9 day trip from NY

[stevec677]

I have (9) days off in May of 2011 and want to take a trip. Starting from upstate New York, I can: Choice #1 work my way down thru the Appalachian Mts and end up in New Orleans or Choice #2 spend the whole time running twisties in WV, NC, TN, etc. Choice #1 will be more slab but I get to see more of the country. Choice #2 would be better riding, but I won't see as many states. What you you do?

 

[SLK50]

Is this a trick question?

 

[ionbeam]

Heads, you win. Tails, you win.

 

[rushes]

Don't plan anything. Just get up, go riding, and stop when you get tired. Take more side roads just to see what's there. If you find a cool twisty one, ride it back and forth for a while...

Do the best you can to stay off slabs. It'll mess up your tires...

 

[beemerdons]

Don't plan anything. Just get up, go riding, and stop when you get tired. Take more side roads just to see what's there. If you find a cool twisty one, ride it back and forth for a while...

Do the best you can to stay off slabs. It'll mess up your tires...

+1, Gunny! Listen to Dr. Russ, the best MC road trips ever are the ones with no plans, just head out and let the side roads take you wherever they may. I've done way too many plans!

 

[SLK50]

At least once a year I make a 7-9 day loop of VA,NC, TN & WV.

I simply can't get enough of the area and can't wait to get back.

I already started making plans for Sept '11 on my way to EOM.

I could see my way to making an additional trip earlier in the year!

One thing I have found about "plans" is the slower, more relaxed,

less structured the trip, the more I enjoy it. I usually just have

a destination in mind for where I would like to end the day and let

the road take it's course, come what may.

Do you ( OP ) plan to camp or motel?

 

[stevec677]

Camping or Motel? A little of both. I'm going to pack for motel living, but I'm going to bring the simplest camping gear: tent, sleeping bag, & flashlight. If the weather is nice and I find a campsite, that will be home for the night. Meals will be eaten on the road, no camp cooking (too much additional gear). Originally I was leaning toward the big miles/lots of states option. Now from reading the posts, I am shifting to "go with the flow" and see what happens. I am an over-planner and this might be a nice break.

 

[rushes]

Camping or Motel? A little of both. I'm going to pack for motel living, but I'm going to bring the simplest camping gear: tent, sleeping bag, & flashlight. If the weather is nice and I find a campsite, that will be home for the night. Meals will be eaten on the road, no camp cooking (too much additional gear). Originally I was leaning toward the big miles/lots of states option. Now from reading the posts, I am shifting to "go with the flow" and see what happens. I am an over-planner and this might be a nice break.

Mom and Pop type small motels are usually inexpensive and clean. (They live there.)

Eat at the small town cafes.

You'll almost always meet some local with an interesting story...

Post up a ride report when ya git back...

 

[RacinRay]

I did a trip in 06 when I just got my new Gen 2. Albany, NY to Winchester VA. Then BRP to Cherokee NC. Then to St. Louis, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo and home. Great trip for me.

 

[Willie]

Let the National Parks guide you to your turn around point. You wont be disappointed. Make sure you vist Flight93. It will shake you to the core

Willie

 

[Big-B]

Looks like there is interest in a camping trip in mid-May in NC/TN/GA area in the Smokey Mountains. Chance to meet a bunch of other FJR riders and get some excellent roads. You can spend a week down there and not even start to run out of roads.

If you decide to go clear down to New Orleans, try heading from Nashville to Natchez on the Natchez Trace. Not too bad a route.

Enjoy your trip.

Brian

 

[stevec677]

Looks like there is interest in a camping trip in mid-May in NC/TN/GA area in the Smokey Mountains. Chance to meet a bunch of other FJR riders and get some excellent roads. You can spend a week down there and not even start to run out of roads.

If you decide to go clear down to New Orleans, try heading from Nashville to Natchez on the Natchez Trace. Not too bad a route.

Enjoy your trip.

Brian

How do I find out if that camping trip in NC/TN/GA materializes? Is it in one of the forum topics?

 

[SLK50]

How do I find out if that camping trip in NC/TN/GA materializes? Is it in one of the forum topics?

Looky here: https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=124996&view=findpost&p=786818&hl=wheaton%2Bcamping&fromsearch=1

 

[wheatonFJR]

There's even more chatter about it on FJRiders than here...so it looks like some people are interested. Nobody has yet stepped up to the plate yet and set up a place and time as far as I know...although Jim/spklbuk has offered to get it going if it can be held in June.

 

[Fred W]

To answer the original question: I would absolutely spend any extra time in the mountains of TN,SC,WV and GA. I would not trade any of that fun riding time for slabbing to get to LA.

Our best riding vacations have been where we just winged it. Have a general idea of what we want to do, but figure out the day's ride each morning over breakfast, or the night before over beers. This year when we were doing just that, planning our day over breakfast, in Stowe VT, we ran into a couple of Beemer guys doing the same thing, but they were headed in the opposite direction. We were able to clue them in to a few good roads thru NH to take on their way to Acadia NP. I bet they had as good of a time as we did.

 

[ctfjr]

Mom and Pop type small motels are usually inexpensive and clean. (They live there.)

Eat at the small town cafes.

You'll almost always meet some local with an interesting story...

Post up a ride report when ya git back...

When I head out for a ride I seldom plan very far ahead (unless I have a specific destination in mind). I pack maps of every state I 'might' wander into, AAA Tourbooks of states that I want to do some serious meandering about in and my GPS.

Unless you are driven to do some personal milestones (1000 mile day etc) I would stick to the secondary roads. Rushes advice is something I always follow. You can meet some pretty interesting people on the road and being into photography the locals can point you to some interesting images.

Rather than miles per day I look at hours of riding. Secondary roads with relaxed stops usually are more smiles per mile. 10 hour days are my average but remember its not a contest - some days I ride 7, some 12.

Enjoy it!