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Riding and camping Northern California and beyond, since 1965!



  • 07 Jun 2016 8:52 AM | Anonymous member

    Find Nice Places to Camp!

    Keep an eye out when you travel. Get advice and trip reports from club members, and watch for articles in magazines and other club newsletters. Note places the club has used before.  Group camps are often a better value, have more privacy and often have fewer restrictions on vehicle count, but a block of single sites can work well. Private campgrounds can be more flexible and welcoming to motorcycles. Pick spots close to home in the rainy season, favoring dryer southern locations. Stay out of high country until June, then take advantage of the season to cross the passes.  I will pass on to the next tour captain:

    • A list of every California state group camp
    • A list of every Forest Service group camp
    • A list of ex-PG&E camps
    • A list of every place the club has camped in the last 30 years
    • A list of places to consider next
    • Notes on specific campgrounds.
    Make Reservations

    Most reservations are made on-line. Single sites, and State regional group sites, are usually reserved 6 months in advance; some up to 7 months, on the first of the month. National Park and busy Federal group sites (like near Yosemite) must be reserved a year in advance. (We reserved Death Valley for next year while we were still at the campground.) You should be “war-dialing” at 8:00 AM on opening day. Cancellation fees are minimal, so you can book backup sites. I will pass on:

    • Reservations for camping through October, and for March 2017, with alternates
    • For reference, all the reservation confirmations from the last 2 years, with prices
    • My meeting, telephone, and planning log.

    Plan the Ride

    This doesn’t have to be complicated. Ride planning can range from a full GPS route with a GPX file and turn-by-turn instructions, to a turns list alone, or just “follow me.” The ride to DV has been riders-choice so that people can take the time and amount of off-road that suits them. The only essential is that the meeting location and time be clearly called out, these are official meetings. Lat/Long alone may not be enough to get riders to remote locations due to map errors. On a guided ride, plan on a comfort stop an hour after breakfast, then two hours later. Riders should meet with full tanks and there should be a gas stop at about 125 miles.  The meeting is at 4PM in the dark season, and 5PM on daylight time, so get riders into camp in time to pitch tent and relax before we start.  A formal lunch stop is optional, usually on longer summer rides. Dinner should be part of the plan; if there is no catering, scout out local dining options or plan a shopping stop. Preview the ride, if only in a car, while looking for good stopping points and checking the accuracy of the instructions. Say Hello to the camp host and look at the cooking facilities and firewood availability. The new tour captain will receive:

    • GPS (.gpx) routes of every ride in the last 2 years, with written instructions and maps
    • GPS waypoints for restaurants, campgrounds, gas stations and restrooms.

    Announce the Meeting

    The bylaws are specific about advance notice of meetings in the newsletter. The tour captain can also post directly to the web page, which is official, and to Meetup, which is not, though it is very good at reaching new members. The Meetup file storage is good, and it’s easy to link to Meetup route instructions and GPS files from the web page. Announce the camping fee and ask the treasurer to make a payment link on the web page; ask campers to use it, even though some will still pay in camp. Make a payment link if there is catering, this cannot be paid on-site. Announce the breakfast meeting time and “stands up.”

    • Past postings on Meetup and the web will be good templates.

    Lead the Ride

    Go over the route and call out tricky intersections, signage and road conditions. Break the ride into two groups if you have a lot of riders and select a sweep for each group. Let riders know how long each stop is, and signal a few minutes before leaving time. There should not be riders in full gear, sweating and waiting, while the laggards hang around unready. Roll into camp triumphantly, then snag the best camping place for your own, you’ve earned it.

    • That’s me right behind you, with eyes on that nice spot.

    Ted Crum

    Tour Captain 2014 - 2016

  • 04 Jun 2016 1:40 PM | Anonymous member
    Calaveras Big Trees, Election Meeting and Campout registration is now open!  Members, $10, Guests $20 and this will be a catered event, $20 per person for meat or a vegetarian dinner.  Details to follow on our Saturday AM breakfast location and routes.  You can register using the button below and check out some of these amazing photos!


