I think I am pretty good to go for camping gear--small tent, backpack, mess kit, coffee pot, etc., but when can we start reserving a camping spot for the rally? I've been looking for info for that and rates but cannot seem to locate anything. Also, wtf is with the price of hotel rooms around Gillette-hasn't anyone seen a stone head before?
You shouldn't need the backpack or mess-kit at the rally, and you won't need to reserve a spot- just show up and pitch your tent. On-site camping in included when you register for the rally. See you there!
Bikeless for now...but not forever!
"If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's electrical." -somebody's dad
that's fantastic! why no mess kit? is there food to buy or is it included? I've never been to something like this (hard to tell, huh?) And what sort of registration price is there?
Land to pitch your tent upon is part of the rally fee. First come first serve on the good spots.Originally Posted by MplsK100RT
Food isn't included, but there will be plenty of vendors selling food.
I believe the rally fee last year was $30, but someone may need to correct me.
Go ahead and let er rip, Gillette needs the water
Hey if we can't poke fun what is life worth?
Wot Sherpa sed. There will be TONS of food available, assuming of course that as many food-vendors will travel to WY as did to previous rally-sites and of course the town will have the usual restaurants too- no need to bring even a fork! I ate pretty well at this year's rally from both vendors and local establishments. There will also be showers and a charging-station for all your electronic stuff and even a cyber-cafe if you want to check email, and morning coffee too if you're into that.
The rally-fee was $30 this year according to my check-register, and you'll see a registration-form in your ON sometime next year. Online registration will also be open at some point.
And I wasn't kidding about just showing up and pitching your tent- once you get on-site then through the registration tent (you do this even though you sent in the form- it's to get you checked-in and give you vital stuff like a wristband and a guidebook that contains everything you need to know while at the rally), you can just go pick yourself out a camping-spot. There will already be set-up volunteers camped here and there by the time the site opens, so generally anyplace you see tents is OK (there will be a designated quiet-camping area too if that's your style). Don't even try to find a shady-spot; I've heard that there won't be any. If you really want shade, you can bring an e-z-up or similar item. If that won't fit on your bike, you can ship it via UPS ahead of time and pick it up at the rally (and do the same to get it home).
In short, the fact that you'll be sleeping in a tent is really the only 'camping' aspect of the rally. You may wish to bring a chair (folding camping-type is great), especially if you make friends with people camping nearby. And now that I think about it, if your backpack is just a small 'knapsack' type, you might find it handy for carrying the stuff you'll no-doubt be buying from the vendors. LOTS of great shopping for bike-stuff, T-shirts, etc. at the rally.
See you there!
Bikeless for now...but not forever!
"If you can't fix it with a hammer, it's electrical." -somebody's dad
That is the great thing about rally camping. Food is taken care of and after rides, walking around looking at the motorcycles and vendors you just fold out your $10 lawn chair and drink beer and smoke nasty cigars.
gpodzo
Go Rockies (no not that) go Bronco's (no forget that) oh yea go Avalanche's
Funny story about "the walk":+1 ... if I'm alone. Otherwise I'll suffer the walk, just as she would
While at my very first BMW Rally (Paonia, Colorado 2003), I spent alot of the late night at the beer tent. Naturally, when we all retired to our tents, I fell asleep IMMEDIATELY. Of course, I woke up a few hours later needing to get to a bathroom, fast
.
So at about 3am I got up, nasty headache and still a little drunk, and walked (weaved) the 100 yards or so to the facilities.
When I walked out of the bathroom all I saw was a sea of dome tents in the dark! I had no idea where mine was! Took me about a half hour to find it.
At the next rally I went to, I brought the "32 oz bottle" and if I did leave my tent when it was dark, I turned a small flashlight on so the tent would be easy to find when I got back.
Mike M
2012 K1600GT Lt. Gray
ESSENTIAL gear, fo me, includes two small flashlights - one to leave turned on inside the tent so I can find it and the other to find all those tent ropes strung between my tent and the Porta.Funny story about "the walk":
While at my very first BMW Rally (Paonia, Colorado 2003), I spent alot of the late night at the beer tent
So at about 3am I got up, nasty headache and still a little drunk, and walked (weaved) the 100 yards or so to the facilities.
When I walked out of the bathroom all I saw was a sea of dome tents in the dark! I had no idea where mine was
At the next rally I went to, I brought the "32 oz bottle" and if I did leave my tent when it was dark, I turned a small flashlight on so the tent would be easy to find when I got back.
And, this brings me to an existential question: Why, when you wake in the night needing to pee, your first, fleeting thought is that you can ignore the feeling and just go back to sleep? You know that's not going to work and yet you think it might.
John
We are indeed an older riding group, talking peeing all night! All the tips seem good enough to me. At 55, I usually can make near daybreak still, before the urge hits hard
You mean I don't really have to have a Kermit chair?
-Ray
I use a special color Nalgene bottle. The large opening helps....
I also am old and have to pee several time during the night. I Keep a 1/2 Gal milk jug in my tent and use that to pee in. Empty it in the woods or wherever the next morning.
Getting that jug too close to the coffee in the morning could be interesting....
"This coffee has a bit of a wang to it!"
19 BMWMOA Nationals under my belt, and I have no idea what I am doing.
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