South Of The Border Run (if 'ur A Canuck)

[Colin24]

In the last few days I gotten a couple messages from fellow Canucks looking to head down to the EOM. My Dad and I are leaving the Ottawa area (Carleton Place) on (hopefully) Wednesday Morning. We want to be to the TN state line by Friday morning (we have a short side trip to take care of on the way).

So... I figured I would start this topic for two reasons.

1) Try to see what other Cannucks are riding all the way down. :hockeycheck:

2) Having an EOM forum with only a single topic was getting pretty pathetic!

We dont have any firm plans. But if it looked like we could get together a quorum then perhaps we could plan the Wednesday and Thursday night stops. That way everyone could make their own reservations and we could travel as either a loose or tight group as everyone wants.

I've just took a quick look at the map. It's around 1800 km from here (little over 1000 miles). So we will need to do around 600 km (350 miles) a day. And both my Dad and I abhor the interstates so we do our best to avoid them where possible. Taking this into account as well as many years heading north south to that area of the states I come up with this.

Wednesday

Depart Carleton Place

Cross into US at Ivy Lea Bridge (Gananoque)

- This would be one of the good places to link up with other riders

Head south on I-81 (no viable alternates)

Once we pass Syracuse head South-West for Bellefonte, PA.

- This takes you overland through north-central, PA.

Great roads in this area. Nice overlook south of

Tioga Junction too.

Stop for the night

- There is a reasonbly nice hotel at I-80 and US-220

- This would be another good spot to link up with other riders

coming from Canada via Niagra falls. Or even other northern

US riders.

Approx 650 km for the day

Thursday

Depart Bellefonte, PA

Angle south west for Cumberland, MD area

Cross through MD into WV at Keyser, WV

Across the blackwater state park area.

South to Beckley, WV

- Done right you'll cross the New-River Gorge bridge

In this area of WV there are no bad back roads. Spec-tack

twisties in every direction. A trip unto itself.

Stop in Beckley for the Night

- I-77 and US-3 has a ton of hotels.

- Again, other riders in the area could meet up with us here.

Approx 600 km for the day

Friday

Head south-west for Townsend.

- There are a serious boatload of twisty little

back roads in the area south west of Beckley.

In order to get to the rally on time you may need

to just get on the interstate and motor.

- But if your up to it WV has some very liberal

application of speed limits to its roads

Arrive in Townsend Friday night, ready to go!

Approx 600 km

=========================================

So if suficient people are interested I could pick out a hotel at the two nightly stops and post the info here.

So, anyone interested?

- Colin

 

[radman]

Once you cross the border you have to speak in miles . It's the law. Homeland Security and all ya unnerstan...

 

[Colin24]

Once you cross the border you have to speak in miles

Metric is so cool when Canadians travel to the states for two reasons:

1) Standing around chatting with someone and with a straight face you say "I must have been doing at least 120 when I passed that guy!" and watch the look of awe on most peoples faces. B)

and

2) Talking to an American you quote distances in Kilometers then watch the smoke rise from their ears as they attempt to do the mental arithmetic to convert that distance to miles. :huh:

Please note we are not making fun of you, just setting the stage and letting you do the rest........

- Colin

 

[huron52]

Oh Radman

You are so silly .... Don't you know yamaha made our bikes only read in Kilometers... I use my GPS to do all my corrections.

But then when you all come across to this side you got to use klicks... OK?

Colin

I have not booked rooms at Townsend as of todays date... but will soon...

I believe the Tally is full from what I have read.

As for me I am a little farther west than you so my plans was to leave wednesday morning early... and cross at Fort Erie and take 219 down as far as it goes and get on the blue ridge and ride west to Townsend. As I say all this these are very loose plans.... subject to change at anytime...

I am trying to get other people from the sport bike group I ride with to come but they don't want to wear out there bodys riding so far.

I have one interested that rides a kawy 12 but he won't know til closer to the date.

