Extra vacation in 2009. Suggestions?

[Johnes335]

So, for not having the sense to find a better job in 25 years, I get an extra week paid vacation in 2009. I am confident that I can convince my wife that she would not have expected me to be around the house anyway so that week is mentally in the bank for a 5-8 day ride. I live in Western Pennsylvania, I have no fondness for interstates, much preferring 2-lane travel.  Do not camp well with others and prefer motel/hotel beds, as does my back. The idea of touring an antebellum mansion does not do it for me. A breathtaking view from the top of a mountain that I had to leave at 6:30 in the morning to appreciate does. K1200RS is not dual-sport friendly. Culinary landmarks are a bonus. This would include great micro-breweries, great Chili, BBQ that would make you openly weep, Apple pie that will have you throwing around marriage proposals and seafood. Water is good, Shore, Great Lakes, river valleys. Never used a ferry for travel but the experience appeals to me. 300 mile days on the average work for me so I am looking at upwards of a 2400 mile loop. Planning on anything between mid-May to mid-August. As the map in my signature line indicates, there is much of the eastern US that I have yet to sample. I am not fluent in New Englandese and I do have a passport with way too few stamps in it. Saying I visited a state in no way implies I have seen the best it has to offer.

That friends is my quandary. I am looking to tap in to the obvious depth of riding experiences this membership has to offer to help me plan a memorable trip and my promise to you is a ride report filled with insightful photos and witty observations. Any and all feedback is appreciated and I look forward to your recommendations.

[garry]

You can easily burn a week touring the twisties of the southeast: southeast Ohio, eastern Kentucky, eastern TN, north Georgia, maybe visit the Barber museum, western North Carolina, Virginia, all of West Virginia, then back home.

[ww73]

if u've got the funds...

http://www.pashnittours.com/tour_8.html

[SilverHound]

Hey John, I'm on the other side of PA and except for the "chili" seem to share your riding philosophy and expectations. The only thing I can suggest that fits in with what you may be looking to do is to recommend travel up through NY and cross Lake Champlain by ferry into Vermont. I have made the crossing at Plattsburg and it was memorable. Once in Vermont there are plenty of non-highways to take you into NH, ME and then up into Quebec if you are so inclined.

Sounds like a fun time wherever you decide to go. Will it definitely be solo?

[DosEquis00]

Not great motorcycle roads but Northern Michigan above Mackinaw is worth seeing. You won’t find many curves but you can haul in the middle section.

[Johnes335]

Hey John, I'm on the other side of PA and except for the "chili" seem to share your riding philosophy and expectations. The only thing I can suggest that fits in with what you may be looking to do is to recommend travel up through NY and cross Lake Champlain by ferry into Vermont. I have made the crossing at Plattsburg and it was memorable. Once in Vermont there are plenty of non-highways to take you into NH, ME and then up into Quebec if you are so inclined.

Sounds like a fun time wherever you decide to go. Will it definitely be solo?

We seem to share more in common than just riding tastes.

Too funny. That has potential. From my place to Bar Harbor Maine, including the Finger Lakes, Adirondack Park, crossing at Port Kent is roughly 950 miles one-way which is reasonable. Probably solo.

[SilverHound]

No kidding...well there's another good looking pooch! My boy is Lucius, 11 months old on December 12th.

If you are so inclined to potentially want a riding partner on this trip, let's talk. I also have a significant amount of vacation time that always seems to go partially unused and my schedule is flexible. Aside from not camping though I also don't share hotel rooms.

[Wild72]

Myself and a couple of others are in the early planning stages of a six day trip to Nova Scotia in July next year, specifically to do the Cape Breton Trail, Lighthouse Trail and Peggy's cove.

Having already spoken with others who have completed a similar trip, it seems to have most of the criteria that you seek, although we are doing the camping thing 'cos we're cheap!.

Choice of either a 6-7 hour ferry ride, or 2 hours on the "Cat", phenomenal scenery, and some great single and two-lane roads abound, and apparently the locals are very friendly, although there has been no mention of marriage proposals due to apple pie or otherwise!

Let me know if this is something that might interest you, and I can see about sharing our route ideas with you.

Pete

[FJR_Jim]

I'm from New Jersey, just outside of Philadelphia and have 6 weeks vacation. Friends and I spent 8 days on the road last year covering about 2500 miles. We went down to Delaware and across Maryland before dropping into West Virginia. We did a small bit of Skyline Drive before heading toward the New River Bridge (highest bridge east of Mississippi - can stack a washington monument and two statue of liberties under it and still have something like 20 feet to spare). From there it was down to the Foothills Parkway (NC), Tail of the Dragon (NC/Tn) and Cherola Skyway (TN). A direct shot across Georgia to Savanah for Paula Dean's fried chicken then up to Charleston, South Carolina  - beautiful city with great micro brewery!. Back to the Outer Banks for beachfront hotel stay, crossed the Chesapeake Bay - Tunnel Bridge and contiued back north. Great 2 bike ferry in Whitehaven, MD. Awesome Time!
The year before, did a loop of all New England states. Equally fun time!  

