2017 Steve's Vacay kindarally - 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

steve68steve

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As suggested in the 2017 National Rally thread, I'm starting my own thread:
I am off work from 6/29/17 PM until 7/17/17 AM. I plan to trailer my bike from central FL to Ancient Cedars Campground, near Cortez, CO, where my truck camper will be base camp. That would put me on the ground in CO from 7/4/17 - 7/12/17.

From there, I plan to take as many day trips as possible to knock stuff off my bucket list. (See itineraries). I would also consider loading the bike up for an over-nighter away from base camp.

Itineraries: Some of these may not make sense - haven't thought it all thru. They're also all long saddle days. I like the idea of doing a overnight camp-out from the bike. I also like the idea of getting off the bike and spending some time exploring some of these destinations. All up in the air, since I don't know know what will happen at this point.
1. Mesa Verde
2. Canyon of the ancients
3. Valley of the Gods/ Moki Dugway
4. Silverton/ Ouray million-dollar highway
5. Monument Valley/ Four Corners/ Shiprock/ Navajo Nation
6. Grand Canyon North Rim
7. Arches National Park
8. Colorado BDR (southern sections).
9. Some better crap that locals know.

Issues:
1. Too freakin' hot. I live in central FL. I'd be willing to give away 10 more degrees in exchange for low humidity.
2. Too freakin' dry. I don't know if some of these routes have sufficient access to water, or if enough could be carried for some of them.
3. Too freakin' long. I'm OK with 6-8 hrs/ day in the saddle, but it's not for everyone.
4. Too freakin' scary. The possibility for disaster exists. It's adventure.
5. No experience. All my moto camping chops were developed along the mountains from New England to North Carolina. I'm out of my comfort zone. While that's sort of the point, I don't want to be stupid about it, either.

Cast, in order of appearance:
steve68steve - RV site. Hey, it's my freakin' vacay!
oldtramp - RV site
Shredmeister - RV site
Silverbullet
FM Rider

If you're interested in a group tent site, speak up - not reserved yet.

Maybe probably:
patrickg450
limey
 

Checkswrecks

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally Rally, maybe. 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

Nice set-up. Sounds like a great vacation.
 

patrickg450

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally Rally, maybe. 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

are you the one that asked me about my set up from Romney last year?


I may be there anyway........I have off from 6/27 to July 18. Coming from work in OKC so I will be trailering as well.......I am thinking about dropping in NM and going North from there. Or we can both leave our crap in OKC.


Thoughts?
 

steve68steve

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally Rally, maybe. 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

patrickg450 said:
are you the one that asked me about my set up from Romney last year?


I may be there anyway........I have off from 6/27 to July 18. Coming from work in OKC so I will be trailering as well.......I am thinking about dropping in NM and going North from there. Or we can both leave our crap in OKC.


Thoughts?
Could've been me - I sort of drown in new names/ faces/usernames at rallies. I had the rig pictured at Romney 2016. If all goes to plan, it will be there again for Romney 2017.


My thought about SW CO is that it's centrally located to all those itineraries - having never been there before, and not being sure what the future holds, I REALLY want to hit 3 things on that list - Mesa Verde, Valley of the Gods, and some CO BDR/ million dollar highway.


Never been to NM, either. What am I missing? Why would you drop there instead of in CO?
 

patrickg450

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally Rally, maybe. 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

when I say you asked me last year, we stayed away from the shop in a campground outside of town.....


The CD has good riding from central NM north, why trailer past it? Unless you are camping out of your set up, then I get it. I am from CO and have ridden all that you are posting about. Mesa Verde is cool, stop and take the tours, the Million Dollar Hwy is cool, stop and take pictures, the valley will be hotter then the other places but if yo like heat.......real hot IMO.

If Paul meets me I will do the CBRD.............
 

steve68steve

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally Rally, maybe. 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

I'd love to see some of NM, I just don't think I have the time.

Also, I WOULD be camping out of my rig, hence the idea of locating it central to as much bucket-list itinerary as possible. I've toyed with the idea of a few days in one spot, then loading up and re-positioning the rig, but to me that's wasted riding time - I don't think I'll get bored with SW CO and SE UT in a week and I don't want to rush around trying to keep a schedule.

Incidentally, last years Zion rally was the perfect storm of awesome for me: I planned to trailer to Cortez, do a day or three, then ride to the rally in Zion tent camping from the bike, then return to Cortez for another day or three of loops from the camper. That would have been a dream trip, then life stepped in and screwed up my plans.
 

patrickg450

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally Rally, maybe. 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

we can meet up somewhere.......
 

limey

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally Rally, maybe. 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

I'll probably be up for this..
 

SilverBullet

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally Rally, maybe. 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

I think I can be there 9th-12th. I'm in the middle of travel currently so will check out dates and schedule further upon my return.