So pipe up Canadians Lets get a convoy going here

ump:

 

[Colin24]

cross at Fort Erie and take 219 down as far as it goes

I've done this route many times over the years. And every year it sucks more and more. 219 through NY state is okay and for the first bit of PA. But once you get into central PA its like a 200 mile long 30 zone. All the locals who have nothing better to do troll up and down 219 because its the only main road. They extended the 30 limits in towns way out into the countryside so its like its one long 30 zone. :angry:

Or as Warchild might say, It Sucks Moist Ass Cheese!

But....

If you were to cross at Fort erie on Wednesday, take 219 down through the less offensive parts. Cross into PA at Bradford PA (Home of the Zippo Lighter Company) then south the Lafayette-Mount Jewett area then you could angle south east before you hit the crap sections and meet up with us Wednesday night in the Lamar Area.

I've done the blue-ridge a ton of times. Its a great road. But its a 45 mph limit and fairly well patrolled. Although if the temps are still like they are now It would be a nice run if only because the altitude gain will knock a few degrees off the temps up at the top of the mountains.

As I mentioned earlier. I would head south from Lamar area and stick to the backroads going through Potters Mills, Mount Union, McConnelsburg and eventually coming out on I-70 near the MD state line. Hop on I-70 to I-68 West to Cumberland. South on 220 through Keyser, then turn West again and across the high plateau coming into Thomas, WV. At this point we would hook back up with US219 and keep trucking south. At Marlinton we would turn west again towards Beckley. Hooking up with 19. Then southbound over the New-River Gorge bridge and into beckley.

This would be around 600 km. But don't let it fool you. With all the backroads you'll have to keep moving to make Beckley that evening. And its a bit deceiving, the farther south you get the twistier it gets. So you have to keep moving early in the day to make sure you have enough time at the end of the day. (Yes, I've done it before and I am familiar with the roads!)

If we think time is getting short we could always stick on I-68 across to I-79 south. About 100 miles north of Beckley I-79 turns westerly and you jump on US19 for the last leg. (75 mph limit on Interstates in WV. You can really make time there!)

Oh, and a word of advice. Make sure you start the trip with fresh tires. Otherwise they'll be half gone by the time you get to the rally. I've already ordered a fresh set of Avons for both my Dads and my bike for the trip. We'll install them a week or so before we leave.

Well, think about it anyways.

- Colin

 

[huron52]

Colin

Sounds like you have more riding time heading down that way. I am fairly new to as to the good routes down. I have used the intersates as far as I can go to just get there, or until I start falling asleep on the bike.

I was on a chunk of 219 near ElkinsVA this spring and I liked it. A few years back I was on 219 near the start of it in the north and liked it. I thought it might be the same.

As for the blue ridge I have never rode on it and I thought seeing as I was that way why not.

Like I said.... open for suggestions. And my path is never cut in stone until I get to the intersection and then still it might be a coin flip.

As for the tires ... that I understand.... I still don't think that I am as hard on tires as you. So far I have gotten 20,000kms out of the front tire and yes it is showing some signs of cupping but it isn't to the wear bars. It will be changed before I head south for sure.

 

[radman]

Funny that the US spec bikes come with a dual readout speedo, and the option of changing the display to read in litres etc, while you eh boys are limited to one set of rules. I mean, whassup with that? Do you have to have a metric tach too?

 

[Colin24]

Funny that the US spec bikes come with a dual readout speedo, and the option of changing the display to read in litres etc, while you eh boys are limited to one set of rules. I mean, whassup with that?

Plausible deniability

If we're ever pulled over by an American LEO and he says.

"Did you know you were doing 20 mph over the speed limit?"

Then we can honestly reply:

"I'm terribly sorry officer but I didn't know that. You see my speedo doesn't show miles I had thought that XXX mph was YYY kmh. I guess thats not correct, do you know what the speed limit is in kmh?"

Of course what ensues is a discussion of unit conversions and after the LEO realizes he can't make a correct conversion he will hopefully let you off with a warning.

So you see, it is all part of a larger master plan.

The only tricky part is keeping a straight face............

