Charles Elms Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Does anyone know when registration for Spring Torrey will start. Just made my reservation at the Chuckwagon! Link to comment
Twisties Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 I think you are good to go. There isn't any formal sign up. Just hang out at the Chuckwagon and don't be shy. Link to comment
Bob Palin Posted February 27, 2016 Share Posted February 27, 2016 We haven't done a sign up list for years, no need for it really. Link to comment
Krista Wright Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Is Torrey a ride that I should go on as a new BMW owner? Link to comment
Danny caddyshack Noonan Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Krista, As a BMW rider, you should just ride If you find yourself at a destination with a bunch of great folks, all the better! Link to comment
Twisties Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Is Torrey a ride that I should go on as a new BMW owner? Utah is great riding. The Fall Torrey Event has been larger in recent years. Spring has been running 10-20 people, fall more like 20-40 people. Torrey is gorgeous country and folk will be happy to show you around. If you are unfamiliar with the area, you will find it a treat. However the coming and going from San Jose can be difficult, depending on the weather. Most will find that it is an overnight trip. I don't know if you have done any extended touring. Crossing Nevada on US-50 or I-80 is arduous. In the fall you can cross the Sierras on the mountain passes, but they aren't necessarily open in Spring. You might consider going around through Bakersfield in spring. However you do it, you have long boring stretches across Nevada. The North Meets South Event in Oakhurst might make a better first event if you haven't ridden with this group before.... I'm semi-presuming since you joined recently. That event is more organized, has group rides, and is larger (100ish people). You can get there as an easy day ride. Torrey is more loosely organized... as in not at all. You need to be outgoing and join in. We gather at the Chuckwagon (hotel/store) parking lot. You need to talk it up to find someone to ride with. All that said, feel free to join in as you like, and of course you do both, or others. We love new members and people will go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Link to comment
LBump Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Is Torrey a ride that I should go on as a new BMW owner? Utah is great riding... All that said, feel free to join in as you like, and of course you do both, or others. We love new members and people will go out of their way to make you feel welcome. +1 Link to comment
Charles Elms Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 Last Torrey I made was Torrey 12 and there was a sign up for the dinner. People still get together Friday for a get together and Saturday for dinner? Link to comment
Whip Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Last Torrey I made was Torrey 12 and there was a sign up for the dinner. People still get together Friday for a get together and Saturday for dinner? We try to get together every night. Friday had been Rim Rock night usually 20 or so people. The last couple years the weather has been good so Saturday we push the picnic tables together in front of the cabins and order pizza. No sign up needed. Cabin #9 is always open. L and L Link to comment
EffBee Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Is Torrey a ride that I should go on as a new BMW owner? Spring Torrey is good. You may get snow at some elevations, and we've ridden Huntington Canyon where there were 5-ft blade-cut walls of the stuff lining dry roads near the top. But Fall Torrey is better. Generally warm (70's+) with superb fall foliage at the higher elevations. What makes Torrey great is the people and our history there. Whether you're able to get a room at the Chuckwagon Lodge or not, that's the gathering place (the whole town is a mile wide, so its easy navigating). The Austin family and Michelle, the CW manager, treat us royally. There's a well-stocked General Store, a Deli with homemade danish and donuts for breakfast (plus quiche and other hot plates), and a laundromat. The three cabins are generally gathering places, with #9 being the hot spot, although you may find single-malt tastings taking place just about anywhere. GMaps shows about 890 miles from San Jose, going through Bakersfield. Were it me, I'd take off at 0-dark-30 and get to the Nevada border around noon, and grab a room at Stateline (Primm Valley). Cheap enough at around $40-$60. If you catch good weather(i.e. tolerably warm), I'd push through to Mesquite where the rooms are $32 at the Virgin River Hotel and Casino (there are better places, but this is a good flop and the $6 prime rib is acceptable). The other option is to leave around 9AM so that by the time you turn east at Bakersfield, the morning sun is above you, and