Last weekend I returned to John Day, OR for the annual Chief Joseph rally. 500+ folks in attendance over 4 days, mostly BMWs in everything from old airhead to latest K/F/G/HP variants. John Day in located in central/east Oregon, in the shadow of the Strawberry Mountains, and the journey there (280 miles) includes a ride up & over the Cascades, through lava and fossil beds, tiny 2 street towns, and snaking alongside several rivers. Note - The following pictures were taken with my BlackBerry, not good photography but convenient.
We've had a long, cool, wet Spring in western Oregon, so getting up to the inland high desert is a nice change, though +30degF change in a couple of hours takes adjustment, shade, and cold refreshments.
My Rockster and I hang out with the airhead crowd via our long-term riding companions, who ride two-up on an early 70s slash5... the Oregon airheads group is a great bunch: very hands-on, practical, friendly... as opposed to some of the newer hands-off "bling" riders and hard-core ADV-types and wannabes. There were some beautiful older BMW bikes at the rally.
There are also a few characters at the rally. These guys bring their pets each year: a mini dachshund, and a salmon-shaped pillow named "Simone" with rally pins stuck through her fins.
A smattering of Roadsters present, but I didn't recognize andbody or anybike from the Roadster board.
Summer squall rolled through on Saturday, causing the vendors to hold down all the tents and merchandise. I added my not insignificant weight to the task, since I was getting a replacement rear tire... a new R1150R Roadster friend (silver bike with nice aftermarket stuff) noticed that my Rockster's tire looked bad - I just though it was dirty. Seems a few hundred miles of rough, high silica chip seal road surface shredded my Pirelli Strada: that's frayed steel belting showing through in the middle.
FYI - the tire guys were sold out of 180s, so they put a 170 Pilot Road (old stock) on my 5.5" Rockster rear rim... handled fine on the way home. And next year I'll have on-bike video aimed to capture some great roads to and from the rally.
~sweatmark~
Oregon 2008 Chief Joseph Rally
Moderator: Moderators
Re: Oregon 2008 Chief Joseph Rally
Nice write up and photos Mark. Thanks
Looks like you had a great time.
Not quite as long a trip as when you went to Torrey.
Both areas are great motorcycle venues.
Looks like you had a great time.
Not quite as long a trip as when you went to Torrey.
Both areas are great motorcycle venues.
Jack
Mill Valley, California
2004 R1150R Piedmont Red
Mill Valley, California
2004 R1150R Piedmont Red
Re: Oregon 2008 Chief Joseph Rally
Very nice report, The blackberry does a good job on the photos, Looking forward to the road pictures next year, Oregon has some great roads!!!! Thanks Den
We all gave some,
Some gave all.
Anonymous
Some gave all.
Anonymous