Local knowledge required!

[Rockdoc]

Ruth and I are seriously considering coming over for the CCR this year but really don't want to have to rent a car unless there's absolutely no alternative. Looking at the flights, it looks most likely that we'd fly into Chicago or Dallas from London and ride or drive to the rally.

Googling for rental bikes only comes up with H-Ds in Chicago and Dallas, which doesn't appeal one little bit. Anyone have any suggestions as to:


Which of the two cities would offer the better ride to the rally?
Where I might be able to rent an RT or LT for two weeks in either area?
Thanks,
Keith

[Woolly]

Have you looked into taking your own LT across, as Ari did last year ?

[jkersh1]

British Airways flies direct to Phoenix. BMW's are rented by http://www.azride.com/ OK, it will still be a little warm in August / September but probably not any more uncomfortable in the Southwest US, once you get out of the Sonoran Desert, than the Midwest with its humidity.

What to see between Phoenix and CCR (about 1400 miles)? Depending on how long you have you could see Grand Canyon then visit Utah, and Colorado before droning across Kansas.

[Rockdoc]

Have you looked into taking your own LT across, as Ari did last year ?
No I hadn't. I know Smutje and Tom took their bikes over, too, but they had flew to and from Canada, which would be too far for a two-week trip. Perhaps I should look into it a bit further.

Thanks,
Keith

[Rockdoc]

British Airways flies direct to Phoenix. BMW's are rented by http://www.azride.com/ OK, it will still be a little warm in August / September but probably not any more uncomfortable in the Southwest US, once you get out of the Sonoran Desert, than the Midwest with its humidity.

What to see between Phoenix and CCR (about 1400 miles)? Depending on how long you have you could see Grand Canyon then visit Utah, and Colorado before droning across Kansas.

That looks quite useful option. I'll have to have a discussion with my finance director about it! We'd probably arrive in the States on Saturday 25th August and go straight to the rally. As we'd have a week to get back to Phoenix we could easily make it a nice run through places we've not seen before.

We passed through Phoenix in 2000 and it was 110 in the shade that day, as we heard on a local radio station next morning! We headed up to Cameron for the Grand Canyon - on an equally hot day - and suffered from dehydration. That's not an experience I'm keen to revisit! Ruth was really badly affected.

We didn't get into Utah that trip. We did a circuit of San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Phoenix, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Lone Pine, Mono Lake, Yosemite NP and back to SF. Quite a trip in two weeks! I'd LOVE to do the Pacific Coast Highway by bike. It was pretty good on four wheels so it must be a sheer delight on two.

Thanks for the suggestions,
Keith

[Dick]

Ruth and I are seriously considering coming over for the CCR this year but really don't want to have to rent a car unless there's absolutely no alternative. Looking at the flights, it looks most likely that we'd fly into Chicago or Dallas from London and ride or drive to the rally.

Googling for rental bikes only comes up with H-Ds in Chicago and Dallas, which doesn't appeal one little bit. Anyone have any suggestions as to:


Which of the two cities would offer the better ride to the rally?
Where I might be able to rent an RT or LT for two weeks in either area?
Thanks,
Keith
Hi, Keith - sure pulling for y'all to make the trip over and attend CCR. That will be great.

I've got no personal knowledge about these folks, butt they advertise in the major US BMW MOA ON magazine and just caught my eye cuz they're in Austin and just up the road from San Antonio International Airport. Good luck in checkin' 'em out, or maybe somebody already has and can lend some info.
Click here for the website (http://www.tourbikes.com/about.html).

Be lookin' for you at Tan-Tar-A.

[jkersh1]

We passed through Phoenix in 2000 and it was 110 in the shade that day, as we heard on a local radio station next morning! We headed up to Cameron for the Grand Canyon - on an equally hot day - and suffered from dehydration. That's not an experience I'm keen to revisit! Ruth was really badly affected.

Good thing you got here on a 'cool' day. They ought to issue a water bottle, and instructions on its frequent use, to everyone with an out of state plate upon entry to AZ.