_
 

steve68steve

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally Rally, maybe. 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

Thanks "Worncog" for suggesting this site across from Mesa Verde NP in the national rally thread:

Ancient Cedars Mesa Verde

- they have cabins, group camping, tent camping (limited tent sites with W/E), and RV sites (bring what you got)
- pool, rec room, patio, blah, blah, blah - lots of amenities for the less spartan rider
- adjacent to a gas station, and what looks like it might be a diner
- a short (~10 mi) ride into Cortez, which has gas, food, lodging, a Walmart (for the crap you forgot), and a Yamaha dealership (Mesa Verde Motorsports) for mechanical emergencies.
- nice, big, site not crowded on the edge of a town


[size=small]The reply from Ancient Cedars:


Quote
We like your kind. We would love to you have. As of now we have plenty of room for you but we are booking up fast with groups. Are you tenting? We do have 4 cabins available. How many nights? We would need to know who is going to handle the deposit. We do have nice group tents sites and community fire pits. For ten + people would be $10 per night, 9 or less $12.50 per night, plus 5.2% tax. No extra charge for showers, pool or hot tubs. We do have a nice 18 mini golf that would be an extra $3 a person, and $1 for the Pool table in the Rec Cabin. No outside firewood, but we do have nice bundle for $5.

So, if anyone is interested, I will be there from 7/3/17 - 7/12/17. That's a Monday thru the following Wednesday. Saturday/ Sunday would be the 8th / 9th. If there's significant interest, I'll put a deposit to hold a group site. In any case, I will be booking a site for myself for my whole stay, so if someone just wants to drop in and see a dusty 2014...
 

SilverBullet

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally Rally, maybe. 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

Sounds like a group site is the way to go. They didn't mention a minimum number of people so lots of flexibility. I'm 80% in now starting with the weekend, 8th or 9th.

_
 

patrickg450

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally - 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

Cortez is to the west about 5 miles, Durango is like closer to 20.
 

shredmeister

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally - 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

Steve68steve...

Thanks for getting something going. So you have made reservations? The wife and I need to plan a good vacation and she is ok with me riding with the guys during the day. I will likely bring my toyhauler (wifey likes the comforts) and rent an RV site. I hope to make plans sooner than later.

BTW, I was at the Zion rally last year. While the area was beautiful, the weather did not cooperate. The best day for riding was the "last" day and several people left the day before. 5 or 6 of us rode to the north rim of the Grand Canyon and took a nice off-road excursion on the way back. Seeing the large herd of buffalo was epic as were some of the site seeing off-road. (I'm sure David remembers this!)

Looking forward to some good times at this gathering!
 

SilverBullet

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally - 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

shredmeister said:
...BTW, I was at the Zion rally last year. While the area was beautiful, the weather did not cooperate. The best day for riding was the "last" day and several people left the day before. 5 or 6 of us rode to the north rim of the Grand Canyon and took a nice off-road excursion on the way back. Seeing the large herd of buffalo was epic as were some of the site seeing off-road. (I'm sure David remembers this!)
Yes I remember that was a great day. I'm terrible recalling forum and real names but I remembered your location so I just identified you by that. Lol

_
 

steve68steve

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally - 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO



shredmeister said:
Steve68steve...

Thanks for getting something going. So you have made reservations? The wife and I need to plan a good vacation and she is ok with me riding with the guys during the day. I will likely bring my toyhauler (wifey likes the comforts) and rent an RV site. I hope to make plans sooner than later.
Shred, I made reservations for myself. I'll be in an RV site.

Others: I have NOT made group tent site reservations, and won't until/ unless a few people show interest here.

I've never organized a rally, so I don't really know WTF I'm doing.

That said, maybe those interested in a group tent site could reply "in" here. If there's real interest, I'd be happy to reserve the group site.
 

patrickg450

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally - 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

I wont know for sure my plans until we get a little closer
 

oldtramp

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally - 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

Site reserved see ya in July. Also trailer and pu camper, love the AC when needed. I know but sometimes its easier.
 

shredmeister

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally - 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

Ok, I'm in!!! Reservations made. I plan to arrive sometime on the 3rd and checking out on the 10th. The wife and and I will probably spend a few days near Zion park in Utah after this event.

Steve,
No worries on never "organizing", I plan to make the best of riding with fellow Tenere owners. Also, this is still a ways off, some who are familiar with the area may join in and be able to provide some direction. AGAIN...atleast you got something started, otherwise I wouldn't have signed up yet. I'm coming from far northern CA (almost to the Oregon border).
 

steve68steve

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Re: 2017 Steve's Vacay notarally - 7/5-7/12, Cortez, CO

Woo-hoo! It's official: three riders a rally makes!


I'm going to update post 1 to include the "ins".
 
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