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I think this was a little different from the prior rides. This is the first that I have
attended but I believe that the prior ones were simply local poker type rides. I
believe that they said that they were invited to the Gorge for this one.
Saturday morning I meet some friends at Eastside Harley for the sign up. A
Gorge for the concert. Along with a private beer garden and advance entry into
the amphitheater itself. The concert was REO, STYX, and Foreigner.
We left Eastside HD around 7:45 am with 6 in our groups. There were maybe 50
bikes at Eastside at the time. The first stop was Gordy’s in Cle Elum. At
restaurant on a golf course. They had a buffet ($11.00) and the first dice toss.
The dice toss was a little different. I really do not know how it worked of if it was
just high point.
From Gordy’s we headed east to Mikes Tavern in Cle Elum. Another dice toss
there. Then we headed out to Martha’s Inn in George. We took the scenic hwy
10 canyon ride to Vantage then on to Martha’s inn. My group was taking a
rather leisurely pace on the old Vantage road. The X bike decided it needed to
run a little so I took off for a solo run from just past Kittitas. I was told later by
one of our group that the road in question was often air patrolled. But there
were no obvious highway markers to do any timing by? They said the plan
would simply pace you? I find it hard to believe that a plane can pace you and
have it be official. I think I may have fought that one? I am pretty sure that a
couple of indicated speeds of 115 or so were not correct?
On arrival at Martha’s Inn we were parked in a holding area for later departure.
Martha’s Inn had a nice little beer garden area with self serve food and
beverage. A small chicken wing, beans, coleslaw buffet for a donation. A large
watering trough of iced beer $2 a bottle on the honor system. I hope everyone
paid. I know our group did and others were dropping money in the box.
From there we had an escorted ride into the Gorge. We went directly in with no
delays and parked in a special area of employee parking. We then went to the
special beer garden. The band Shades Of Purple were playing. It was at this
point that I was introduced to my first ever $8 beer. I t was however a 24 oz er.
You could get a 16 oz for $6.50 Coors light only. This being my first time at the
Gorge I was surprised but others let me know this was normal. They did have a
great braut with kraut, potato & macaroni salad, and chips for $3.
After some good tunes from The Shades Of Purple and some prizes and
awards. We were directed to the special entry area into yet another beer
garden. I had to make a special trip to my bike to pick up my SMALL camp chair
that I thought was such a smart idea to bring. Others had said they were sorry
they did not do that and I considered the idea of selling it to them lol.
The normal line to get in was huge at this point but we went thru the early entry
line. At this point I was told I could not bring in my chair as it was to big????
Later at the concert I saw several chairs in my area that were larger then mine. I
did complain on the way out but there were a dozen or so other chairs in the
same are I left mine. So I guess I was not the only one.
The concert was great. The REO bass was very loud and I heard other
comments later. But Foreigner was GREAT and the first band. That was good
for me because they were the ones I really wanted to see. I and my friend left a
little early to beat the huge crowd. We headed back to our motel in Ellensburg.
Sunday we returned via Bluete pass and Hwy 2. Stopping for breakfast in
Leavenworth. Around 400 miles and 2 days. Was a blast and hope the do a
similar run next year.
Randy The X Man
attended but I believe that the prior ones were simply local poker type rides. I
believe that they said that they were invited to the Gorge for this one.
Saturday morning I meet some friends at Eastside Harley for the sign up. A
Gorge for the concert. Along with a private beer garden and advance entry into
the amphitheater itself. The concert was REO, STYX, and Foreigner.
We left Eastside HD around 7:45 am with 6 in our groups. There were maybe 50
bikes at Eastside at the time. The first stop was Gordy’s in Cle Elum. At
restaurant on a golf course. They had a buffet ($11.00) and the first dice toss.
The dice toss was a little different. I really do not know how it worked of if it was
just high point.
From Gordy’s we headed east to Mikes Tavern in Cle Elum. Another dice toss
there. Then we headed out to Martha’s Inn in George. We took the scenic hwy
10 canyon ride to Vantage then on to Martha’s inn. My group was taking a
rather leisurely pace on the old Vantage road. The X bike decided it needed to
run a little so I took off for a solo run from just past Kittitas. I was told later by
one of our group that the road in question was often air patrolled. But there
were no obvious highway markers to do any timing by? They said the plan
would simply pace you? I find it hard to believe that a plane can pace you and
have it be official. I think I may have fought that one? I am pretty sure that a
couple of indicated speeds of 115 or so were not correct?
On arrival at Martha’s Inn we were parked in a holding area for later departure.
Martha’s Inn had a nice little beer garden area with self serve food and
beverage. A small chicken wing, beans, coleslaw buffet for a donation. A large
watering trough of iced beer $2 a bottle on the honor system. I hope everyone
paid. I know our group did and others were dropping money in the box.
From there we had an escorted ride into the Gorge. We went directly in with no
delays and parked in a special area of employee parking. We then went to the
special beer garden. The band Shades Of Purple were playing. It was at this
point that I was introduced to my first ever $8 beer. I t was however a 24 oz er.
You could get a 16 oz for $6.50 Coors light only. This being my first time at the
Gorge I was surprised but others let me know this was normal. They did have a
great braut with kraut, potato & macaroni salad, and chips for $3.
After some good tunes from The Shades Of Purple and some prizes and
awards. We were directed to the special entry area into yet another beer
garden. I had to make a special trip to my bike to pick up my SMALL camp chair
that I thought was such a smart idea to bring. Others had said they were sorry
they did not do that and I considered the idea of selling it to them lol.
The normal line to get in was huge at this point but we went thru the early entry
line. At this point I was told I could not bring in my chair as it was to big????
Later at the concert I saw several chairs in my area that were larger then mine. I
did complain on the way out but there were a dozen or so other chairs in the
same are I left mine. So I guess I was not the only one.
The concert was great. The REO bass was very loud and I heard other
comments later. But Foreigner was GREAT and the first band. That was good
for me because they were the ones I really wanted to see. I and my friend left a
little early to beat the huge crowd. We headed back to our motel in Ellensburg.
Sunday we returned via Bluete pass and Hwy 2. Stopping for breakfast in
Leavenworth. Around 400 miles and 2 days. Was a blast and hope the do a
similar run next year.
Randy The X Man