The BIG COLORADO 2013 summer gathering !

[pteppic]

Re: The BIG COLORADO 2013 summer gathering !

So does this all mean I can/should make reservations at KOA in Ouray?

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[MurphCO]

if you head out of Ouray South before 10am 550 is fine, sometimes you might get caught behind a few jeeps heading out on a tour, but very seldom RVs


heading north out of Ouray there are more options once you hit Ridgway




there are ample passing opportunities on 550 as well, certain sections not so much, but there are a few

 

[~TABASCO~]

Re: The BIG COLORADO 2013 summer gathering !

So does this all mean I can/should make reservations at KOA in Ouray?

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PM sent over to ya... ::008::

 

[Big Blu]

TABASCO... thanks for your efforts in pulling this together. ::008:: ::018::

Everywhere is Colorado is better the anywhere in Florida. ::010::

I'm all in!

Regards, Paul

 

[~TABASCO~]

TABASCO... thanks for your efforts in pulling this together. ::008:: ::018::

Everywhere is Colorado is better the anywhere in Florida. ::010::

I'm all in!

Regards, Paul

Paul,

Great ! Looking forward to meeting everyone !! Do you know if you will be camping or hotel ? We are still calling hotels and working with the KOA for campers... Thanks

 

[Big Blu]

A hotel room for me... I'd be happy to share a room with another from this group.

Regards, Paul

 

[Tippo]

The Ducati sport touring group that I am part of held their 2010 (mid June) annual gathering at the Best Western Twin Peaks Lodge in Ouray. It worked out well. Best feature is a relatively flat (rare in hilly Ouray) paved, tree-shaded parking lot. One of my favorite aspect of these gatherings is hanging out in the parking lot in the morning with a coffee or in the afternoon with a beer meeting people and checking out everyone's bikes/farkels. OK, but not great, free breakfast and bike-friendly management. I have also stayed in the Box Canyon lodge next door that has an even flatter, shaded parking lot, very nice hot spring-heated redwood hot tubs on a treed hillside with great views. No breakfast. The Victorian Inn is across the street from the Box Canyon and has a flat lot w/o trees. Looks to be less expensive than the other two. We never did find a place for an awards banquet. Just made reservations at various good restaurants (14 people w/separate checks - no problem). Everything is walking distance. We did our awards in the parking lot of the BW. I have found that setting up a banquet for this type of gathering is a real PITA. Our Duc group is about 1 for 6 on banquet satisfaction. Sorry I don't know anything about the KOA as Ducati riders do not sleep or ride in the dirt. That's why I got a Super Tenere.

The "Guide to Colorado Backroads and 4-Wheel Drive Trails" (Amazon has it) lists easy, moderate, and difficult trails very near Ouray. Ride reports on advrider are full of descriptions and pictures. I have never found traffic to be a major problem in this area - probably because it is so far from the heavily populated cities near Denver. 550 is a major truck route as well as an RV magnet. No problem for a powerful moto though. Other nearby paved roads are less famous but more sublime.

I'll be happy to respond to any questions.

Jeff
Snowmass Village

 

[stevepsd]

+1

Ouray is "okay", just not sure if I'm ready for all the RV's and looky-loo's that seem to flock to the Million Dollar Highway during the summer.

I am with you on this one Rod. With Ouray you are a long way to/from anywhere else. Which is OK.

That is why Gunnision was chosen for the Moto-Marathon back in 2009. Much more centrally located to fab riding areas - southwest hwy 114 to Saguache, or southeast hwy 149 to South Fork, north out of Gunnsion to Altmont (the gateway to Taylor Park - a dirt bike mecca - plenty doable on the ST) then up over Cottonwood Pass (half dirt, half pavement) to Buena Vista & Poncha Springs), or north to Crested Butte, then hit Kebler Pass road (graded dirt) and hit hwy 133 to Carbondale, Aspen, Independence Pass or take hwy 92 south off of 133 to Crawford & Blue Mesa Reservoir.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[~TABASCO~]

