There’s something about Baker City……..

I know what it is and I want you to learn first hand what this thing is about Baker. Here are a few questions that bring the important stuff up to the level of serious thought.

What city allows bikers to campout during the rally on the High School football field?

What city has local residents contact the Chamber of Commerce to volunteer their homes for bikers to stay during the rally?

What city rolls out the red carpet for bikers and welcomes them like they are veterans returning home from war?

Baker City during the Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally is the answer.

For nine years Baker has welcomed me and thousands of my closest friends to come on their motorcycles and enjoy everything that Baker and its people have to offer. A friendly atmosphere, warm outgoing residents, great food with beverage, a Main Street that any American Mayor would die for. And that’s just Baker. Add to this the great motorcycle roads that intersect at Baker, I-84, Hwy 30, Hwy 7, Hwy 203, Hwy 245 and Hwy 86. Also close by are Hwy 244, Hwy 237, Hwy 26 Hwy 82 and the Hells Canyon, Blue Mountain and Elkhorn Scenic Byways. Let us not forget the most important road. The Devil’s Tail. This 22 mile road from Oxbow to Hells Canyon Dam is the signature ride of the rally. It could very well be the most inspiring 44 miles of your life.

There’s more. All of this is set in the mountains. Fantastic beauty surrounds you on all sides. The Blue Mountains, the Elkhorn Ridge, the Seven Devils, the Wallowa Mountains and the Strawberry Mountains. These mountains provide the snow pack for several rivers which include the Snake, Powder, Grande Ronde, Wallowa, Minam, Imnaha and Burnt. More natural landscape and beauty in one area than can be imagined!

SteveF

Here is what happened on the way over – I was on the Busa and my wife was in her Passat on our way to the Hells Canyon Rally in ‘06. She had left Redmond, OR an hour behind me. I got nabbed in the middle of nowhere doing 79 in a 55 (off the throttle after passing a group of cars doing triple digits – WHEW!!!) Knowing my wife’s a leadfoot, I tried to phone her, but of course had no cell service. Sure enough, she gets pulled over, Sheriff walks up she hands him her license:

Sheriff: after pondering a second…. “Are you related to a Billy _____ ?”
Wife: Yes, that’s my husband.
Sheriff: Well, he wasn’t going as fast as you.”

-Also, because she was in the car going to Hell’s Canyon Rally and the Rally motto: “SEE YOU IN HELL’s canyon”. She had on her back window “See you in hell!” painted in white shoe polish. Ummm… he didn’t get it and didn’t like it one bit and thought it was rude… After lecturing her about the back window, open range and cows on the road… blah blah blah… he writes her up for doing 83 in a 55.

Spendy trip

I have since bought an escort and have it wired into my headphones with my MP3. It has saved me numerous times when I have been riding a little more spirited than I should. Last year we just avoided Mitchell altogether. I’ve had several friends get popped in Mitchell. Prineville-Post-Paulina-Seneca-Strawberry Mountain-Unity-Hereford is a MUCH better route and less worries of police.

This year I am thinking of doing something on the north side of 26… Fossil Condon type route…

By the way… Thanks again for the whole rally!!! We went in 2007 as a group of 6 sportbikes and had a BLAST! We have 4 rooms booked for this year and are bringing a lot more riders. We can’t wait!!!

We stayed at Mt. View RV, great people there and nice facilities. The shuttle was a great new addition this year. All in all, the rally was lots of fun, the ride over and back as well as the rides and time at the rally.

The Baker City and Hells Canyon Area is great riding country. The rally was very well organized and a lot to do and see, with all the local businesses and towns welcoming bikers like they did, great people in this area.

We had a great time and have plans for returning next year.

Hells Canyon Rider 2007

HELLS CANYON RALLY, Baker City from a female rider!

First of all, my husband is the motorcycle junkie, not me. He dragged me into it over time.

The Hells Canyon Rally was my first motorcycle rally. I was aprehensive about riding 400 miles in one day, but the route was beautiful and it was a very nice ride.

Baker City is a charming town and the locals were very welcoming. I had no interest in attending a “Sturgis” type rally but my husband assured me that this was a family friendly event. There were all types of people and bikes at the rally. I had so much fun just looking at bikes and people-watching that I didn’t even ride one day. When I did ride, the routes listed in the TourBook were excellent, with both short and long trips.

If you haven’t ridden to Hells Canyon, it is a must. And the best way to experience it is the Hells Canyon Rally.

HCMR Veteran 2006