 

[Colin24]

I was on a chunk of 219 near ElkinsVA this spring and I liked it. A few years back I was on 219 near the start of it in the north and liked it. I thought it might be the same.

219 through WV is a great road. You'll note on my route suggestion we end up on 219 through WV.

But.... Through the middle part of PA. From the I-80 south until you hit the four lane at Edensburg it sucks the big juicy one. Once the four lane ends at I-70 the traffic density starts to drop off again and the road improves. And what makes this situation worse is through that part of PA heading North/South (I-80 to the four lane section) is that there are not many alternates to use. Its almost like being trapped in suburbia for 100 miles.

As for the Blue-Ridge. Its great if you've never done it. But it does take time to complete the whole route. When I am trying to get south and I take the Blue-Ridge I find I'm on it for a day or so. But at some point I realize its taking so long that I have jump off onto I-81 just to get where I am going on time. I've done pretty much the whole length of the parkway over the years, but never in one sitting. If you were interested in meeting up and really wanted to do it I am sure we could go that way.

But on the other hand. I think WV. The Eastern half and the southern half. Are like motorcyclings best kept secret in the eastern US. Everyone talks about Deals Gap, Blue-Ridge, Smokey Mountains, etc, etc. But there's WV just quietly sitting there with great roads, liberal speed limits and not too much tourist traffic.

As for being hard on my tires. It doesn't happen around here (Ottawa area). There are some nice roads but it's nothing like the WV/VA/TN/SC area. Once you get down there you will start using your whole tire!

- Colin

 

[BugR]

Colin

I'm in Constance Bay so 20 mins from you, definitely interested.

Currently I've got a hotel booked at the Highland Manor Thursday night through to Sunday but can change that.

Any accommodation info for Beckley?

Also are you on the local board? Ottawa Motorcycles Good crew, FJRPerrie also lurks there (He's in Rockland)

Huron

FYI Running Skyline BRP and then getting to Townsend (via the Dragon ?) in one day if the weather is poor or the clouds are low is a very very long day. Did that last year and had to run the last part of BRP in heavy fog and rain, in the dark :blink: Mind you if it's nice it's brill.

BugR

 

[smthng]

Of course what ensues is a discussion of unit conversions and after the LEO realizes he can't make a correct conversion he will hopefully let you off with a warning.

These days it's hard to tell... he might just deport you.

 

[huron52]

  These days it's hard to tell... he might just deport you.

And that would be a bad thing?

 

[huron52]

It appears that I have miscalulated my vacation . It doesn't look like I will be going. That unless some overtime comes up at work that I can bank for time off.

Note to self..... Better planning for next year.

 

[smthng]

It appears that I have miscalulated my vacation . It doesn't look like I will be going. That unless some overtime comes up at work that I can bank for time off.

Bummer. Hopefully something will come up and you'll be able to make it after all. If not, there will be other meets, I'm sure.

Along those same lines... it seems that someone else miscalculated my vacation time, in a big way. I will probably be unemployed shortly! This is a good thing for me. The wife and I had always planned for me to quit soon anyway so that I could catch up on a bunch of certification tests I need and get in some good riding and vacation time. It looks like I'll now be able to bank on a reasonably decent severance package to go with it. So... I'll be spending lots of time chewing up tires over the next couple of months I hope.

 

[gypsy]

I came back from the US a couple weeks ago and I would say Rt 219 in WV is one of the best roads I have riden. For some reason there seems to be gravel on more than a few curves but it is always centre lane. The northern half is particularly good. The speed is generally 55 'M'ph so you can wind it out in the corners without officers of the law getting involved.

Here are motorcycle ride maps from WV. Many of these include portions of Rt 219.

https://www.pocahontascountywv.com/planningyou/motomaps.aspx

gypsy

 

[BugR]

Colin24,

I don't have time for a multi day run down, I'm going to superslab it on Thursday and tune it into an SS1K.

I might have time on the way back depends if I leave Sunday or Monday.

Cya there.

BugR