The Ducati sport touring group that I am part of held their 2010 (mid June) annual gathering at the Best Western Twin Peaks Lodge in Ouray. It worked out well. Best feature is a relatively flat (rare in hilly Ouray) paved, tree-shaded parking lot. One of my favorite aspect of these gatherings is hanging out in the parking lot in the morning with a coffee or in the afternoon with a beer meeting people and checking out everyone's bikes/farkels. OK, but not great, free breakfast and bike-friendly management. I have also stayed in the Box Canyon lodge next door that has an even flatter, shaded parking lot, very nice hot spring-heated redwood hot tubs on a treed hillside with great views. No breakfast. The Victorian Inn is across the street from the Box Canyon and has a flat lot w/o trees. Looks to be less expensive than the other two. We never did find a place for an awards banquet. Just made reservations at various good restaurants (14 people w/separate checks - no problem). Everything is walking distance. We did our awards in the parking lot of the BW. I have found that setting up a banquet for this type of gathering is a real PITA. Our Duc group is about 1 for 6 on banquet satisfaction. Sorry I don't know anything about the KOA as Ducati riders do not sleep or ride in the dirt. That's why I got a Super Tenere.

The "Guide to Colorado Backroads and 4-Wheel Drive Trails" (Amazon has it) lists easy, moderate, and difficult trails very near Ouray. Ride reports on advrider are full of descriptions and pictures. I have never found traffic to be a major problem in this area - probably because it is so far from the heavily populated cities near Denver. 550 is a major truck route as well as an RV magnet. No problem for a powerful moto though. Other nearby paved roads are less famous but more sublime.

I'll be happy to respond to any questions.

Jeff
Snowmass Village

Jeff,

Thanks for your input. Im getting many calls and even more Emails bout this ride next summer. We have several people including myself checking on several camp grounds and many Hotels. We hope to get as much of this info nailed down as quickly as possible so people can decide if they would like to attend or make plans to attend. If you would like to PM or Email me your contact info, I can call you next week and we can talk more about it... Thanks again for your post...

 

[colorider]

I am with you on this one Rod. With Ouray you are a long way to/from anywhere else. Which is OK.

That is why Gunnision was chosen for the Moto-Marathon back in 2009. Much more centrally located to fab riding areas - southwest hwy 114 to Saguache, or southeast hwy 149 to South Fork, north out of Gunnsion to Altmont (the gateway to Taylor Park - a dirt bike mecca - plenty doable on the ST) then up over Cottonwood Pass (half dirt, half pavement) to Buena Vista & Poncha Springs), or north to Crested Butte, then hit Kebler Pass road (graded dirt) and hit hwy 133 to Carbondale, Aspen, Independence Pass or take hwy 92 south off of 133 to Crawford & Blue Mesa Reservoir.

Just my 2 cents.

Site selection for any event - be it mc related or even car related is key. Need to consider not only what the host motel has to offer, but also the immediate area for eating (drinking) options,the ease to get to good roads, traffic considerations, relative cost and much more. BTDT.

I've stayed in each of the locations being considered. Some good experiences - some just so-so.

My nickels worth...

 

[True Grip]

Jaxon I've been in intense negotiations with Mrs. Grip over morning coffee. I've got a plausable deal work out in which both parties have mutually agreed and are satisfied with said agreement. I will (if life doesn't get in way) be attending the Colorado meet. I will likely take off the last week of June and first week of July to come ride with you all. It dosen't matter to me where we meet, just looking forward to putting some names to faces and great riding. I intend to camp the whole time. Other said party will be ridden up the Blue Ridge Parkway then on to Niagra Falls and a loop of Maine in the fall of the year. 30 years of marriage, its all about compromise ::025::

 

[jajpko]

I agree with Rod. The more centralized the location and good choices in lodging, the better it would be. Also access to good food and repair facility's.

I have based out of Montrose for 3 different years and had a blast. But I was only riding paved roads. The bad thing about Montrose, It's in the valley. and it does get very hot in mid summer. But it is near to some of the very best riding in the south portion of CO.

I based out of Frisco one year and that was a bust. Could not wait to ride south.. lol

The interesting part of this ride, is, some will be doing only pavement(or very little gravel), and some will be looking for off road. That makes it difficult to pick a good spot.

 

[pteppic]

I want to express how grateful I am to Jaxon for proposing this gathering in the first place. To me, a Central California guy, any place with more elevation changes than I have within a few miles of me would be good, and anyplace in Colorado is great. IMO, any venue has its good points and its limitations. Gunnison would have been OK, but it looks like it may be a little ride to the excellent mountain stuff. Ouray looks like it's in the heart of the good mountainy stuff, but perhaps has other limitations. Bottom line is, Jaxon stepped up to the plate and has taken on the job of pointman for this event, and I think we should support his research and decisions, and not try to second guess him, undermine him, or factionalize the forum members. He is sincere in his attempts to provide us all with good times next June. ::022::

 

[protondecay123]

Hey ~Tabasco~ turns out the wife may not be coming with. Turn me into a single camper! ::024::

 

[joneil]

The BIG COLORADO 2013 summer gathering !

