Harley Owners Group State Rally: Colorado Style
Maverick - Jun 22, 2009

One thousand plus Harley Owners Group members and guests gathered in Montrose June 18^th through the 21^st to ride the beautiful scenic routes in Southwest Colorado, participate in on and off-bike games, to meet up with other riders, and to experience the freedom of riding a motorcycle. Most of the riders were on Harley-Davidsons, but not all; see Officer's Suzuki below.

 

This year’s Colorado State Rally featured regional rides and camaraderie generated by the competition during on and off-bike games. What stands out about the Colorado State Harley Owners Group Rally, in addition to the scenic rides, is the number of participants, the will to win, and the great sportsmanship. Participation was amazing, but more on the bike games later. 

 

Motorcycling one or more of the four preplanned routes, individually or in groups of as many as 15 motorcycles, afforded riders with some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States. 

 

 

Million Dollar Highway: This route took riders through Ridgway, Ouray, Silverton, and Durango. Ridgway to Durango via the Million Dollar Highway goes into and over the heart of the San Juan Mountain Range just like the old miners did in the 1800’s. There are lots of twists and turn, old mining camps, waterfalls, and overlooks at Idarado Mine, Molas, and Coal Bank passes. The length of the ride is 210 miles.

 

                                 

Black Mesa/North Rim: Riders could do this 135 mile loop in either direction depending on time of day or your best guess as to when rain may move over the Black Canyon. Clockwise, the ride takes motorcyclists through Delta, Hotchkiss, Crawford, Sapinero, and Cimarron. There are vistas of the Black Canyon and the valleys of the Gunnison National Forest. To actually see and enjoy the depths of the Black Canyon, riders must navigate the “unpaved” North Rim Road or the paved South Rim Road. Either way, it is worth it to see largely what looks just like it did when exploration of the American west captured the attention of our nation’s explorers during the early 1800s.

 

                                  

Gateway Canyon Loop: Covering 250 miles, this loop takes riders through Olathe (sweet corn capital of Colorado), Delta, Whitwater, Gateway, Uravan, Naturita, Norwood, Placerville, and Ridgway. If you take the route in a clockwise direction, expect to spend the first 40 miles observing the San Juan Mountains’ awesome peaks in constant motion. Also experience the high desert plateaus in the Naturita and Norwood areas. Then descend to the San Miguel and Dolores rivers and travel along the red stone canyons of the rivers. The Hanging Flume (started in 1888 and finished in 1891, a 13-mile hanging flume built along the Dolores River delivered water to a mining project), will capture your attention.

 

                                  

It is a different world with open range cattle, the tranquil flow of muddy water and the red stone canyons rock formations. Gateway Canyons resort provides a relaxing interlude of a menu of activities for travelers of all kinds.

 

Grand Mesa: Traveling 158 miles from Montrose to Olathe, Delta, Orchard City, Cedaredge, Grand Mesa, Skyway, Mesa, Grand Junction, Whitewater, and returning to Montrose, Harley Owners discovered the world’s largest flat top mountain in North America. High mountain scenery, lakes, and vistas of the Uncompaghre and Colorado River Valleys along with Plateau Canyon’s sandstone cliffs provided just some of the entertainment. If time and fortitude allowed, the Palisade area provided a desert oasis producing some of the best wines in the State of Colorado. 

 

                                  

Riding and enjoying the freedom is what all motorcyclists do and riders can do this on any brand of motorcycle. The Colorado State Harley Owners Group rally is defined by the participation and fun they have as a group while playing games.  

 

During the late afternoon on Friday and Saturday, riders and gathered to test their skills in various competitions. The games were divided into three groups: on-bike, off-bike, and Chapter Challenge and some of these games require very skilled motorcycle handling while others were just for fun.

 

                                   

Representatives from 12 Harley Owners Group Chapters throughout the State competed in games like the Hot Dog Bite, Road Kill Cleanup, Pony Express Bun, and Water Balloon Relay to name a few. Competition was intense!

 

Throughout the events, it was common to hear what came to be understood as a battle cry: “CCT”… “CCT”…”CCT”! It turned out that 50% of the first, second, and third place finishes in each of the eight (on-bike/off-bike), events were won by members of the Colorado Chapter Thornton (CCT). 

 

When the dust settled on the Chapter Challenge, made up of the “Bucket Brigade,” “Panning for Gold,” and “Round Up Roping,” CCT teams had won first and second of three places.   Participants and spectators alike acknowledged CCT’s habitual winning ways by joining in the CCT chant.  

 

The Colorado State Rally ended with congratulations, pats on the back, and “see you next year!”