Need touring advice from East Coast

[Bigfoot]

I am retiring from my job this summer after 30 years. I will of course get another job and start a 2nd career but before doing so I have the blessings from my lovely wife to go on a 30 day ride on my RSV. This ride will start at the beginning of August. Due to the heat/humidity I'd rather not go south. Besides, I'm from the south and have seen much of it. I'm trying to decide which way to go-West or North where it should be cooler. Due to back problems I will probably average no more than 300 miles or so a day but maybe up to 400. I'll stay at the cheapest hotels I can find to save money.

 

Anyone have any thoughts on which direction I should go based on personal experiences?

[cecdoo]

You could sure do a nice loop of New England and Canada in that time. Lots to see in Pa. tour that area for a bit, then head west on Pa rt 6 to Erie area, up along Lake Erie to Niagra Falls, across Ny to Finger Lakes then Adirondaks and White Face, take the ferry to Burlington Vt. then across to Mt Washington area, across to Bar Harbor Maine, maybe Ferry to Nova Scotia. Temps would be cooler, you could easily do it in 300 mile days, wish I had the time to join you, mite be able to tag along for a few days. Craig

[Sylvester]

If you get far enough south, try the Blueridge Parkway begin in the Shenandoa Valey Virginia and end in North Carolina at the Tennessee. It is very nice at that time of the year due to the high elevations.

[Dragonslayer]

I am retiring from my job this summer after 30 years. I will of course get another job and start a 2nd career but before doing so I have the blessings from my lovely wife to go on a 30 day ride on my RSV. This ride will start at the beginning of August. Due to the heat/humidity I'd rather not go south. Besides, I'm from the south and have seen much of it. I'm trying to decide which way to go-West or North where it should be cooler. Due to back problems I will probably average no more than 300 miles or so a day but maybe up to 400. I'll stay at the cheapest hotels I can find to save money.

 

Anyone have any thoughts on which direction I should go based on personal experiences?

Go west Young Man, The roads in many of the western states will blow you away.

[Dragonslayer]

If you get far enough south, try the Blueridge Parkway begin in the Shenandoa Valey Virginia and end in North Carolina at the Tennessee. It is very nice at that time of the year due to the high elevations.

Good rides, Been there done that too

[Bigfoot]

You could sure do a nice loop of New England and Canada in that time. Lots to see in Pa. tour that area for a bit, then head west on Pa rt 6 to Erie area, up along Lake Erie to Niagra Falls, across Ny to Finger Lakes then Adirondaks and White Face, take the ferry to Burlington Vt. then across to Mt Washington area, across to Bar Harbor Maine, maybe Ferry to Nova Scotia. Temps would be cooler, you could easily do it in 300 mile days, wish I had the time to join you, mite be able to tag along for a few days. Craig

 

I like your suggestion. I know the wife would kill me if I tell her I'm taking this route. I've been in K9 for 23 years and have traveled quite a bit (by plane) to K9 events around the country and never once has she expressed an interest in joining me. A couple of years ago I told her I was going to New Hampshire for a seminar in October and she promptly told me she would be joining me. :-) We took a few days and went early to do some sightseeing. I do love the New England area and have been wanting to tour it on my bike.

 

I'd definintely would enjoy it if any VR members wanted to tag along for a day or so,

[Bigfoot]

If you get far enough south, try the Blueridge Parkway begin in the Shenandoa Valey Virginia and end in North Carolina at the Tennessee. It is very nice at that time of the year due to the high elevations.

 

I do love that area but will probably not head south.

