Utah Weekend

[widebmw]

You can still go to Cedar City Utah and ride the same places.
You just can't give them the $79.00 for you dinner.

[RobStar]

There were a few cancellations so I'm registered now. Arriving Thursday night, departing Monday morning.

Hopefully there will be a GS / gravel road group?

RobStar

[grafikfeat]

You can still go to Cedar City Utah and ride the same places.
You just can't give them the $79.00 for you dinner.

Yup... Cool stuff to see here @ home anyway...

[andrewsi]

Well, I'm on my way back from the event (overnighting in Boise before returning to Seattle tomorrow), and I must say I think it was a very well run event and lots of fun. I think I'll have put somewhere around 2400-2500 miles on the bike on this trip by the time I get home.

In the end there were roughly 80ish attendees, someone mentioned that there were some last minute cancellations.

In attendance from the MOA were Greg Feeler (new Prez), Tom Buttars (treasurer), Jackie & Chris Hughes (VP, and Ambassadors), and someone from ON whose name has now escaped me. Apologies for anyone else I might've forgotten.

Three group rides were offered. The most popular by far was a ride down to Kolob Canyons, through Zion (though not enough time for the shuttle bus ride up the canyon), up to Bryce Canyon (stop for lunch at Ruby's Inn), and then back by way of a very nice twisty Rt. 143 to Cedar Breaks Monument (elevation ~10300ft.) and a very rapid downhill through Cedar Canyon back into Cedar City. I think that ride, split into two groups, probably accounted for around a third to half of those in attendance. There were only a few takers for a somewhat longer ride as well, and the remainder were simply charting their own course for the day.

We were briefly stopped on Rt. 143 by an enormous flock of sheep being herded across the road. Coming over the rise about half a mile away, at first I couldn't figure out what I was seeing. I thought a truck had spilled a load of something across the road, or perhaps it was flooded... fuzzy white indistinct blobs... wait, those are SHEEP! Had to stop and wait for them to meander their way across the road. Got a few pics, maybe I'll upload them after I get back home if they turned out.

All in all, I met some very nice folks this weekend at the event, and the MOA staff were wonderful hosts and ride leaders. Very memorable.

It was announced at dinner that one rider went down during the course of the day, bike totaled and rider sustained "non-life-threatening injuries", but no more details were available at the time, nor did I hear anything more before I left. Hope the rider was not too seriously damaged. Someone from the Las Vegas area, I believe.

My assessment: Great fun and well run. I sincerely hope they do as they intend, and run more of these events around the country for others to take advantage of. I'd certainly do it again.

[tallyho]

We were on our way back from a week and a half on the road and stopped in at the Weekend Getaway Friday night. Met a few MOA officers and a good number of fine riding folks. It was a great location with an excellent restaurant right in the hotel. We heard that 'someone' was getting married back in Missouri that Saturday and this accounted for the lack of MOA staff attendance and perhaps more broad publicity. There was also some discussion of future western events and the potential to repeat Cedar City next year. With a little more notice I think it would blossom quite nicely. Overall it appeared to be an excellent first effort.

Our return route had us on US 50 in Nevada. We received some excellent advise from Reno area riders at the Getaway to fill up whenever possible. This turned out to be good juju as indeed several of the small towns along the way no longer had operating fuel stations. There was one dry spell about 160 miles long. Of course, we passed along all the road info we'd accumulated about southern UT over the past week. There's a benefit to being in the club beyond the tangible.

Thanks!

[widebmw]

Our return route had us on US 50 in Nevada. We received some excellent advise from Reno area riders at the Getaway to fill up whenever possible. This turned out to be good juju as indeed several of the small towns along the way no longer had operating fuel stations. There was one dry spell about 160 miles long.

I travel US 50 several times a year and I don't know of a 160 mile dry spell.

Where was that ?

[motoclass]

First, thank you Andy (andrewsi) for the great "wrap-up" - and it was great meeting you, as well! Hope to see you in Redmond.

The first Weekend Getaway - Utah was a ton of fun; from the Friday evening reception, to the Saturday rides, to the final dinner (and following social hours...). All who have been there know the southern Utah area is second to none for scenery and great roads. The town of Cedar City is very nice and we found our host hotel, the Crystal Inn, was terrific at taking care of our group. Besides the obvious places such as Zion, Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks and others, we were able to experience 10,000 foot passes with mile after mile of aspen trees in their brightest glory of yellow, orange and red; 5000 foot valleys with 90 degree temperatures; relatively light off-season traffic and the fun of riding and getting to know a bunch of MOA members we had never before met. Believe me, Colors in the Catskills has nothing on the high-country aspen forests of the Rockies in late September!

There were officially 82 members in attendance. Frankly, the 100 person limit was imposed after registration opened, since going in we truly did not expect that large a response and had prepared for that number only. There were some diligent members that called the office back later to find there were some cancellations, and then were able to register. Those in attendance know we handed out an evaluation form for you to fill out. We received responses from nearly everyone and have some new ideas to work with including some great ideas for other venues.

To follow up on Andy's reference to the down riders, the couple (riding two-up) sustained relatively minor injuries, were released from the hospital the next day and are already looking for a replacement bike. Good news!

I think I can speak for Jackie Hughes, Greg Feeler, Tom Buttars, Ted Moyer and myself in saying that we had a terrific time planning and facilitating this event. And yes, there are plans to repeat this event as well as bring other similar events to the membership across the country. Thanks to all who attended and we look forward to meeting and riding with even more BMW MOA members in the future.

Chris

Below: BMW MOA Treasurer Tom Buttars talking with a member about the Saturday "long" ride at the Friday evening reception.

[motoclass]

BMW MOA Director of Marketing and Advertising Ted Moyer and BMW MOA Vice President Jackie Hughes check in a member for the Weekend Getaway - Utah.

[motoclass]

Friday evening reception for the Weekend Getaway attendees.

[motoclass]

One of the Saturday morning ride groups; first stop, Kolob Canyon in Zion National Park.

[motoclass]

Riding the 10,000 ft high Cedar Breaks road. Andy in the lead.

[grafikfeat]

No staggering!?

(actually... envious of this event.)

[motoclass]

Not in the curves. In the curves the whole road is yours.

One the straights? ...of course!

[andrewsi]

Hey, those are some good pics (of me.) Thanks for posting!

[pjripple]

This was my first ever "organized" motorcycle event and I had great time! I've already scheduled the time off to go to Redmond. The Utah weekend was at the end of a 2 week 5,000 mile trip for me and was a wonderful end to a great vacation. I can't wait until the next one.

Paul