Im planning a trip up the east coast for this spring. Looking for info on the service rds. . Heading out of North ga so looking for ideas for north of tenn. Was thinking of ending up in new England somewhere; maybe up state ny . Any web sites are welcome or just rds ya know.
east coast trip planning
- Thread starter super ten
- Start date
Depends on tire choice?
Sorry, had to say something. It does matter.
Sorry, had to say something. It does matter.
Dirt_Dad
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Look at your options in West Virginia. The Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia gets pretty monotonous, and not worth planning long miles on it unless you have a lot of time to burn. If going to New England make sure to get up Mount Washington. Definitely a top 5 road for me. Also spend some time in the Adirondacks in NY. Something special there.
Travex
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If you find yourself in New York state avoid the temptation of moving here for the privilege of paying insane taxes... Then go enjoy yourself in the Adirondack Mountains. You can ride for days on any surface in beautiful rustic mountain settings. Good eating, provisions, and social life in Lake Placid. Great BBQ at Tail 'O the Pig in Saranac Lake. Clean air and water everywhere. No road is the wrong one as long as it's name isn't preceded with 'Interstate". Best views from the top of Whiteface Mountain. Lake George is a charmer. Camp anywhere, lodging interspersed and reservations suggested during peak tourist season. You'd only be a spit and fart from Canada and more great riding in the mountains of Vermont if you're further inclined.
Have a great ride! ::003::
Have a great ride! ::003::
Dirt_Dad
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A few suggestions of my favorite rides.
Out of TN - The Snake: http://www.421thesnake.com/] [url]http://www.421thesnake.com/[/url]
Great twisty road for a long way: Rt 421: http://www.motorcycleroads.us/regions/va_appalachian.html
If you do go to the Adirondack Mountains take a ride up memorial highway. It costs a few bucks, but the view and ride is spectacular. Plan to eat at the cafe in the castle at the top. Great views. Whiteface mountain: http://www.whiteface.com/activities/memorial-highway
Take the ferry from Plattsburg, NY to Vermont. Go through Smuggler's Notch ( http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/smugglers.htm ) in Vermont on the way to the White Mountins of NH.
Don't miss Mt Washington, it is awesome in every way. http://mtwashingtonautoroad.com/
Personally I'm usually disappointed with Vermont roads (smuggler's notch excluded). I find Northern New Hampshire to be one of my favorite riding areas.
Out of TN - The Snake: http://www.421thesnake.com/] [url]http://www.421thesnake.com/[/url]
Great twisty road for a long way: Rt 421: http://www.motorcycleroads.us/regions/va_appalachian.html
If you do go to the Adirondack Mountains take a ride up memorial highway. It costs a few bucks, but the view and ride is spectacular. Plan to eat at the cafe in the castle at the top. Great views. Whiteface mountain: http://www.whiteface.com/activities/memorial-highway
Take the ferry from Plattsburg, NY to Vermont. Go through Smuggler's Notch ( http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/smugglers.htm ) in Vermont on the way to the White Mountins of NH.
Don't miss Mt Washington, it is awesome in every way. http://mtwashingtonautoroad.com/
Personally I'm usually disappointed with Vermont roads (smuggler's notch excluded). I find Northern New Hampshire to be one of my favorite riding areas.
Dirt_Dad
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BRP is a lovely road and everyone should do it at least once. We make it a point to do the BRP every time my wife gets a new bike, or feels out of practice. Slow speed limits, and gentle flowing roads are great to get your riding legs back. But the slow speed limit and the repetitive scenery in Virginia does require me to be in the right frame of mind. After a few hours I'm usually looking for a diversion, and start taking side roads so I can crack the throttle and feed the beast for a few minutes. Just the way I'm wired.avc8130 said:
Speed limit 45: pretty much like all the roads around it.Dirt_Dad said:
Just like all of the other roads, I do with the speed limit what I see fit.
I've been waved at a few times by BRP Police.
VA does kind of stink. NC is much more mountainous and the side roads are excellent. I forget the road we found, but it was visible from the Viaduct and it was ridiculous, I think it was 80.
