The event was supposed to happen in 2020 but we all know how that worked out.
The 2021 event was a "Same Time, Same Station" kind of thing.
According to some in the know there were 4,000 signed up in advance, 500 showed up and paid full boat to get in and another 1,000 paid a reduced rate for "Saturday Only access.
The event was held at the Great Falls Metropark, a fairgrounds alongside the Missouri River with a fair bit of shaded camping area. I'd say that a good 2/3rds of the attendees camped. Camping space was in short supply by Friday evening.
A few Rally site pictures:
And a link to a whole lot more - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adamjacks ... 9450573964
Day 1 - I left home on Tuesday and rode a circuitous route to Billings MT for an evening with friends.
I started out heading West on US 212 but once I got to Alzada MT, I decided to head South to ride US 14/16 to Sheridan WY then ride 14/14A over the Bighorns.
Lots of Bugs and a shorty windscreen, I had to clean my visor frequently.
to Lovell, WY, and then North to Billings. I had originally intended to include Chief Joseph and the Beartooth into a long day but there was a fire near Red Lodge that helped me decide not to attempt it.
I left late and arrived in Billings right on time at 1800.
Day 2 - Wednesday was an easy ride from Billings to Great Falls, I left Billings and headed North West up to US 12 which took me across Montana
to White Sulphur Springs where I fueled before heading North up US 89 to Great Falls.
I arrived at my Campsite, Room 427 at the Great Falls Staybridge Suites just after noon.
Day Three - Thursday was a "Day at the Rally" in the morning I took it all in, looked at the vendors, ate Rally Food, met new people, and sold Ice for the BMW MOA in the afternoon. I hung with Pterodactyl, Annie, a friend of theirs, and my roommate Bob for the evening. We consumed a little Nectar of the Irish while sharing our lives deepest experiences.
Day Four - Friday Bob and I took a nice 300-mile ride, South to White Sulphur Springs on US 89, West on US 12 to Townsend MT, North up the East side of the Missouri River to Helena, then over Flescher Pass and back to Great Falls on MT 200.
Day 5 - Saturday - I spent the morning again looking at bikes and perusing the vendors, I volunteered at the Do It Yourself Bike Wash and Oil Change venue in the afternoon.
They gave 20 brand new BMW m motorcycles away in a raffle, I didn't win one. I did score a brand new BMW GSA Takeoff Windscreen someone had set up aside a trash can. I needed a new windscreen as mine was cracked from tipping over in the dirt multiple times so the savings almost netted out the cost of my Campsite.
Day 6 - Sunday - I slept in, then after helping Pterodactyl load his two Urals I rode to his "Outpost" for an evening of recovery. I took the Scenic Route down "Old US 91" which follows the Missouri River parallel to I-15 from Great Falls to Helena. It was a pretty ride.
After arriving at "The Outpost" Kevin and I performed a little Firmware upgrade on one of his bikes and then went for a test ride.
Relive failed me on the test ride but here are a few pictures I took along the way.
Pterodactyl - "John, does this little GS700 make my Ass look Big?"
The clouds looked threatening as we headed over Flescher Pass to Lincoln for a Hamburger but we never got wet
In case you are still wondering Kevin, the answer is "Yes".
Day 7 - Monday - The Long Ride Home - I left "The Outpost" about 0815 and rode down the East side of the Missouri River/lake to Townsend, East on US 12, and then South on US 89
to Livingston MT before jumping on I-90 to make time getting home.
After a burger and a Blizzard in Hardin MT, I took US 212 (upon which the State of Montana has dropped the speed limit from 70 mph to 65 mph) the rest of the way home.
Random Thoughts and Observations -
This guy reminded me of FJRay -
My route for the week -
Just a shade over 2,000 miles door to door. The average age had to be in the very high 60's/low 70's. The same demographic that I see at Sturgis. FJR events are much "younger".
Pterodactyl was in charge of Group Camping, he said there were fewer campers and more RV's than he had ever seen before.
There aren't enough FJR's in the world to make an event like this work.
Attendees were upset that there weren't more vendors, apparently many vendors backed out due to poor attendance forecast. Those that were there seemed to be doing good business.
I prefer our smaller and more "Intimate" gatherings, I doubt I'll attend another one of these big events.