not in your face. Either way, you've got to cross the desert and it's going to be hot. The next morning, Torrey is about a 5-hour ride, and it's all superb roads and vistas once you get past St. George, UT. You can go through Zion NP, but might get stuck if you get there once the tourists wake up. Or go through Cedar City and UT-14. Twisty and demanding in spots. Once you're on UT12, you'll be on your way to Nirvana. Red rock with beautiful strata as you go through Red Canyon. You'll drive past the road to Bryce, which you can take if you've got an extra 2 hours as the park starts about 8 miles in and can be enjoyed from the various parking spots, if you're not the hiking kind. Then up through the rolling farmland of Cannonville (Kodachrome NP . . . sorta overrated) and Henrieville before hitting Escalante and the Grand Escalante Staircase. Dramatic transitions in scenery, from elevated farm country to almost prehistoric windswept barren sandstone, where the road twists and turns. At Boulder you begin the ascent over Boulder Mt which will take you through aspen groves and nearly 10,000ft. before dropping you toward the red rock walls that serve as the natural northern border where Torrey is located. From there, rides include such famed loops as Fish Lake Sweeper Madness Huntington Canyon (pretty much an all-dayer, with lunch, though only 325 miles, and with spectacular foliage. . .usually) Through Capitol Reef NP to Hanksville and back or, for the hearty, Capital Reef to Hanksville and then down UT95 to Blanding, back the same way but taking the turnoff to Halls Crossing, loading your bike on the ferry (assuming it's running that day), across Lake Powell, gassing up on the other side at Bullfrong Landing, then back onto UT95 to Hanksville, back through Capitol Reef, and into Torrey. About 400 miles and again, most of the day. The biggest problem you're going to have, is that you're going to want to go back the next weekend. And the one after that. That's why we've held 30 Torrey Gatherings. Spring will be #31, Fall #32. Link to comment
Whip Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Is Torrey a ride that I should go on as a new BMW owner? I bet I can put a small group together to take you on a tour of the area. It could change your life. Link to comment
Bob Palin Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 It could change your life. Could happen to anybody! Link to comment
beemerboy Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Is Torrey a ride that I should go on as a new BMW owner? I bet I can put a small group together to take you on a tour of the area. It could change your life. Be careful, Krista, Whip has a penchant for leading riders into temptation and then abandoning them to the local law enforcement folks. Don't ask me how I know...... Link to comment
Endobob Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Is Torrey a ride that I should go on as a new BMW owner? ......What makes Torrey great is the people and our history there. ......The biggest problem you're going to have, is that you're going to want to go back the next weekend. And the one after that. That's why we've held 30 Torrey Gatherings. Spring will be #31, Fall #32. EffBee: Great overview of our BMWST "Torrey" Spring and Fall events! Maybe your review or a similar one should be a permanent sticky post under "Ride and Event Planning". A similar overview of the UnRally and the east coast's START and FART would quickly make it clear to new members that members of BMWST.com are a family and that we try to get together at least a couple of times per year. Link to comment
Heck Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 Is Torrey a ride that I should go on as a new BMW owner? I bet I can put a small group together to take you on a tour of the area. It could change your life. Hey Krista- Just ask the Challinor how he got the handle "50-yard Phil".... Then come to Torrey. It really could change your life....(What Whip said) Link to comment
RandyBailey Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Last Torrey I attended the state troopers stopped me twice for 5 mph over the posted. Link to comment
Doug_Baliko Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 What are the dates for the spring Torrey? Thanks. Doug Link to comment
beemerboy Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 What are the dates for the spring Torrey? Thanks. Doug You can find dates for Spring Torrey as well as many other BMWST events here. Link to comment
Bob Palin Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 What are the dates for the spring Torrey? Thanks. Doug You can find dates for Spring Torrey as well as many other BMWST events here. And I just updated my page too, which has some useful links. http://www.bobpalin.com/howlongtotorrey.php Link to comment
Doug_Baliko Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 What are the dates for the spring Torrey? Thanks. Doug You can find dates for Spring Torrey as well as many other BMWST events here. And I just updated my page too, which has some useful links. http://www.bobpalin.com/howlongtotorrey.php Thanks guys. Link to comment