[wild hair 39]

are you going to ride the roads for senary or events or what,from your place to the rocky,thru n ark ok,colo springs,hwy 3 from okc to the panhandle is a lot better if you want flat land go s ks,and w tx

happy riding

lowell

could send you a mapp,just PM me:080402gudl_prv:watch your gas gage

[Squidley]

I'd definintely would enjoy it if any VR members wanted to tag along for a day or so,

 

 

Wayne,

 

I have to say that if you do an east coast US/Canada trip then I would suggest that you see some of the Upper Pennisula of Michigan. The "Mighty Mac" is a sight to behold and ride across. Michigan (outside of the SE portion) is a very beautiful state. The NW lower Pennisula is very nice, the Tunnel of Tres is a place to see and pretty much everything on the west side of the state. Post up an route and you might be surprised who would come to ride a bit with you...give a call or PM and I'll see if I can get you a few points of interest

[KarlS]

Two summers ago I took a 30 day trip to west coast (21 states) no x-way and can't wait to go back. Used microsoft maps to plan route and looked up a lot of great roads on motorcycleroadsUSA. Every turn was another WOW. Living in Michigan I knew West coast trips would be few and far between and I'm sure glad I did it. I left in mid-June and higher elevation in northern states were cold but August should be great if you chose to go west. Good Luck and enjoy.

[GeorgeS]

Till you hit the Pacific Ocean, then turn Right, or Left, Either way, you will enjoy the ride.

 

If you turn right, keep going till you get to Seattle, and stop in for a Beer !!!!

 

Spend 2 weeks in the Rocky Mountains !!!

[PBJ]

Hey Big Foot, if you head north please let us here know many of us are retired and we'd love to show you some of the nicer roads through the state. I live iht the central finger lakes area but others live to the west and east and i'm sure would be glad to escort you Through. In fact we're having an M&E here in August and would love to have you stop by. Let us know!

[Guest bradb]

If you decide to go Northeast and into Nova Scotia you may as well go to the most easterly point of North America, beautiful Newfoundland, Canada. This is where all your planes landed during 911. Ask anyone who was here, the people are great, the food is great and the scenery is out of this world. Do Gros Morne National Park, view is breathtaking. I'm on holidays in Aug., I only have 25 in so another 5 to go. Maybe I'll see you somewhere. Not K-9 but close.

Brad:bobby:file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Home/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg

[Reaney in NH]

If you get up to New Hampshire Look us up... We would be happy to show you around... and even save you a night in a hotel.

Have a great trip.

Reaney in NH

[bryan52577]

Forget all those nice roads, cool places to see. Come to IOWA we have mile after mile of corn fields and even miles of bean fields! (You just have a hard time seeing them cause if you take your eyes off the road you are liable to fall into an IOWA pot-hole that the state crews fix 1 week before the first snow). Yep we have lots of those babies just for the tourists so our auto repair shops stay busy and employ more people. Sometimes we get lucky and and get to keep a tourist for weeks till they get their car back.

And lets not forget those wonderful hog confinements, man they will just take your breath away with the wonderful smell that radiates from them on those nice HOT August days here in IOWA.

YEP, IOWA, you just got to love it , cause if you were born here you are stuck till you win the lottery. Now were was I? Oh yes planning my trip out of this state. ......."Sorry, must be cabin fever setting in.":8:

[hig4s]

I'd say, if you can start just a little earlier, head straight West through the Canaan Valley, over to Mid-Ohio race course, and the AMA vintage day racing July 24-26, If not, Mid-Ohio has the Acura 200 sports car challenge Aug 7-9,, from there head toward South Haven MI, and up the West coast of MI, over the Mackinac Bridge, up to the Sue, over into Canada and follow the North shoreline of Lake Huron and the Georgian Bay, down to Toronto, East over to Cornwall, back into the US, down through the Adirondacks, then West to Niagra Falls, and pretty much South through PA back to Manassas.. Depending on just what routes you take it ends up being from 2500mi to 3000mi

[Bigfoot]

Lots of great suggestions here folks. I'll definitely refer to these tips as I plan my trip. I'm so conflicted on where to go that this will be a hard trip to plan.

[RedRider]

1) Pick up Microsoft Streets and Trips. It is the easiest to use trip planning software around.

2) Check out http://www.motorcycleroads.com/. They have state by state evaluations of local routes by local riders.

3) Check out advriders.com. There are several regional forums that discuss great routes in each section of America (actually, of the world).

4) Get a US map and try to hit as many National Parks are you can.

5) When you decide the route, pack the map in the trunk and just head out and ride. Plan on 2 or 3 destinations a week, and just ride in the general direction for the balance.

6) Take over as VR Ambassador from Lowell and see if you can stay in a fellow inmates place every night. Just think, 30 days on the road and all it would cost is gas and lunches.

 

I dream of being able to take 30 days to ride. Alaska, Rockies from Northern Canada to Arizona, Copper Canyon in Mexico, Belize, 4 Corner Run, etc., etc.

 

Have a ball. If you head into Wisconsin, let me know. We will have a bed, meals, and beer ready for your arrival.

 

RR

[davecb]

New Hampshire, Maine Vermont.... Some of the best riding you will ever do. Scenic, nice roads, great people...

[WilCruise]

You could sure do a nice loop of New England and Canada in that time. Lots to see in Pa. tour that area for a bit, then head west on Pa rt 6 to Erie area, up along Lake Erie to Niagra Falls, across Ny to Finger Lakes then Adirondaks and White Face, take the ferry to Burlington Vt. then across to Mt Washington area, across to Bar Harbor Maine, maybe Ferry to Nova Scotia. Temps would be cooler, you could easily do it in 300 mile days, wish I had the time to join you, mite be able to tag along for a few days. Craig

Being a New Englander, I'd say this is a really good idea. IMHO VT, NH and ME have some of the best riding in the area. We did a Venture Rider Northeast meet in NH a couple of years ago - centered on the Kancamagus Highway which is a great stretch of road and there are a couple of routes around it that are great scenic riding in the spring and especially the Fall. From there it's easy to hit the coast in ME.

 

If time will permit I'd be glad to join you for a day or two if you decide to come up this way. Send me a an email or PM when we get closer to the time you're coming. Check the Meet & Eat section for the local monthly gathering near there too.

[Bigfoot]

This site and the members never cease to amaze me with its generosity. I belong to a couple other MC sites and this would never happen this way. Don should be proud of what he started.

[Squidley]

Don should be proud of what he started.

 

Trust me...he is

 

If you decide to go West, all the way to the coast, (BTW the coast highway IS worth that distance) keep in mind that you would be pushing it a bit on a 30 day trip @ 300 miles a day. Lonna and I did a 10000 mile 28 day trip in '06 and granted we hit 3 rallys we had to push it hard a few days (750 + mile days) and never less than 500 miles on any of the traveling days.

 

If you make it north to my neck of the woods I'll offer you the same as I do anyone on this site. A hot meal and a nice bed to sleep in, I'll even show you a few nice places here in Michigan

[Bigfoot]

Trust me...he is

 

 

If you decide to go West, all the way to the coast, (BTW the coast highway IS worth that distance) keep in mind that you would be pushing it a bit on a 30 day trip @ 300 miles a day. Lonna and I did a 10000 mile 28 day trip in '06 and granted we hit 3 rallys we had to push it hard a few days (750 + mile days) and never less than 500 miles on any of the traveling days.

 

 

If you make it north to my neck of the woods I'll offer you the same as I do anyone on this site. A hot meal and a nice bed to sleep in, I'll even show you a few nice places here in Michigan

 

For those discussing upper Michigan I remember driving what was called the northern route when my kids were little. We'd drive from Va. to Minn. and we did this route. It's been a long time but I do recall it being a beautiful area.

[hig4s]

For those discussing upper Michigan I remember driving what was called the northern route when my kids were little. We'd drive from Va. to Minn. and we did this route. It's been a long time but I do recall it being a beautiful area.

 

I use to live in the upper peninsula of Michigan. The UP, Northern Wisconsin, and lakes area of Ontario Canada are all absolutely beautiful in July and August. Late May, and June some years can have so many bugs that it is actually dangerous to be on a bike, and any of the other eight months can have serious snow.

[1joeranger]

Leaving Florida beginning of July heading everywhere for 45 days! Blue Ridge Parkway, Sky Line Drive, Erie PA, Niagara Falls, The Seaway Trail, New England, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Loring AFB in ME, Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Northern Michagan, Wisconsin, and that's as far as Ive planned so far. Not concerned about how far I can get just interested in scenery and people. Hope to meet and great alot of you all along the way. I also plan on blogging the adventure with pictures and a diary! Would love advice on setting that up! So Bigfoot leave earlier and we can ride together!!