross over to Hood River at White Salmon for some Full Sail Ale or Sessions.

Not sure where you got the information regarding patrols on 97, but there are a hell of a lot more cops and traffic if you were to take I-5 to Santiam Pass or Hwy 26 from Gresham to Madras.

That being said, from Biggs, OR to Madras, it is open country, dry land wheat with not much in-between, including cars / police. Be careful from Madras to Redmond, this is where the local law enforcement hang out, but that can be avoided by taking 26 from Madras to Prineville and then 126 into Redmond.

Be careful when the shadows get long in all that country, the elk, deer and antelope start moving before sunset.

When I was working in Winthrop, WA I drove 97 more times than I can recall to visit family in Redmond/Bend and Lakeview.


Have a safe trip and maybe we'll see you there.

[NAIAD]

Bob,

My intended route was to get across I-5 at Tacoma/Parkland then on down through Elbe to Morton. Then from Randle south on Forest Service route 25, etc, etc, to the Columbia Gorge near Carson. Crossing over to the Oregon side at Hood River, I was going to take OR35 to intersect OR26 on the SE side of Mt. Hood, thence onward to connect with US97 at Madras.

I say intended route, as I was just notified the annual Johnston Clan reunion in Iowa is exactly the same weekend as the MOA Rally. Figures!!!

I've traveled the length of 97 through Oregon frequently traveling back and forth to Northern Nevada for the last 30 plus years. Yeah, there's a lot LEO's out there, especially around the weekend. I ride/drive fairly fast, but not a whole bunch over the speed limit, so guess that's why I've NEVER been stopped in Oregon. Now, California is a completely different matter.

Those FS roads east of Mt St Helens are not particularly fast, but they are also not packed with a ton of cages and RV's. Only problem with that route is the roads can be closed on very short notice. I checked a couple of days before my last attempt to go that way, only to surprisingly find out the road had been closed by the time I got there. Road conditions are updated pretty regularly on the Gifford-Pinchot USFS website...I'd just make sure to check that travel day before heading that direction. I'd planned on meeting my wife in Portland at one of her business meetings, by the time I found out that the FS road had been closed by a slide it took me several extra hours to backtrack to an open route. Made for a somewhat late arrival....

YMMV!

Cheers, Bill J

[bahill]

I agree with jas - the best bike route from seattle is 169 to 410, then 12 to Yakima, then south on 97. I drive that route all the time. The rumors you hear about 97 are not completely true. They do patrol now there -- maybe in fact a slight bit more than was the case 5 years ago - bc 97 in recent years has become an alternate meth trafficking route (!) to the I-5 corridor. They arent looking for bikes, supicious looking vans/wagons/SUVs with out of state plates are probably getting pulled over more than they used to. There are far more 'speed traps' on the I-84 corridor between Portland and The Dalles - got TWO tickets there in the same spot btwn Hood River and The Dalles - so Id avoid THAT route more than any stretch of 97. Plus 12 and 97 both are beautiful rides.

[jas]

Bahill you are correct, I forgot the drug traffic that takes place along 97. It has been some time since I was driving through and fighting fires up in the Shaniko country. A good friend is an OSP somewhere along 97 and has talked about that. But as long as you keep it at or below 69 in the blind areas you should be okay.

[sweatmark]

Assuming start at center of the Seattle universe (47.603887,-122.338471)
Suggested route to Redmond, OR:

Seattle to Puyallup
Rte 161 South through Graham
State Route 706/National Park Hwy to Paradise Lodge for lunch.
Stevens Canyon to US 12 South towards Morton
Left at Rte 131/Forest Road 25 towards Mount St. Helens lookout
Forest Road 90/Meadows Creek/Windy River to Stevenson, WA for gas.
WA14 west to Vancouver
I-5 south to Albany, OR
US 20 west through Sweet Home
up the hill and over Santiam Pass via 20/22 to Sisters
final gas stop before Redmond via 126.

[sweatmark]

... or just slab it down and take 97. On a summer day, 97 has so much traffic that speed is dictated by pickup truck and RV rather than motorcycle or State Police.