I want to express how grateful I am to Jaxon for proposing this gathering in the first place. To me, a Central California guy, any place with more elevation changes than I have within a few miles of me would be good, and anyplace in Colorado is great. IMO, any venue has its good points and its limitations. Gunnison would have been OK, but it looks like it may be a little ride to the excellent mountain stuff. Ouray looks like it's in the heart of the good mountainy stuff, but perhaps has other limitations. Bottom line is, Jaxon stepped up to the plate and has taken on the job of pointman for this event, and I think we should support his research and decisions, and not try to second guess him, undermine him, or factionalize the forum members. He is sincere in his attempts to provide us all with good times next June. ::022::

+1

 

[troll]

I want to express how grateful I am to Jaxon for proposing this gathering in the first place. To me, a Central California guy, any place with more elevation changes than I have within a few miles of me would be good, and anyplace in Colorado is great. IMO, any venue has its good points and its limitations. Gunnison would have been OK, but it looks like it may be a little ride to the excellent mountain stuff. Ouray looks like it's in the heart of the good mountainy stuff, but perhaps has other limitations. Bottom line is, Jaxon stepped up to the plate and has taken on the job of pointman for this event, and I think we should support his research and decisions, and not try to second guess him, undermine him, or factionalize the forum members. He is sincere in his attempts to provide us all with good times next June. ::022::

::012:: ::012:: the man speaks the truth :-*

 

[~TABASCO~]

Thanks guys for your support.. We are already working hard on this event and putting time into it.. We also have a few forum members that have offered to help and stepping up to help. Thanks guys! We are gathering info as quickly as we can and we will of course post all the info and details as soon as we get this info... Ive had many Emails and calls about this ride. If anyone has any questions or suggestions feel free to call me anytime. Would be happy to talk with anyone about it...
I hope that everyone can understand that there are MANY great places in Colorado. Each might be better for a certain ride, close to this or that, Etc... There is no place that we can go that will make everyone happy. Ive gotten many calls from people that have traveled or have lived in Colorado and have give us some great suggestions. We are working on the 'whole package' , so most people will have a wonderful time. We cant have one event over 2-3-4-5 locations. At some point someone has to make a choice to have the very best time for "the whole" of the group ! I personally would like this to be an awesome time for everyone.. Im willing to work hard to make it a great time! Hope to see everyone in June ! Thanks Jaxon

 

[phplemel]

Can't believe I just found this thread ::010:: I just finished reading thru all 8 pages.
And I must express my thanks for someone else picking up after what Rem, Troll & I put you thru ::001::
Having been a part of the 1st North American Gathering I know a little of what you are going thru

Pick a date, pick a place and we'll show up ( at least some of us) I can't commit yet as I'm a slave to a seasonal business but do hope to see you there
Pat ::021::

ps: dates don't matter , but name does my vote is for 2nd Annual NAS10G

 

[Siseneg]

Tentative YES .. getting stronger as we figure out the rest of the plans for that time of year. Nobody will pick on me if I truck the bike to Denver will they? ::019:: My wife will need wheels while she turns me loose for a few days so we'll just drive the first 1,681 miles then I'll resume normal ops. I would be predisposed to a hotel stay; I will undoubtedly not be able to completely disconnect from the work-world just yet. That comes in about 2 years ::012::

 

[pteppic]

Re: Re: The BIG COLORADO 2013 summer gathering !

Tentative YES .. getting stronger as we figure out the rest of the plans for that time of year. Nobody will pick on me if I truck the bike to Denver will they? ::019:: My wife will need wheels while she turns me loose for a few days so we'll just drive the first 1,681 miles then I'll resume normal ops. I would be predisposed to a hotel stay; I will undoubtedly not be able to completely disconnect from the work-world just yet. That comes in about 2 years ::012::

I'm sure not going to say anything about your bike hitching a ride in your pickup. Mine is tagging along in a toy hauler, which will also be our home on the road for a month or so. Did I tell you how much we love being retired educators?

Y'all come!

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