I'm planning a Prince Edward Island / Cabot Trail run...but I "was" aiming at something after Labor Day...September makes for great riding / camping.
If you're bound / determined to head up that way earlier...give me a shout. I might jump off early and join you....
I'm in the Boston area...
September is hard for me -- I assistant coach a college fall sport so we've already started practice by the last week in August. I could miss it, maybe, but it would be a stretch. Any other times work for you?
Funny you mention Middlebury -- there's a huge amount of great riding right around there. You can have a great time just going east and west over and over again in Vermont. Plus you can take a tour of the Ben & Jerry's factory -- how bad is that?
There's lots of fun to be had in New York state as well. There are fun roads in the Adirondacks; just watch out for the ones straightened for the '80 Olympics, for they're not as much fun as the twisty ones. Also check out the Catskills.
Can you give me some rough ideas in Vt.? I've only been there for Middlebury (summer) and Jay Peak (winter), so if they're not on those routes I wouldn't've seen `em. It is beautiful country, though! I'll check out the Catskills as well, thanks.
Sounds like a fun time and good not to overcommit distances. thoughts -->
1. spend $13 on 'Cramp Buster' that installs in 10 seconds on the throttle grip. gives more miles/day capability by relaxing hand grip.
Takes some miles to get used to new throttle sensitivity, but if you don't like, it comes off in seconds w/o tools
2. Consider direction based on weather - and biting insects, if camping. Camping at edge of beach usually means few biting insects, but more wind.
3. Gaspe pennisula loop would seem a good victory get out of college trip, weather permitting. could include quebec city or montreal if you're OK w/cities
4. in May - you'll beat the tourist season by week - given the cool weather if along the coast, well I'd probably look at mom and pop motels at least every other night and when it got right down to it, I'd leave the tent and bag at home and spring motel $ for the other 3 nights.
also, take a small photo book of your life, home and college to share - 10 -15 photos makes a difference in ease of meeting people when traveling
enjoy!!
Thanks, all great suggestions! The last one is funny (but in a good way). I do have a CrampBuster, I'd love a Throttlemeister but they seem a little pricey for what you get. I would love to get to Quebec City or Montreal, I speak French a bit so wouldn't have a problem in that regard.
How is your budget? That's easily remedied, if you can afford a few hundred dollars of mods. Years ago I did a cross-country trip on my R1100RS and its stock seat. That was enough for me to replace the stock seat. (I'd already put risers on the bars.)
Then again, your goal isn't to go as far as you can, but to have fun, so you can keep the miles per day down.
Well, I only paid $2700 for my bike, so the idea of spending ~$350 on a Corbin or Sargent doesn't really appeal to me. I'm interested in seeing if there are other ways to have the stock seat reupholstered locally to save money there. I'm not yet sure what I think of the bars -- I'm a shade under 6'4", so they could probably stand to be risen. But, again, Helibars and the like are not cheap.. though I could always sell them separate if I ever sold the bike!
I rode an R1150RT across Germany, France and Switzerland in 2005. It was epic.
Numbah,
I'm also in ME. What school are you graduating from?
USM. Though I did take 2 years' worth of classes at Bowdoin. Long story, that one...