[ebincia]

[quote="bahill"] There are far more 'speed traps' on the I-84 corridor between Portland and The Dalles [/quoI)

I agree, the 97 is not the big ticket deal.

[Airman]

... or just slab it down and take 97. On a summer day, 97 has so much traffic that speed is dictated by pickup truck and RV rather than motorcycle or State Police.

I've pretty much decided to take 410 accross and then down 97. Do you have recommendations for hotels? I see the BMWMOA has a rate at the Eagle Crest Resort. Is it a good place to stay? I'm not camping this time because Mrs Airman agreed to try a motorcycle rally and she doesn't camp.

This is an open question because I see some of you travel in the area. Appreciate the advice.

[jas]

Eagle Crest is a great place.

[Airman]

Eagle Crest is a great place.

Alas, too late to get the rate. I waited too long and the reasonably priced rooms are gone. Any other good places to stay? I would like a step up from Super 8.

[TicTac50]

Eagle Crest is a great place.

Alas, too late to get the rate. I waited too long and the reasonably priced rooms are gone. Any other good places to stay? I would like a step up from Super 8.

For me, step up from Super 8 is a nice tent and a Kermit chair combined with a good sleeping bag.
It produces wonderful results and a great experience on the road as well as at the BMWMOA Rally.

I am already mapping my trip from Miami to Redmond. No hotels, no motels. Clean campgrounds, usually works for me.
After the BMWMOA Rally I hope to hit your area. I never did see Victoria, and continue North to Canada and comeback home Via East coast.

P.S. Comparing West Coast and Northern part of USA to Florida and Georgia, you guys have no LEO's out there.
Good Luck.

[Airman]

Eagle Crest is a great place.

Alas, too late to get the rate. I waited too long and the reasonably priced rooms are gone. Any other good places to stay? I would like a step up from Super 8.

For me, step up from Super 8 is a nice tent and a Kermit chair combined with a good sleeping bag.
It produces wonderful results and a great experience on the road as well as at the BMWMOA Rally.

I am already mapping my trip from Miami to Redmond. No hotels, no motels. Clean campgrounds, usually works for me.
After the BMWMOA Rally I hope to hit your area. I never did see Victoria, and continue North to Canada and comeback home Via East coast.

P.S. Comparing West Coast and Northern part of USA to Florida and Georgia, you guys have no LEO's out there.
Good Luck.

I did the rally camping when I went to the MOA national at Spokane in 2004 and enjoyed it a great deal. Nothing like being up and about coffeeing and the like hours before they open the gates. I think there was like 3000 campers that year. I would camp if Mrs Airman was inclined. For her, roughing it is having to stay at the Super 8 instead of the Ramada.

LEOs? They're thick along the I-5 corridor in Washington. East though, not as much. When I drove to Minnesota to work in 2006 I didn't see a single cop between the Cascade range and the Minnesota border, On I-5 they don't speed trap so much as cruise in traffic. I've been stopped twice on the RR by cruising state police. The last time I was rolling 80 in a 60 and got off with a safety lecture, so it's not ALL just fund raising.

[tl440]

[quote][Alas, too late to get the rate. I waited too long and the reasonably priced rooms are gone. Any other good places to stay? I would like a step up from Super 8./quote]

A good friend, LT rider, and former Bend resident recommended Sugarloaf Mt Motel. It's at the intersection of 97 and 20. We're in there at a pretty good rate.

Be advised that the Bend Super 8 has interior corridors. Rooms are ok though.

dge

[jas]

Airman - Continue to pester Eagle Crest, I bet they will extend the offer to you.

If not, look for any place in Sisters (although probably costs a bit more than Eagle Crest).

If you decide to stay in Bend, I like the Phoenix Inn in Downtown (old Bend) and it is across the street from McMenamins, and a short walk to Bend Brewing Company and Deschutes Brewery.) The ride from there to Eagle Crest is also very nice. Take Greenwood (which turns to Newport then Shevlin Park Rd) to Johnson Road and then over to Hwy 20 at Tumalo.

If you enjoy fish tacos and beer, get something close to cascade lakes brewery in Redmond that you can walk to and from.