Rally e-newsletter 6.01
March 14 , 2006
Discover yourself in Idaho!
July 6-9, 2006
Western Idaho Fairgrounds
Boise, Idaho
I'm back! Bet you thought you'd never hear from me again! We've had a relatively mild winter here in southwest Ohio and I've been able to ride all winter so I am chomping at the bit to travel.
Boise, Idaho……I know many of you have traveled through Idaho on your way to Oregon, Canada, Alaska…you know who you are. Did you think as you rode through you should come back some day and spend more time in Idaho? This is your chance to do just that. The RA has chosen another great riding venue in Boise, Idaho. The Western Idaho Fairgrounds sits on the north edge of Boise, the capital city of Idaho. I traveled to Boise last June to check out this site and meet the guys who would eventually be the rally co-chairs: Jerome Eberharter and Greg Feeler. Boise is one of those small, unassuming capital cities that if you didn't see the capital building complex you would never know it hosts the state's government.
When you come upon the fairgrounds, your mind registers that this is a typical fairgrounds with grandstands, animal buildings, grassy areas and lots of paved parking area. The tent camping area has some shade with old growth trees, so get there early if you want the prime camping spots! The land is level so no sleeping on an incline and rolling to the bottom of your tent. There will be some dry RV camping, but the folks who want more amenities can camp their rigs at the On the River RV Park, a short walk from Rally Central. These folks have put aside 200 RV spots for our rally.
Vendors will be housed inside a relatively new structure called the Expo Building. This area is air conditioned (which we will need….Boise can be very warm in July). In addition, spots will be allocated for those vendors who want to set up outside the Expo Building. Seminars will also be held in air conditioned comfort in a couple of venues, depending on the size of the seminar audience. The Fair Manager, Bob Batista, has been great to work with and will be an accommodating host for the RA and our rally goers.
Now the good stuff!
As I began to promote this rally, I encouraged folks to do the “Trifecta” with RA rally, July 6-9 th in Boise, Top of the Rockies in Paonia, July 14 – 15 th , and the MOA rally, July 20-23 rd in Vermont while secretly planning my own trip to do just that. Folks in all three clubs started to chatter about this great threesome and the RA and MOA got together (did I just hear a collective thud as you all fell off your chairs?) and put the Peaks of America Tour, “Three Rallies, Three Weekends, Three Thousand Miles” together. The clubs put aside all that is political and concentrated on “the ride” and all that is BMW Touring: the motorcycle, the ride and the camaraderie.
Here's what you do:
- Attend and register at each rally. Keep wearing your wristband (each will be a different color) when you register at the MOA rally in Vermont. You must be wearing both rally wristbands from Boise and Paonia and have your complete registration paperwork to validate your ride.
- As you pass through the MOA Country Store you must show the three rally wristbands to receive your Peaks of America Tour Pin. This pin has been designed by both clubs to commerate this tour and will only be given to those who attend all three rallies.
In addition, some great surprises are in the works for just those folks who complete the ride.
We say we do it for the love of the ride, so now its time to show it!
Rally Website
The rally website is up and running and has a great information on things to do in Boise and the surrounding area. We have worked out some great deals with hotels close to the venue and those links are on the website. If you intend to hotel it, I would encourage you to register early as folks are already reserving their rooms. There is also a link the RV Park so you can reserve your spot.
Mary Michael-Rodgers from the Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau has been busy gathering information on things to do in the area and is a valued member of this rally team. She has also registered for the rally forum, so if you have questions of her, register for the forum and fire away!
The guys putting the dual sport rides together are almost finished and these will be posted ahead of time on the website, so get your Idaho Gazetteer out and start planning. A couple of guided dual sport rides will be held during the rally. I purchased a 2006 F650GS in January so you can count me in on this and I cannot wait to get off the pavement in Idaho!
Check out the RAlly website often!
Rally Forum
The RA introduces something new with every rally and this year is no exception. The rally forum is up and running and waiting for all of you. Register for the forum and let's get this dialogue going. I have registered and will help answer any questions you may have and you can also e-mail me.
Registration
You all raved about how easy it was to register for the rally on-line last year, so we'll do it again. On-line registration goes live on April 1 st (no fooling). In addition, vendor registration will also be up and running April 1 st on the rally website.
Weather
Boise is considered high desert country and can be very warm in July, with the hottest month in August. Be forewarned, you are in the mountains and as soon as you head out of Boise for some great riding, the weather can change drastically, even in the summer months. Last June a group of us rode an 800 mile loop and rode in whiteout conditions through a mountain pass. Be prepared…wouldn't hurt to bring your electrics. I lived in my Gerbing's while taking this ride. Again, be prepared for anything!
We have much in the works: maybe a wine tasting tour of the area (much like the Jack Daniels trip we had last year), a trip to Tamarack (the new ski resort outside of Boise) and much more.
The road to Boise is set and it's time to travel…..
Debbi Harbour
Rally Liaison
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