The first International Moto-Blogger Convention was held on Saturday, July 17, 2010. We gathered on the same weekend as the big BMWMOA Rally in Redmond, Oregon — the only event with a $45 entry fee that could bring us together. Ironically, only one of us ended up actually going to the rally.
Bloggers in attendance:
- Brad from Troubadour on a Triumph
- Brandy from Trobairitz’ Tablet
- RickRick from IRO – In Rick’s Opinion
- bluekat from bluekat’s Journeys
- Conchscooter from Key West Diary
- RichardM from Richard’s Page
- bobskoot from Wet Coast Scootin
- SonjaM from Two-wheelers Revisited
- Irondad from Musings of an Intrepid Commuter
Honorary bloggers:
- Andy
- Ron
- Stacey
Stacey and I met up with Brad, Brandy, Rick, and Andy — the usual coffee suspects — on Saturday morning. Our destination was Bend, Oregon, and we chose the direct route of Hwy 20 to get there. We stopped in Lebanon to add bluekat and Ron to the group.
Meeting up with bluekat and Ron.
Andy led us on a lovely detour around Sweet Home, Oregon, a route that wound through fields and trees and a confusing number of intersections but ended up spitting us out on the east side of Foster Lake. I have no idea what the route was but my GPS should have a track saved for it. At Foster Lake, I took the lead and led the group over the pass.
You’ll have to ask Brandy how her TU250 fared in an uphill race against a Prius. 
We stopped for a short break at the turnoff for Indian Ford Road to shed layers, send text messages, and consult the maps. It was at least 90° F — I mean 32.22° C — quite toasty I must say!
What a bunch of hooligans!
Andy's Tiger, all by its lonesome.
"Fixed it!"
We arrived at the hotel that most of the group would be staying at around 2:30. RichardM somehow found us, Conchscooter breezed through while on his epic road trip, and Bob and Sonja arrived soon afterward. After introductions, the group hung around while folks checked in to their rooms and dropped off luggage. By now, the Corvallis folks were ravenously hungry so Stacey and I led the way to our favorite pizza eatery in Bend, The Community Flatbread Ovens. 
Does this mean that Lucky from The Great Motorcycle Pizza Tour was with us in spirit?
RickRick departed the gathering soon after for greener pastures and naked ladies.
We bummed around the Old Mill District for a while, watched people on various inflatable objects float down the Deschutes River, and made an unsuccessful attempt to invade REI. We got in touch with Irondad, who mentioned that his hotel room had a couch, a living room, and air conditioning. Sold!
It was too hot to do much more than sit around and chat, and so we did. I guess you could say that this was the actual 1st International Moto-Blogger Convention.
Stacey and I had to leave early to finalize our lodging arrangements. We barely made it to Eagle Crest before the sun set. All this riding and talking left us hungry again, so we hit up a bar at the resort for some pub grub. I ordered a steak salad and was served the equivalent of a cow on its pasture. The salad bowl was bigger than my helmet! And who knew Stacey loved Steve Winwood so much that she’d shout requests for his tunes at the lounge singer?
I’ll update this post with links to everyone’s recap posts as I find them.
- Racing through Central Oregon
- Face to Face
- International Moto-Bloggers Conference 2010
- Things I Learned at the Inaugural IMBC
- International Moto Blogger Convention 2010
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I’m jealous of your get together with the fellow bloggers. Sounds like it was a lot of fun and wished I could have joined in. There has been a meeting of a little self appointed executive commitee of the organization here in my town just last night. We have decided, among other things, to delegate all authority to other people so we don’t have to do anything to further the goals of the organization. Kind of Dilbert like.
Look forward to hearing more about your trip.
cpa3485
Premeditated Scootin’
The Naked Ladies were Bare and excellent. If you have not yet gone to the amphitheater in the Mill District in Bend. Well worth attending a concert there. The Les Schwab Amphitheater is well run, very comfortable and instead of having peanut and popcorn sales guys wondering around… they have wine sales wondering around. How great is that!!!
Hi Stacy,
Great weekend! It was nice meeting you again and Stacey for the first time. Thanks for leading us all over the pass and around Sisters…and to great pizza
Sounds like a grand time! Wish I could have been there. Maybe next year.
@cpa3485: Putting together an event like this is a lot like herding cats.
Delegate!
@RickRick: Stacey and I really want to see a concert there — just need to wait for the right one.
@Kari: Glad to be of service.
@Allaina: I hear Colorado has some nice roads… We need a location for the 2nd IMBC!
High Life! *drink lemon drop* Play High Life!