Country Inn and Suites in St Charles is a nice hotel, within walking distance of great restaurants and shops on cobblestone main st. Very historic area along the river and safe. $70 per nite. 20 mins from downtown.

 

Don't let the drive through E. St. Louis deter you from Fairview or even O'Fallon. The interstate is fine. I don't think I'd get off and drive through the city if your not familiar with it or with others. I'd say to call ahead to a few of the downtown hotels and see if you can get some kind of special treatment. Maybe one of the hotels is sponsoring the ride and is planning special treatment of the bikers. It'd definately be worth the trouble of a phone call to them or the ones putting on the ride.

Enjoy! I talked to the wife and we are going to try to make it to the ride. What gun club and what type of shooting do you do? I started shooting IDPA last year and recently started a bit of USPSA although it'll be awhile before I get further into that.

 

Good info above. I live near Fairview Heights and would say your bike is pretty safe in that area.

 

Right now all my shooting is informal. I have been considering entering a shooting league such as USPSA or IDPA, but I haven't really stepped up and done that yet. I used to shoot trap with the UofI trap and skeet team (but I was never a formal member, I shot with the team after I graduated).

Rifles, I work with my AR15, Sig556, and match grade .22. Ranges from 50 meters to 200 meters, shooting from prone, supported, seated, standing un-supported, etc... I work target acquisition drills, 1-2-3-4-5 drills, tac reloads, jam drills, etc....

My pistol shooting is about the same, only closer ranges and I've got a holster in play.

I'm waiting on my new custom made holster and mag pouches for my FNP 45, the guy making them has almost finished them, I think I may have them next week.

 

The Holiday Inn in Alton is a good place. Has a lounge. Has a shuttle that will take you to Fast Eddies to eat and then come get you and take you back. They have alway let me park on the sidewalk right on the west side of the entry door in direct view of the front desk.

Also the Ruebel Hotol in Grafton. It has a lounge and restaurant and Mo has a deck out back that you can park under. It might be a little further than you want drive though and is a 100+ year old motel that has been renovated. It is more of a weekend getaway type. If you are ever going down to that area to ride the Great River Road and spend a few days, the Reubel is definately the place. Quiet, quaint, and just a great atmosphere and experience.

 

Thanks.

I plan to hit Fast Eddie's on the way back out of town on Monday.

 

There is a new best Western in Alton near the Holiday Inn, 5 minutes from Ted's HD and 5 minutes from Fast Eddies. It is only 35 minutes from downtown St. Louis.

Let me know if you decide on either one of thse places and we can meet for a beer.

BTW either of those hotels is, again, 5 minutes from the Olin pistol range if you want to shoot.

 

I keep forgetting that Winchester/Olin manufacturing is down there, man I have shot a LOT of their shells over the years.

 

Anytime I stay overnight in that area I stay at Fenton/Valley Park about 15 miles west of downtown on I-44(Bowles Ave. exit I think).I stay at the motel 6 but there is a Holiday Inn Express next door and several other motels and hotels nearby.It seems like a nice area with a couple bar & grills,Denny's,Bandana's BBQ,fast food near the motel and a Ponderosa steakhouse/buffet just down the road at Eureka.A few years ago the wife and I stayed at the motel6 one weekend then came home,a few days later my wife realized she had left a bag with new jeans and a top in the room.I told her they would be history but she called and the manager said he had them at the office.We passed through about 3 weeks later, stopped and picked them up.I was suprised to get them back.