BMW Rally Trip, July, 2010

[monstergirl]

I was lucky enough to be able to escape for 2 weeks to go to the BMW International Rally in Redmond and other wanderings in July. I ended up with over 2300 miles in 2 weeks, not riding 5 of those days... I needed time to read books, drink fine wines and adult beverages, and just hang out! The best part of this trip was the fact that I got my own butt home! Last trip, the DRZ left me stranded in the BF middle-of-nowhere Oregon, but some wonderful people (The Bastards MC Club from Portland) rescued me and then a friend picked me up in Portland and brought me home to Olympia.

There was only one real SNAFU (my fault) and one hiccup. The SNAFU was me leaving my lights, including driving lights, on at a gas station at 11pm in Redmond, OR, with about 15 miles to drive to Bend, where I was staying the night. Bike wouldn't start (DUH!) but a nice guy helped me bump-start it. Left the driving lights off the rest of the trip and had no other problems. Going to get a new battery and voltmeter and have since developed better turning off the ignition habits. Hiccup was also self-created when I stuck all my cards (drivers license, credit and debit cards, etc, etc) in the back map pocket of my jacket, but didn't even realize my jacket had one of those, so I thought I lost them! Luckily, I paid attention to the thread here that said I should keep a copy of my cards with me in another location. That, along with having my passport and another credit card in another location, saved my vacation!! About 4 days later, I found them in that back pocket, and laughed at myself. Note, I don't tend to lose anything, ever, so this took a lot of strength not to freak out about this.

Got to meet some really interesting people, including the guy who won the trials riding at the rally. Turned out he and his buddies were originally from Poland, so we had lots of toasts, where they drank a lot and I kept nursing the same 2 beers all night. I hoped to meet up with them in Utah on their way home, but ended up meeting my friend from LA in Lake Tahoe. Nice place during the week, can't recommend it on the weekend!!

My proudest part of the trip was doing 60 miles on gravel in the MIDDLE of NO WHERE SE Oregon through an antelope sanctuary. It wasn't really off-road, but it was as off-road as I felt comfortable doing by myself. I did one other 17 mile cut-off by some really cool ice caves in Oregon. I love SE Oregon and northern CA!

Got to ride some awesome roads. Actually scrapped the pegs on the Dakar! :yahoo:

Route (Pink and grey lines):

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/route.jpg

Best Paint Job:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000065.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000063.jpg

Best Luggage Rack:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000055.jpg

Weirdest BMW:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000061.jpg

Most Well-Equipped BMW:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000067.jpg

Most Tupperware BMW:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000070.jpg

Most Hard-Core Trials Rider:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000085.jpg

Albert, Drunken Polish/Canadian Trials Winner:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000087.jpg
Hung out with him and his group the last night. Lots of fun. Wanted to meet up with them in Utah, but ended up stopping in Lake Tahoe to see a friend instead.

Most Aerodynamic BMW:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000091.jpg

Classic Facebook Shot @ East Paulina Lake, OR:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000095.jpg

Two Ways of Camping:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000100.jpg

Cuteness at Ice Caves, OR:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000103.jpg

Ice Caves, OR:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000105.jpg

First Dirt Road on Trip w/ Mr. Happy:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000112.jpg

Oregon's Ayers Rock:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000128.jpg

Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000129.jpg

Middle of Nowhere in the Antelope Refuge:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000122.jpg

Antelope!
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000145.jpg

More Middle of Nowhere:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000136.jpg

Lots of Money at Lake Tahoe (Tahoe City, CA):
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000153.jpg

I'm So White and Nerdy! (Bad Weird Al reference, look up "White and Nerdy" on Youtube. I love Weird Al!)
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000156.jpg
Yes, that's 2 GPSs, a phone, netbook, , a bunch of maps, and a really good glass of wine.

Another Awesome Sticker on a Transformer (one of my weird interests):
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000160.jpg

CA Coast, south of Eureka:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000161.jpg
It was cold!!

Redwoods:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000175.jpg

Best Sign EVER! Ashland, OR:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000182.jpg

Obligatory Food Shot. Tiramisu, Ashland, OR:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000183.jpg

Home Again, Home Again, Giggaty-Gig!
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000184.jpg

My Domo Attacking the Dirty Windshield:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000187.jpg

[Luna Tique]

Thanks Monstergirl I enjoyed reading and seeing the pictures fromyour trip.:thumbup:

I am glad it turned out your documents were in a safe place. That sounds like something I would do.:redface1:

Talk about the roads less traveled.:thumbup:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000122.jpg

You wouldn't happen to have a few more pictures of the Trials Riders in action you could share with us would you? :D:

[waterlilly]

Nice RR and the pics are fantastic,

I too would love to see some more pics, if you have the time.

Cheers
:thumbsup:

[Astir]

:thumbup: What a great trip! Congrats on your off road :thumbsup: way to go.

Thanks for sharing with us.

[demenshea]

Wonderful trip report! Funny, I came across several people heading to the rally as I crossed into central OR this last trip. It was difficult not to join them, but I knew that I needed to cover some roadway and that I wasn't registered!

I have a similar photo taken by my daughter in law, telling me it had all I needed as I left for MT...GPS, Wine, Flask and Notes!

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2010/Blog/IMG_0379.jpeg

Great stuff!! :thumbsup:

[Gitana]

Thanks for sharing your trip! It looks as if you had a great time. I saw all kinds of luggage-laden BMW's around Puget Sound before and after the rally. Bet it was fun!

[KansasKawboy]

:thumbup: What a great trip! Congrats on your off road :thumbsup: way to go.

Thanks for sharing with us.
:iagree:

[MereBear]

Thanks for sharing - it looks great! (I've always been partial to BMW's and wish I coulda made it up to the RA ralley in VT this past weekend!)

Hubby and I are heading to Max BMW tomorrow so he can test ride something! I want/would LOVE an F650 but I'm gonna wait a bit for that! :)

[LittleRedRider]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.
Love the Oly stickers.

[ridingAK]

How fun! I love the antelope refuge pics, and I'm glad the bike brought you through without issue. I've gone the dead battery route, NOT FUN!!!

[demenshea]

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000112.jpg

So were you all alone on this adventure?? You certainly have some awesome shots!! :perfect10:

[msyzf2u]

:pompom: :thumbsup: :clapping: F A N T A B U L O U S! :pompom: :thumbsup: :clapping:

[maximoto]

Very cool shots you got MG, I esp. liked the custom bikes!

[monstergirl]

Demenshea, I was alone on this trip, as usual. It would be nice to have someone to travel with, but I'm not waiting around for that person to show up! And, this way, I get to do WHATEVER I WANT WHENEVER I WANT! How wonderfully selfish is that?

More trials pictures, as requested:

Stylie guy:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r2/r_niggemann/rides/bmw%20rally%202010/P1000080.jpg

Oops. That's all I've posted to Photobucket so far. Sorry!

[Luna Tique]

I can wait :D:


:campfire:

:sleep:

[Avalanche lily]

Awesome trip monster girl!:riding: