Barrycuda Posted August 18, 2015 #1 Posted August 18, 2015 This year I have planned on taking a few days off in Oct. 14-18, to make some sort of road trip. I have a few options and would like to hear from those who travel cross country a lot this time of year for some ideas or thoughts on what I suggest here. Please provide guidance on weather in X part of country GW guys head up that week to Bryson city, NC for the chili cook off etc. I currently have booked reservations right on Main Street and was considering that. Other options include riding from Florida to upstate newyork/ niagara falls -Canada iron butt run of coast to coast on 50 hours run west to hot springs Arkansas, run middle of country stop at a few places in Texas. all these ideas, with limited time. I can safely ride the GW 1000 miles a day with no issues. But, do I take scenic route? Super slab? What small town places would I discover but never thought of? I am up for all suggestions. Thanks in advance for some of your wonderful ideas. I am am also up for riding with anyone or a bunch of people, as this trip finds me riding out solo.
jakester Posted August 18, 2015 #2 Posted August 18, 2015 Texas hill country is nice that time of year. Leakey and the three sisters ride is fun, Fredricksburg, Lukenbach, all very nice. Big Bend area also nice that time of year. We went the long way home from Sturgis and went via Yellowstone, that was awesome. Have fun and enjoy. Bill
H2O Posted August 18, 2015 #3 Posted August 18, 2015 Pick a place and ride! If you ride to the Maggie Valley area at those dates, we'll see you there along with a few other bikers from S. Indiana! Never been there by bike and next spring we'll be heading to the Arkansas and Missouri states. Be safe!
Prairiehammer Posted August 18, 2015 #4 Posted August 18, 2015 Other options include riding from Florida to upstate newyork/ niagara falls -Canada That time of year (mid-October) is a great time for riding in the northern tier states...sometimes. Other times it can be pretty miserable, snow even. We often vacation in early October in the Wisconsin Northwoods. Sometimes it is beautiful...sunny and low Seventies. Other times it is snowing and low Thirties. Just sayin'.
djh3 Posted August 18, 2015 #5 Posted August 18, 2015 Barry, we are heading up that way Oct 10-16th. We usually go as far as Madison Ga and stay the night. Then finish up where ever we are going. Actually I think we are staying in Sapphire NC this year with a friend a few days. I normally boogie up I 75 to Macon, then jump off on US 441 and take more scenic stuff. Probably leave up that way Fri, cruise on over to Savannah Ga and stay a couple nights, and head home Sun. Weather is usually decent there that time of year. Up around the NY Canada or Falls area who knows.
Venture n Dixie Posted August 18, 2015 #6 Posted August 18, 2015 The week before is my 2 favorite events. Crusin' the Coast in Mississippi Oct 4-11 http://cruisinthecoast.com/ and Barbers Vintage festival http://www.barbermuseum.org/events/barber-vintage-festival/ in Leeds AL, Oct 9-11. You need to take off longer!
etcswjoe Posted August 18, 2015 #7 Posted August 18, 2015 I am partial to Va and WV roads myself, Blue Ridge Parkway, New River Gorge Bridge in WV lot's of good roads between.
cowpuc Posted August 18, 2015 #8 Posted August 18, 2015 IMHO,, I have learned thru the years just how much of a prankster the Fool and his Wisconsin White Wash Machine can be.. The standing rule of thumb around here has always been - draw a straight line across the entire country using Michigan's southern border as a straight edge to guide ya.. Above that line - October 1st thru May - plan on riding dirtbikes/snowmobiles/quads and giving the x-country CTFW road trips a break.. All this was never about not WANTING to continue riding but ice, snow, hail, salt on roadways and VERY cold at night was never to appealing to me on a 900 pound fully packed 1st Gen.. Unless you have a very special "in" with @Flyingfool, I would advise CTFWing to the south of that line Barry.. Matter of fact,, I would take full advantage of the ride opportunity to go ride some of those EXTREMELY hot areas of the country while I could if I were you.. That said,, your "Coast to Coast" thought sounds AWESOME to me.. If at ALL possible I would squeeze a couple more days in there somehow, I would bend my ick-spressway philosiphy in exchange for being able to stay in the saddle within the safety net of ick-spressway night riding - ride "10" all the way to Phoenix - grabbing Big Bend NP in Texas (as mentioned), get to Phoenix - rip up "17" to Jerome AZ, ride 89a thru Sedona to Flagstaff, enter the west gate of the Grand Canyon and ride around it (thru Page), catch the North Rim and out thru Zion, purposely pull into Vegas from the north on "15" at night (amazing), CTFW thru Death Valley NP (place is also double AMAZING if you happen to catch it at night with a good moon), skirt the base of Sierra/Nevada's on 395 on the west side of Death Valley down to Barstow, hop on "40" and head for home, stop in Albuquerque for a Lugana Burger (right on 40) to Celebrate the journey!! Come home and color in the bottom of your map and tell us ALLLLLLLL about it!!! Gotta admit though my good friend,, a bowl of chili with a bunch of lop eared Wing riders in North Carolina sounds like a lot of fun too though
M61A1MECH Posted August 19, 2015 #9 Posted August 19, 2015 Barry, We had a great time a number of years ago just poking around Kentucky for a week, I am going back one day and when I do I plan on doing the http://kybourbontrail.com/ . I applied for my Bourbon passport, but it never showed up, unless the wife tossed it. I have to apply again I guess.
videoarizona Posted August 19, 2015 #10 Posted August 19, 2015 Wonder if they serve ice cream at the distilleries?
Barrycuda Posted August 20, 2015 Author #11 Posted August 20, 2015 The week before is my 2 favorite events. Crusin' the Coast in Mississippi Oct 4-11 http://cruisinthecoast.com/ and Barbers Vintage festival http://www.barbermuseum.org/events/barber-vintage-festival/ in Leeds AL, Oct 9-11. You need to take off longer! Youre not kidding. We did the museum last IR in Alabama. An amazing place
Barrycuda Posted August 20, 2015 Author #12 Posted August 20, 2015 I am partial to Va and WV roads myself, Blue Ridge Parkway, New River Gorge Bridge in WV lot's of good roads between. I will need yammer Dan, you or skid with me down these WV small places. They get one look at me, listen to my NYC accent, and there might be some shenanigans going on at my expense...
etcswjoe Posted August 20, 2015 #13 Posted August 20, 2015 I will need yammer Dan, you or skid with me down these WV small places. They get one look at me, listen to my NYC accent, and there might be some shenanigans going on at my expense... Just ignore the Banjo music.
cowpuc Posted August 20, 2015 #14 Posted August 20, 2015 Just ignore the Banjo music. OR,,,,, go the other way = plug in some Flatt and Scruggs - play em loud so everyone knows your part of the team.. Carry your water in a Mason Jar and ALWAYS - I mean ALWAYS say "ya'll" when ya thank the waitress for the butter covered grits. Do that and you will be just fine Barry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RvI6ZI2JWc
Venture n Dixie Posted August 21, 2015 #15 Posted August 21, 2015 Youre not kidding. We did the museum last IR in Alabama. An amazing place During Vintage Festival the museum is SECONDARY to the event! 60's Honda CB 160 class racing on the track. A HUGE swap meet. All kind of bikes everywhere. It's like a dream!
Daveand Barbie Posted August 21, 2015 #16 Posted August 21, 2015 Wonder if they serve ice cream at the distilleries? No ice cream. but Woodford Reserve bourbon balls are absolutely the best!
Daveand Barbie Posted August 21, 2015 #18 Posted August 21, 2015 Come on down and join us at the hardware store every other Friday evening for some neighborhood revelry.
videoarizona Posted August 22, 2015 #19 Posted August 22, 2015 No ice cream. but Woodford Reserve bourbon balls are absolutely the best! Good, because I'm lactose intolerant....bourbon balls are more my style anyway! Thanks, Dave!
H2O Posted September 29, 2015 #20 Posted September 29, 2015 This year I have planned on taking a few days off in Oct. 14-18, to make some sort of road trip. I have a few options and would like to hear from those who travel cross country a lot this time of year for some ideas or thoughts on what I suggest here. Please provide guidance on weather in X part of country GW guys head up that week to Bryson city, NC for the chili cook off etc. I currently have booked reservations right on Main Street and was considering that. Other options include riding from Florida to upstate newyork/ niagara falls -Canada iron butt run of coast to coast on 50 hours run west to hot springs Arkansas, run middle of country stop at a few places in Texas. all these ideas, with limited time. I can safely ride the GW 1000 miles a day with no issues. But, do I take scenic route? Super slab? What small town places would I discover but never thought of? I am up for all suggestions. Thanks in advance for some of your wonderful ideas. I am am also up for riding with anyone or a bunch of people, as this trip finds me riding out solo. Did you ever decide which direction you're going?
BigLenny Posted September 29, 2015 #21 Posted September 29, 2015 Barry, NOt sure if you have decided yet, but you mentioned Hot Springs, Arkansas in your original list. Arkansas is well know as a hotbed for great motorcycling in the middle part of the country. Hot Springs was Americas first Las Vegas, and has a ton of great history to read and learn about. Plus, you could take a hot bath in one of the 150 year old bath houses downtown. Any direction from Hot Springs is awesome riding. And the leaves will be turning for a beautiful sight. Let me know if you are gonna head this way and I will make time to meet up with you. I live in Little Rock which is 40 miles away. I'm in Hot Springs all the time with my sales territory. As a matter of fact, I'm there right now.
Barrycuda Posted September 30, 2015 Author #22 Posted September 30, 2015 Barry, NOt sure if you have decided yet, but you mentioned Hot Springs, Arkansas in your original list. Arkansas is well know as a hotbed for great motorcycling in the middle part of the country. Hot Springs was Americas first Las Vegas, and has a ton of great history to read and learn about. Plus, you could take a hot bath in one of the 150 year old bath houses downtown. Any direction from Hot Springs is awesome riding. And the leaves will be turning for a beautiful sight. Let me know if you are gonna head this way and I will make time to meet up with you. I live in Little Rock which is 40 miles away. I'm in Hot Springs all the time with my sales territory. As a matter of fact, I'm there right now. Big Lenny, thanks for the information. After consulting with the wife and meeting a few of the wingers in the past that state they're going, I decided to hit Bryson city in a few weeks. That said, I certainly have had hot springs on my list. When I am able to free up enough days to get there, hang and get back, I will reach out to you. I'd love to meet up...
Barrycuda Posted September 30, 2015 Author #23 Posted September 30, 2015 Did you ever decide which direction you're going? sorry, been busy. Decided on Bryson city this time. Some of the GW guys I know will be there so it makes things easier. I do appreciate everyone's opinion and thoughts.
djh3 Posted September 30, 2015 #24 Posted September 30, 2015 When you heading out Barry? We are heading up that way around 10th of Oct.
H2O Posted September 30, 2015 #25 Posted September 30, 2015 sorry, been busy. Decided on Bryson city this time. Some of the GW guys I know will be there so it makes things easier. I do appreciate everyone's opinion and thoughts. Okay then. Well be in M. Valley for most of the week. If you get behind a silver FLHT, one maroon 06 RSV and one blue 07 RSV on the Dragon, take it easy on us because it'll be our first time there on two wheels.Lol Hope we all have a safe trip and pleasant weather!
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