| Author | Message | ||
     Superdavetfft |
I have the lucky problem of having vacation time and no particular ideas on what to do with it (besides ride obviously hehe). I'm in South Dakota so I can make it to any coast and back in a week or so (which also happens to be how much time I have). If you had 9 days what route would you choose? Thanks! superdave | ||
| Trevd |
If you've never been, I'd go down to the Deals Gap area and spend a few days there. | ||
| Jaimec |
North into Canada. Cooler temps, less traffic, more unspoiled country to see... | ||
| Kyrocket |
I have to agree with Trevd on this one. Nine days could find a lot of pavement to cover. Personally I'd head for the Blue Ridge/Skyway Dr. down to the dragon into the Suches area and maybe even over to Savanna then back up the coast. And here I am stuck behind a keyboard fielding complaints about a neighbor's yard not getting mowed. Out of all the problems available, yours is the one to have  | ||
| A_s_r |
Go west my son, go west. Yellowstone, Beartooth Hwy, Arches National Park, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Glacier National Park, Hell's Canyon...just to name a few | ||
| Hughlysses |
maybe even over to Savanna then back up the coast. I think I'd leave that part of the swing off and stick to higher elevations in the southeast. It's already in the high 90's in Charleston; I actually saw 104 deg. F on my car thermometer during my commute home yesterday on the interstate. All that concrete sucks up a LOT of heat during the day. | ||
| Trojan |
North Yorkshire, Cumbria, Northumbria and Scotland (you did say you could reach any coast and back in a week and you won't find better biking roads than these )   | ||
| Superdavetfft |
---North Yorkshire, Cumbria, Northumbria and Scotland (you did say you could reach any coast and back in a week .... I'd give it a try if somebody knows how to mount pontoons to a Uly!!  Those roads look fun! | ||
| Davegess |
The mountains of course would be great. My second choice would be the the southwest corner of Wisconsin. This includes the northeast corner of Iowa and a bit of Illinois and Minnesota. Great roads, lots of neat small farm towns that seem to be stuck in 1955, nice people, and very little traffic and cops. Just watch out for manure! If you are looking for chain motels you may be out of luck however; nice clean mom and pops without amenities but not many Holiday Inns in sight! There are some fancy B&B's near some of the very few touristy spots like Galena IL. It actually looks a lot like the photos Matt posted of England. I reminds me a lot of riding in the British Isles. Dubuque Iowa is kinda neat also if you want to spend a few hours out of the saddle. | ||
| 86129squids |
Other than Deal's Gap being closed due to a rock slide til late July (from the TN side, still accessible from NC), the Appalachian region is the best! Do the entire Blue Ridge, western NC, east TN (including the Cherohala) and also the north GA mountain roads. | ||
| Superdavetfft |
Rock slide? yikes...what's a good place to get updates on deals gap road conditions? | ||
| Superdavetfft |
ah found it... http://www.dealsgap.com/ duh... | ||
| Kyrocket |
And there's a lot of Buellers in that area who'd probably take you out to "the path less taken" if the timing is right. If the timing is right and depending on what path you're taking I can get you through eastern Kentucky into Virginia by way of a snake's back. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Better site for Deal's Gap area info: http://www.tailofthedragon.com | ||
| Toronto_s3 |
I would suggest a couple of nice rides in Canada but only if you have a passport obviously (thanks for that George Bush 2). From South Dakota a ride up to Alberta and Lake Louise (stunning) Banff and Jasper (very nice) comes to mind for incredible scenery. If you are in Alberta you can also check out Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump and the incredible canyon there. If you went east bound the loop around Lake Superior is something everyone should ride at least once. Almost like heading to the coast, twisty roads, great inns to stay along the way, always a view of the water (which is cold as hell). If you to the loop around Superior you can take in Wisconsin obviously. If you don't mind the heat hang out in California and the Pacific Highway and take in some of the vineyards there and in Oregon. | ||
| Superdavetfft |
I'd love to go to Canada again but alas since the changes I'm unsure if I can get in . Plus I can't get any of the consulates to confirm yay or nay. They just say it's up to the guard at the time I enter! I'd hate to ride north through two states through some booooring country just to get turned around because I had a j on me years ago... *sigh* | ||
| Xbrad9r |
if you do decide to ride down for the Dragon, let me know and I may join you there if possible...also, another great ride that isn't as crowded/well known as the Dragon is US421 between Bristol and Mountain City,TN. www.shadyvalleycountrystore.com | ||
| Xbrad9r |
here is a video of the ride going North/East from Shady Valley toward Bristol. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew5D9BwM6g0&feature =related | ||
| Superdavetfft |
Nice video, let's hope I don't have the same ending though! Did the bike end up with much damage? | ||
| Xbrad9r |
here is the other direction from the country store at Shady toward Mountain City,TN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHht8t9pP-0&feature =related | ||
| Xbrad9r |
not sure Superdave...that first video was from just a few days ago, and I don't know the guy that shot it. I thought it was one of the better quality ones to show the road. | ||
| Jaimec |
Shame about Canada, Dave. I LOVE riding up there. I find a country larger in area than the United States, but a lower population than the State of California to be IDEAL riding country. Maybe I just hate people... | ||
| Brumbear |
Head to Bar harbor maine+ come across through the lake michigan cross ohio into lake erie area then up to tour the finger lakes then onto lake george NY over the green mountains of Vermont and up the coast of maine to bar harbor The GREAT nrthern lakes tour  | ||
| Pso |
Superdave: Seems like you can go anywhere. Coastal Hiway in Calif. Loop In Wash between Seatle and Spokane, Nova Scotia the Cabot Trail both ways (also take the causway to PEI). Anywher on the Applachians from NY to Ga (just be very careful on the Skyline Drive in Va. No radar detectors allowed in Va.and the smokies show no mercy for slight speed infractions). When you decide (and I have been to all of them and would go back except there are to many other places to see yet), let us know and I am sure lots of folks will tell you great roads, routes and also offer to ride w/you. Have a great adventure and take the list of Bueller Helpers with you. Just do it and don't ponerd to much. | ||
| S1wmike |
Bounce yourself over to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and take US 26 up to Copper Harbor. It was voted one of the 10 best scenic roads in America and pretty entertaining to ride also. lots of good stuff up there. | ||
| Strokizator |
I vote for anywhere cool and green. | ||
| Superdavetfft |
Thanks for all the good ideas! |
