Southwest Regional Rally 2010 location

[audiogooroo]

Hey everyone, I'm sure hoping to see all of you at the Custer Rally next summer, but believe it or not, 2010 will be here before we know it. I know we've got some time, but I'm all about having a couple of plans brewing.
I was considering Durango, CO as a potential location. For any of you who have not yet ridden the Million Dollar Highway, you simply must!
I really want to hear some suggestions from you all. We have such a large region that no matter where we go, some will be riding pretty far to get there so I'd like to move it around every year. To actually select the central most point puts us right in the middle of the Nevada Desert. (and didn't we just do that? ;))
So that's whay I'm proposing Durango, and then maybe the next one we'll do in CA.
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? Insults?

Sounds great. I'm up for a mini rally in '09 as well

[audiogooroo]

Oh yeah, we'll definitely set something up in 09 in addition to Custer! Can't wait!

[dantama]

Originally Posted by audiogooroo

we'll definitely set something up in 09 in addition to Custer! Can't wait!

+1

[ells]

Prescott, AZ

[blowndodge]

+2

[waterman]

Durango sounds good to me. Cortez might be another option close by. Cortez would have some cheaper motel rates compared to Durango.

[cactusjack]

AG is right. This region is so geographically large and we are so spread out that no matter where something is planned, it's going to be less convenient for a number of people.

Durango would be good, Utah has phenomenal scenery and excellent riding, just stay away from the St. George area ::). Northern New Mexico is also nice.

For selfish reasons, I know a number of good locations in AZ that wouldn't be scorching hot. Prescott, Flagstaff, and Show Low are all mountainous areas that are comfortable even in the summer. But this wouldn't be very centrally located for most of the folks.

I think the first consideration for any rally should be the location. Is it close to a majority of the members? What does it have to offer? Is the weather tolerable?

I think Durango is a good choice and meets most, if not all of these criteria for a regional rally.

Personally, I think Custer SD is a little too remote and off the beaten path for many of us. I'd think Arkansas would be more convenient for most people. The geographic center of the US is somewhere in Kansas, but I don't know what kind of riding is available there.

[ells]

Looks like Prescott is more central to the Region than Durango, but don't mind me, both are two of my more favorite SW venues.

[cactusjack]

I was still thinking Western Region, not Southwest for some reason. Prescott would be a day's ride for most folks, which is totally reasonable.

[waterman]

Ok, we have Prescott, AZ and Durango, CO right now. How about another one. Flagstaff, AZ. About 100 miles closer for me than Prescott (750 vs 850) but still around 500 miles for SoCal (BD's location). Also looked at motels (on computer) and it looks like Flagstaff might have a few more choices than Prescott?

I can vouch for good riding around durango.....Hows the riding around prescott/flagstaff??

[waterman]

Originally Posted by wolfman

I can vouch for good riding around durango.....Hows the riding around prescott/flagstaff??

I don't know about flagstaff or prescott. CJ, what's your take on roads around there?

[cactusjack]

Roads? Come on, this is Arizona. We don't need no stinkin' roads!

There is an abundance of excellent riding in that area of the state. Mostly 2-lane highway, lots of twisties and elevation changes. All are good, well maintained roads. Lots of gorgeous scenery, too. Prescott and Flagstaff are only about 60 miles apart. Between the two are the towns of Jerome, Clarkdale, Cottonwood and Sedona. There are tons of riding options in the region. Jerome is an old mining town built on the side of a mountain. Prescott is famous for its historic buildings and "Whiskey Row", Sedona sits beneath some massive stone bluffs and is famous for its energy "vortex". Oak Creek Canyon between Sedona and Flagstaff is beautiful. Both Flagstaff and Prescott are fairly large towns, of around 80-100,000, so most major stores and services are available.

Places to visit: Meteor Crater, Grand Canyon (south rim), Montezuma's Castle (cliff dwellings), Winslow (standin' on a corner in Winslow Arizona...), and Monument Valley is a couple of hours from Flagstaff. Lots of good places to eat and drink.

[dantama]

Here's a google map I started of where we live and possible spots for a rally.

I added a few Utah spots too. There is a lot of Utah to ride in and the western rally only scratched the surface. I added Bryce Canyon, Hwy 12 and Capitol Reef, and Moab for Arches and Canyonlands.

Feel free to add more spots.

click here

And here is how it looks with a circle drawn around it.

Looks like Utah and Arizona are pretty central, except for Valdez. Halfway between Valdez, Denver and Southern Cal would put your right in an ugly place to ride :)