ACE Rally (American Canadian Expedition)

[ZenMan]

Some folks have been tossing the idea around in another thread... the possibility of an Autumn rally in or around the northern U.S. Rocky Mountains for sometime in late August or early September. Like say Montana or Wyoming... close enough for our Western Canadian members to make a border crossing and meet up for some mountain riding.

There's so many good roads and parks like Glacier and Yellowstone just to name a couple. Yeah, it's a little late in the summer, but I'd still like to do some tent camping... and I'm sure others would prefer motels or cabins too.

So, this is just to see if anyone else would be into it. There's no plans yet except for the general area and time of year. Any suggestions about more specifically where or when, roads, parks, campgrounds, lodging or whatever are welcome.

If it catches on great, if it fizzles then nothing is lost. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?  

So what ya'll think?

[stormi]

Well, I'll say the same thing I said in the other thread.  I'm game, as long as certain chips fall where I need them too.  And before schools starts again in the fall works the best for me.

Whether or not I can come, I don't mind helping with the planning.

I've never been there, but I've heard "Going to the Sun" in West Glacier park is something to behold...

And if I'm coming that far, I'm gonna need a time out for a shopping trip to Missoula or Great Falls. ;)

[JamieK]

Wow,.. 500mile days?  I don't know that I've ever -driven- that far in a day...

I guess my longest two-wheel day was about 15 miles short of that, but I've done the 17-hours behind the wheel thing several times.  You get a little spacey when you stop at McDonald's to offload a little fluid and pick up some more, and it has the same decor/theme as the one two states back.

Geez!! What's with you and offloading fluid??

Hmm,.. my longest ride so far has been a mere 300kms.  And I took a -lot- of photo breaks.  I may have to build up some endurance before this...

Thought I'd drag the remnants from the other thread over to continue the conversation here...

I would ride my F4i from Edmonton AB to Port Albernie BC in a day...thats about 1300kms (800mi)...now that I have the B12 couch I should be able to cruise a few more kilometers than that in a day  

Maybe we should list where everyone would be riding from so that we can find a somewhat central place to hold this event...I'll start:

Edmonton

Next

[Red01]

The summer bike trip Bobcat & I took in the summer of '05 took us thru Glacier NP & the Going to the Sun road. It's a nice road, but in the summer, don't expect it to move quickly. LOTS of tourist traffic and few opportunities to pass... but the scenery IS great. Here's some pics for ya in case you need your appetite whetted!

These were taken just short of Logan Pass when you enter the park from the west side.





Logan Pass is the low spot in the middle of this pic:





Looking back on Logan Pass after we crossed it:

[Red01]

A couple more shots from the east side of Logan Pass:





Summer is Road Construction Season. Waiting here in a one-way stretch near "The Loop":



Just inside the West Entrance, along the shore of Lake MacDonald:



Lake MacDonald:

[ZenMan]

Nice pics, Paul!

That is incredible country up there.

Is that your mug in the rear-view?  

I'd be coming from south-central Missouri,,, I guess the closest big city is Springfield about 100 miles to the west of here.

We don't have kids and I work for myself, so the dates are flexible for me except for how long the healing process takes from this shoulder surgery. I'm doing my PT exercises religiously and It's looking on schedule so far, but I think the earliest I could go would be mid-August.

Next?

[Red01]

Better put one up of the Border crossing where MT17 becomes AB6 and Glacier NP becomes Waterton Lakes NP:



My first crossing into Canada when they didn't ask me if I had a gun.  

[ZenMan]

Did U.S. Customs ask if you had a gun on the way back in? Getting into Canada is easy, getting back can be a real hassle.

Looking at the map just now, that's a long way to go for me! I'd be more for meeting somewhere in mid or southern Wyoming... anybody from Canada or the PNW could always do Glacier on the way down or back.

Medicine Bow, Shoshone, or Flaming Gorge are all within reach for me....

[Red01]

I don't recall US Customs ever asking specifically about a gun. They ask a lot of questions - like why were you there, how long, do you have any contraband, anything to declare, etc. I guess they aren't too worried about a gun if the Canadians let you in with it - and they will let you bring one in if you do the right paperwork and have the right reasons. One of my co-workers used to do competitive shooting and would take handguns into BC for meets. Funny thing was he was less restricted in Canada than a Canadian with a handgun.

Whatever you do, if you do have a gun and hit the border, be sure to declare it. If you don't and they find it, you're charged with International Arms Smuggling. This happened to one of my 4-wheeling buddies when he forgot about the pistol he had in the console of his rig. Had he declared it, Canadian Customs would have just shipped his pistol to his County Sheriff and he could have picked it up when he got home. Luckily, he just had to pay a $500 (CDN) fine, surrender his gun and it's high capacity magazines and was released... but he can never go back to Canada.

[Sven]

And if I'm coming that far, I'm gonna need a time out for a shopping trip to Missoula or Great Falls. ;)

Now there's a phrase I never expected to hear!

[pmackie]

You know,.. if we could get a few people together, we could have a little Bandit meet, and ride "Going to the sun" (West Glacier NP). Montana may be doable for me this year, if a couple of cards fall into place when they're supposed to.

OK...now we're talking, and right in my backyard. Going to the Sun has GREAT scenery, but as Red01 says, terrible traffic/road conditions. The Lolo Pass between Montana and Idaho is great. Almost 150 miles of continuous, 45 mph (posted) corners. We had to stop 1/2 way to regroup!

For those who haven't done it, the Bear Tooth Pass NE of Yellowstone is a great road with outstanding scenery @ 11,000 ft, as well the Chief Joseph Hwy to Cody, Wyoming is absolutely excellent. Supposed to be some excellent roads on the East side of Wyoming as well. I'd go back there.

Let me know when and where, and I'll be there. I can likely take some additional time in early Sept. A 5 day weekend is always do-able for me.

[stormi]

And if I'm coming that far, I'm gonna need a time out for a shopping trip to Missoula or Great Falls. ;)

Now there's a phrase I never expected to hear!

Me shopping, or doing it in Missoula or Great Falls?  

There are a number of places even "hicksville" US towns have, that canucks don't.  And I don't think we need to discuss the price of motorcycle gear here vs there.

edit:
Oh,.. and as an aside, it's looking like my plans for this month, that were going to take me out of commission for a early summer ride, have been postponed.  The new date is (ready for it?)  Somewhere between the first couple of weeks of june, to hopefully before the end of August.

What this is going to mean is one of two things.  Either stormi can't commit to the ride until a couple of days before, OR, she'll be making the trip in the Mustang (if it ever gets out of the shop.)

[LowRyter]

this sounds awesome.  I've never been there and have always wanted to go.  Since I am in Okla, probably would trailer my bike.  Since my summer is taken with a work project late summer & early fall mght be possible.

will keep an eye on this thread.

[stormi]

Since I am in Okla, probably would trailer my bike.

We were thinking the same,... especially with a B4.  The old girl is not -that- reliable, and there's a lot to go wrong with both of them in that sort of distance.  

At least as far as Calgary, possibly further.  Does anyone know the rules about trailering across the border?

Geez I hope some of these chips fall into place in time.

[LowRyter]

I'd hope that U-Haul would cross borders.  I know that RVs can cross.

Hopwfully the group can settle ona meet up sight whether camping or motels and ride from there.