Christa's in Pineola, NC makes a great lunch stop.
The BRP is a trip in itself. We use it as a way to head South without getting lost at this point. I know I can be comfortably in Cherokee within a day and a half of leaving NJ.
ac
What do you like? Camping or interrupting days in the saddle with evenings at an opera? Quiet motels or big name chain places, like a Fairfield or Marriott? Dirt & gravel, staying on 2 lane, or moving between destinations on the slab?
For riding alone, just go onto Google Maps and follow the green up along the Appalachians. If you've never done the length of the BRP and Skyline Drive, plan two days and enjoy. From the end, head up 219 through MD & PA, then follow the green on the map again. Maybe see Antiedam and Gettysburg battlefields. Lots of covered bridges and history. Head north through PA & NY to the finger lakes. You could even lap Lake Ontario and see the falls, head east till you hit salty water, then come south.
For riding alone, just go onto Google Maps and follow the green up along the Appalachians. If you've never done the length of the BRP and Skyline Drive, plan two days and enjoy. From the end, head up 219 through MD & PA, then follow the green on the map again. Maybe see Antiedam and Gettysburg battlefields. Lots of covered bridges and history. Head north through PA & NY to the finger lakes. You could even lap Lake Ontario and see the falls, head east till you hit salty water, then come south.
You will find no better riding New England resource than here: newenglandriders.org
Pop over to the forum from the webpage too if you want personal recommendations for your trip. These folks will put together the trip of a lifetime for you based on what you want to do. ::001::
Full disclosure that I am a moderator on the NER forum. My colleague Ed has built a fantastic resource with roads, including downloadable maps, favorite roads, food, places to stay etc. It all all FREE! ::008::
Pop over to the forum from the webpage too if you want personal recommendations for your trip. These folks will put together the trip of a lifetime for you based on what you want to do. ::001::
Full disclosure that I am a moderator on the NER forum. My colleague Ed has built a fantastic resource with roads, including downloadable maps, favorite roads, food, places to stay etc. It all all FREE! ::008::
Dirt_Dad
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True, but the side roads are much less likely to be patrolled, and they won't earn you a federal ticket in the unlikely event of a stop.avc8130 said:
Just beware as you travel through Virginia, 20MPH over the speed limit in Virginia is considered "reckless", and will result in a mandatory visit to court months later. It is police discretion to give you at reckless at just 15 over.
Dirt_Dad said:
The context of what D_D meant by the Federal ticket reference is that if you get one, it will frequently be in the neighborhood of $500. The BRP and Skyline are so smooth and rolling, it is really hard to stay at the speed limit and the police went to laser long ago, so radar detectors won't help you. On the positive side, the Feds are generally be a bit more lenient speed-wise than local police in many of the small towns that the parkway passes, or than a VA trooper will be. And that's where Jon's mention of 20+ comes in.
On the flip side, riding the Dragon/BRP/Skyline on a beautiful weekend day when school is out for the summer means you won't get to speed often because of the RVs and tourists.
:
Seriously, do ride those roads. They are worth experiencing and the ticket talk is just so you are aware, not to scare you off.
If your travels take you north through central PA, let the forum know. There are several of us who know the dirt roads that will get you through PA on some interesting dirt. Also plenty of free camping.
Koinz
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In 2008 we went up nova scotia. We took route 1 along most of the way up the east coast. It was a nice casual ride. On the way back we went inland and came back through Vermont.
U.S. 421 from Boone to Shady Valley (The Snake). North to VA58. VA 600 over White Top Mtn. VA 16N out of Marion to Tazewell, VA (Tail of the Dragon). VA 61 Tazewell to Burkes Garden (God's Thumbprint). WV 20N from Princeton to Buckhannon. US33 to Seneca Rocks. Germany Valley. Dolly Sods. Leaves you near the MD/PA border if you continue north.
On way back south (or a northerly alternate), US 219S to WV150 Highland Scenic Highway.
On way back south (or a northerly alternate), US 219S to WV150 Highland Scenic Highway.