[Rockdoc]

Hi, Keith - sure pulling for y'all to make the trip over and attend CCR. That will be great.
We've wanted to come over for several years but circumstances always seem to have conspired against us. :rolleyes:
I've got no personal knowledge about these folks, .....
Thanks for this. I've had a look and got some ideas of rental costs. It looks like it's a toss up whether we rent or bring our bike over, depending on how long we decide to stay for. I've made enquiries about shipping the bike and then we'll know!
Be lookin' for you at Tan-Tar-A.
It might be next year, yet. My wife's commitments mean she's short of leave time this year and we couldn't stay much over two weeks. If we left it until next year then we'd have a better chance to have everything planned and stay longer.

Anyone know yet where CCR 2008 might be held?


Keith

[Woolly]

Options available -

1.Ship bike by ship (!!) - advantages - about half the cost of airfreight
disadvantage - you will be without your bike for about 3 weeks either side of your trip. check out http://www.sbsworldwide.com/ - very good reputation.

2. Airfreight - looking at about £7-800 - main advantage - speed.

Check out http://www.motorcycleexpress.com/Shipping/ShippingQuote/ - again, very good reputation.

I'm planning on going in 2009, possibly as part of a round the world trip.

[grifscoots]

Anyone know yet where CCR 2008 might be held?

Keith

There are numerous rumours abounding that it will be in the Midland/Odessa area of Texas. Nobody will really know and it won't be announced till the banquet at this year's CCR.

[jkersh1]

There are numerous rumours abounding that it will be in the Midland/Odessa area of Texas. Nobody will really know and it won't be announced till the banquet at this year's CCR.

The Emerald Isles of Texas. Book those room reservations NOW.

[eljeffe]

Ruth and I are seriously considering coming over for the CCR this year but really don't want to have to rent a car unless there's absolutely no alternative. Looking at the flights, it looks most likely that we'd fly into Chicago or Dallas from London and ride or drive to the rally.

Googling for rental bikes only comes up with H-Ds in Chicago and Dallas, which doesn't appeal one little bit. Anyone have any suggestions as to:

Which of the two cities would offer the better ride to the rally?
Where I might be able to rent an RT or LT for two weeks in either area?
Thanks,
Keith

Try this...

http://www.bmwmoa.org/global/ToNorthAmerica.htm

[Rockdoc]

Good thing you got here on a 'cool' day. They ought to issue a water bottle, and instructions on its frequent use, to everyone with an out of state plate upon entry to AZ.
We were aware of the dangers and had been trying to drink enough but made the mistake (as we found out afterwards) of thinking all fluids were as good as each other. Having become tired of drinking bottled water, we'd bought some fruit juice from a WalMart and had been drinking that for a change.

It's surprising how slowly dehydration creeps up on you, isn't it? Ruth was fine almost all day and we visited several sights on the route (Sunset Crater was one, I think) and some of the viewpoints along the rim of the Canyon as we drove in from Cameron. At the last stop we made, I commented that she had been veru quiet but all she said was she had a headache. As we got out of the car, she threw up and then all but collapsed....... No long-term problems, thank goodness, and no need for any treatment but a scary experience for me!

Keith

[kmurphy165]

There are numerous rumours abounding that it will be in the Midland/Odessa area of Texas. Nobody will really know and it won't be announced till the banquet at this year's CCR.
Hi, Grifs. I recall being told at CCR2006 that 2008 was going to be held at Toadsuck Arkansas. But as we all know, I was very seriously without my meds and several events seem to defy classification as reality or hallucination.

Karl

[Rockdoc]

Thanks to everyone for the help and advice. Our trip to CCR will have to be next year, unfortunately, but we will at least be able to arrange for a longer trip, around three weeks overall, which will make it well worth while. I'm hoping we'll be able to get Katie well farkled at the Reunion and try all of them out on the rest of our holiday. :bmw:

Keith