    Register


  • 25 May 2016 7:13 AM | Anonymous member


    If you've been waiting until the last minute to register for the 49'er Rally this weekend in Mariposa, California, now is the time!  The weather forecast has gone from good to fantastic!  Today is the LAST day to register online and avoid standing in long lines, filling out forms and fiddling with checks, cash and credit cards.  You can register online until midnight tonight, Wednesday, May 25th, at Register for the 49'er Rally 2016




  • 17 May 2016 10:47 AM | Anonymous member

    Planning the 2016 Range of Light Gypsy Tour is underway and we need your help!  If you've considered volunteering for an event, this is the one!  Pulling the ROL together is a blast and you'll feel a great sense of satisfaction  being part of the team and giving back to the club and our members.  We have several open chair positions so volunteer today, send an email to rolchair@bmwnocal.org!  Be sure to visit the ROL 2016 page for upcoming details!

    Range of Light 2016

  • 12 May 2016 10:54 AM | Anonymous member
    We've added a Ladies Adventure Ride to the 49'er Rally for Saturday, May, 28th, 10:00 AM, meet at upper parking lot near gate.  This will be a guided 2-3 hour, street and dirt adventure ride (55-60 miles), in the Mariposa area that ANYONE (male or female) can attend.  Skills Level:  Beginner to Intermediate.
  • 11 May 2016 1:52 PM | Anonymous member
    49'er Rally 2016 Highlights!
    • Featured Speaker Ted Simon author of Jupiter's Travels
    • GS Giants Field Trials
    • GS Training by Lance Thomas
    • Seminars by many guest speakers including:  Richard Battles, Reg Kittrelle, Sam Manicom, Greg Peart, Bill Stermer, and Doc Wong
    • BMS Custom Motorcycle Seats - Rocky is making seats on site.
    • Vendors:  Cycle Specialties,Gregg's A-List, Jesse Luggage Systems, RKA Luggage, and more
    • Historic GS Guided Ride
    • Live Music
    • Beer Garden
    • Daily events and competitions
    • Children's Events
  • 28 Apr 2016 5:50 PM | Anonymous member

    The complete schedule for the 2016 49'er Rally in beautiful Mariopisa, California, has been published to the BMW Club of Northern California website. 

    Click HERE to view and download a copy of the schedule to your device. 

    Be sure to pre-register by May 1st if you want a t-shirt for the 2016 49'er Rally.  Supplies for those who register after May 1st or at the gate will be very limited.


  • 27 Apr 2016 9:15 AM | Anonymous member
    BMW Norcal!

    The ‘49er is coming up in a month!

    If you’ve already signed up, you may have seen and taken advantage of the on-line volunteer option. But even if you plan on registering later, and would like to help with the event, you can volunteer now.

    There’s a lot of work to do, much it at the Registration, Headquarters (information, sales) and Bier Garten. Each of these will need two volunteers at a time. The standard shift is two hours; this is particularly true in Registration, where it takes a while to get up to speed. 

    I’ve posted a chart on line that shows all the times that we need help: 
    https://goo.gl/SCb6xy

    If a square is gray (light or dark) and nothing is written in it, it is available. The two shades of grey divide the day into 2-hour shifts. 

    So, please, look at the chart and pick a shift or two. Taking the full 2 hours would be ideal (and is required in Registration.) Take as many as you want! Then send email (forward this message) with your selections to me at tedcrum@berkeley.edu.

    Example:
    Your Name
    “Registration #2, Friday, 11 AM to 1 PM.”
    Your mobile phone number

    I’ll update the chart immediately. First-come on the best times and those little one-hour end slots! If you already have a job at the rally, please let me know and I’ll record that. You may see messages like this again…

    Thanks again,

    Ted Crum
    Volunteer Coordinator
    tedcrum@berkeley.edu
    510-654-7301 (home)
    510-435-5653 (mobile)
  • 26 Apr 2016 1:25 PM | Anonymous member

    Yes, here's the video you've been waiting for about those crazy BMW Club of Northern California volunteers on the shoulder of Highway 101 picking for keepsakes and trash.  During the last clean up our leader, Historian, Ed Perry, found $400 and a gold tooth!  OK, I'm lying, but it's a lot of fun so join the party and volunteer soon! 

    Adopt A Highway Docurama

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