[Yankee Dog]

My friend, from the looks of your map you need to expand your horizions beyond the Eastern Seaboard.

Why not head South through the mountains and then turn toward Arkansas.  Then turn North and follow the great river road up until you reach Wisconsin.

Take the ferry across Lake Michigan from Wisconsin into Michigan.


Cross Canada on the way and take in Niagara.  

Yankee Dog

[TuffguyF4i]

If you haven't done the Blue Ridge Parkway, you need to.  This should be first and foremost on your list.  Beautiful, fun, cheap accomodations and all kinds of good roads around it.  I'm doing it in May for the 3rd time.  
Plus, its 450miles with ZERO stop signs or lights.  How incredible is that?

I live in new england and that is the direction i ALWAYS head when i want to get some good twisty and sweeper riding in.  

NY, VT, MA, CT and ME have roads, sure.  But they are boring as hell when compaired to out southern counterparts.  I spent extensive amounts of time in both areas by living in each for years.

[nnjhawk02]

As usual good suggestions from the crowd.

My only thought would be - when?  Riding in the southern climate in July / August does not appeal to me.  Thus go in June - hit southern states - U can't go wrong w/ Tn., NC, Northern Ga - then head to beach - on swing back - hit western Va / WVa roads on way home

Take pics to make us drool

[2Pokey]

Being from North East Ohio I save the local states PA, NY, KY, VA, WVA, even parts of TN for extended weekends.
Week long vacations are for locations unreachable without extended time. Trips that keep goin, no base camp, just hit the hilights and move on. The rides that are tops on my list that can be done in 8 days. Circling Lake Superior or other Great Lakes, riding the Natchez Trace/Memphis/Clarksdale/Nashville, the Black Hills, Maine/Nova Scotia.

[motospeed9058]

Funny thing.  If you go to google maps.  Get directions from wherever you want to Bar Harbor Main, check the box that says Avoid Highways and Avoid Tolls.  Looks like it picks some pretty good roads.  I wouldn't mind that trip on my own.  

[Johnes335]

Great ideas so far.
Co-worker just did the WV, VA, NC, TN thing this past summer and spoke highly of it. The BMW national is in TN this year but doesn't really appeal to me. Great Lakes is a great idea once you deal with crossing northern Ohio. Ran Skyline Drive this summer but not the Blue Ridge.

[motospeed9058]

Great ideas so far.
Co-worker just did the WV, VA, NC, TN thing this past summer and spoke highly of it. The BMW national is in TN this year but doesn't really appeal to me. Great Lakes is a great idea once you deal with crossing northern Ohio. Ran Skyline Drive this summer but not the Blue Ridge.

Just something to consider.  Skyline is no comparison to the majority of the bottom half of the BRP.  Hardly any enforcement, certainly no payment required, and a lot more fun to "play" on.  If you end up heading south, the BRP is a must and you'll be much more impressed than anything Skyline can offer.  

[TuffguyF4i]

Funny thing.  If you go to google maps.  Get directions from wherever you want to Bar Harbor Main, check the box that says Avoid Highways and Avoid Tolls.  Looks like it picks some pretty good roads.  I wouldn't mind that trip on my own.  

ME roads are frost heaved to high heaven.  I lived in Bangor for 7 months and rode to Bar Harbor on a monthly basis and there isn't much interesting around there.  

Sadly Maine has done the same type of road construction that most new england states have done,,, the quickest way from A to B is to blow away all of the terrain and make the road straight.  Again, i'm compairing northern roads to southern roads.

[Cheddarhead]

My friend, from the looks of your map you need to expand your horizions beyond the Eastern Seaboard.

Why not head South through the mountains and then turn toward Arkansas.  Then turn North and follow the great river road up until you reach Wisconsin.

Take the ferry across Lake Michigan from Wisconsin into Michigan.


Cross Canada on the way and take in Niagara.  

Yankee Dog

Almost perfect proposal...but chase the Mississippi all the way up to it's headwaters (Make sure you savea couple of days to wrap yourself up in a big ole hunk of Dairyland twisties with the R4 folks...the roads in SW Wisconsin are "superb")...then go East over the top of Lake Superior...cross at Macinaw...east across Michigan and into Ontario...cross the border at Niagara...or skirt to the north and east and wrap youself around Lake Champlain.

[BigBen]

Just something to consider.  Skyline is no comparison to the majority of the bottom half of the BRP.  Hardly any enforcement, certainly no payment required, and a lot more fun to "play" on.  If you end up heading south, the BRP is a must and you'll be much more impressed than anything Skyline can offer.  

I did Skyline drive about halfway and hated it... it's too slow, too many RVs that take up both lanes in the twisties and over policed by Park Police. The BRP section in GA is better.