** Chris ** Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Is Torrey a ride that I should go on as a new BMW owner? I bet I can put a small group together to take you on a tour of the area. It could change your life. Speaking as the guy who is organizing the UnRally this summer in Montana. He speaks the truth! Link to comment
Charles Elms Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 I have not been on the gravel roads from Cathedral Valley west to highway 72 (on the series of roads that include Polk Creek and Elkhorn) since Torrey 12. It's been a while. The last time I did this was in Bob's truck. Is this road graded enough these days that I might be able to make a day trip to the Cathedral Valley Overlook. I don't mind packed gravel but I do not want to travel on loose dirt. I'm getting to old for that. I'd like to make that my Saturday "day" trip. Some views are worth going back for. Is this doable if there has not been any rain for several days? Link to comment
Bob Palin Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 I have not been on the gravel roads from Cathedral Valley west to highway 72 (on the series of roads that include Polk Creek and Elkhorn) since Torrey 12. It's been a while. The last time I did this was in Bob's truck. Is this road graded enough these days that I might be able to make a day trip to the Cathedral Valley Overlook. I don't mind packed gravel but I do not want to travel on loose dirt. I'm getting to old for that. I'd like to make that my Saturday "day" trip. Some views are worth going back for. Is this doable if there has not been any rain for several days? Those roads are definitely not packed gravel but they are hard dirt if dry. There are likely to be some ruts and some washboard. Snow is not normally factor in late May but is not impossible. By the time you get to Torrey I will have taken many tours around Cathedral Valley and will know exactly what the conditions are. Link to comment
mkjennison Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Looking into if this ride will be feasible as a week off this spring, however I have some hesitancy since I'm coming from the Midwest. How are the Colorado mountain passes in May? Is there a chance for snow or ice on the roads as you get up to elevation, or am I too concerned about it? Illinois doesn't have any mountains for nearby comparison... Mark Link to comment
Whip Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Looking into if this ride will be feasible as a week off this spring, however I have some hesitancy since I'm coming from the Midwest. How are the Colorado mountain passes in May? Is there a chance for snow or ice on the roads as you get up to elevation, or am I too concerned about it? Illinois doesn't have any mountains for nearby comparison... Mark Check the weather report before you approach Monarch on highway 50 and the I 70 pass and tunnel, if they are questionable you can always head south and come in along 160 or even I 40. I have been going to Torrey from Salida CO the last few years and that is what we do. Link to comment
mkjennison Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Cool cool; thanks Whip. Will get back to you guys about whether or not it will happen this year. Coming up fast!! Link to comment
BrianT Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 It could change your life. +1!!! Changed mine. There's a reason I've made this gathering 28 times. The closest place to motorcycle heaven on this earth for me. A couple of our members even moved there after being exposed to the area. Link to comment
Marek Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 I was just in Torrey and Boulder etc - There is still snow on the ground at the top of the pass on HWY 12 but the road was in good conditions. I rode all the way south to Bryce and then back home to PC. HWY 95 south of Hanksville was awesome. I've to say that HWY 12 had another BAD accident while I was there. Couple on a Harley I think went wide and clipped a trailer going in another direction. I'm not sure they survived. I saw another bike accident yesterday on HWY going through Wolf Creek pass. Please be careful - Mark Link to comment
lawnchairboy Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 this was taken as I detoured to the west in CO in May of 2008, notice the diesel price. This was the third day in a row of a four day trip from the east coast that weather kicked my butt. my windscreen was completely iced over and the gerbings were cooking. It snowed and snowed and snowed over the Dallas divide heading out of ridgeway to the west. The roads were warm and fine, no accumlation but you gotta keep your weather eye on things. If I didn't have extra dry clothes and heated gear I would have had a big problem. enjoy. Link to comment
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