Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV

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Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 3/5/2008 2:27:11 PM    flibuoy   Posts: 399 Joined: 11/15/2006 Status: offline First half of June I am planning a 3 day ride from SE of Houston to Greenville WV and maybe on to western MA. I have mapped a route that excludes the superhighways as far as WV. I am soliciting ideas from Greenville WV to Holyoke MA area and submit my route to WV for comments from those who have ridden the roads. 146 to 90 to Beaumont I am familiar with. 10 to 12 to Starks LA, I have also been on. 109/27/171 to Leesville. 171 to 468 to 28 to Alexandria. 28 to Archie 84 through Natchez, 61 to the Natchez Trace. The Trace to Cypress Inn TN stopping along the way north of Jackson at Kosciusko MS for the night (510 miles). At Cypress Inn 157 to 227 to St Joseph. 43 to 64 to 50/55 to McMinville. 70 to 111 to 127 to just north of Albany TN to pick up 90 to 27 to 80 at Somerset KY for the night ( 500 miles). 80 to Watergap 23 to 119 around Coal Run to 52 around Turkey Creek to Bluefield to 460 to 219 to 122. OR OR alternatetively 80 to Hazard 15 to 19 to 460. Recommendations? These are mostly 2 lane/4 lane roads, avoiding the dreaded 20/40 etc. A fair part of the trip after mid MS should be nice and easy to twisty. I have tried all the superhighways for this trip and don't like any of them. Weather by then should be tolerably warm on first part and about right after Jackson. I don't plan any side trips and really don't want to add any miles to a 1350 mile ride. I, amazingly enough, do not drink and ride so I will pass on bar advice! Any thoughts/suggestions/disagreement will be appreciated. I plan to take about 4 hours of video and edit down to about 15 minutes of movie clip when I return. I am riding alone on a Deuce and seldom run over 70...happiest at 55-65. I am aware of Trace speed etc through searches. Hope to get a ton of local knowledge before I crank up.   Thanks   John Thumbnail Image Attachment (1) < Message edited by flibuoy -- 3/6/2008 1:05:50 PM > _____________________________ "Political Correctness" is fostered by an illogical, liberal minority and promoted by media, which holds forth the proposition that it is possible to pick up a turd by the clean end. http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa215/flibuoy Post #: 1

RE: Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 3/7/2008 6:34:43 AM    flibuoy   Posts: 399 Joined: 11/15/2006 Status: offline Bump. Come on guys...this is a long trip with lots of routes to comment on. I look forward to hearing about parts of it. Certainly someone has had to be on 80 across Eastern KY or something like that.      thanks and ride safely     John _____________________________ "Political Correctness" is fostered by an illogical, liberal minority and promoted by media, which holds forth the proposition that it is possible to pick up a turd by the clean end. http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa215/flibuoy (in reply to flibuoy) Post #: 2

RE: Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 3/7/2008 7:42:37 PM    Ridewva   Posts: 156 Joined: 10/27/2004 Status: offline 119 and 219 up through WV are pretty nice. Of the two my preference would be 219, the eastern of the two. (in reply to flibuoy) Post #: 3

RE: Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 3/8/2008 3:41:59 AM    flibuoy   Posts: 399 Joined: 11/15/2006 Status: offline thanks...I thought I had used invisible ink left from my childhood!!! I have driven 219 a number of times and planned on getting it at 460. It is a nice road...good shape and plenty to look at.   John _____________________________ "Political Correctness" is fostered by an illogical, liberal minority and promoted by media, which holds forth the proposition that it is possible to pick up a turd by the clean end. http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa215/flibuoy (in reply to Ridewva) Post #: 4

RE: Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 3/11/2008 1:59:01 PM    jeffbarb17 Posts: 294 Joined: 11/27/2007 Status: offline The trace is more than worth the limited speed ...and if you've been on the dragon tail or not and you want a road less travelled and just as nice..a must ride is up in the very north east corner of tenn. 421/34 thru shady valley...take it from the Bristol area on the virginia/tenn boarder to Mountain City..trust me on this one... Life is Great....We all Ride!!!! Thumbnail Image Attachment (1) (in reply to flibuoy) Post #: 5

RE: Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 3/12/2008 5:29:12 AM    flibuoy   Posts: 399 Joined: 11/15/2006 Status: offline thanks for the imput....I never did find 34 but 421 actually takes me away from destination. It sounds like you know your territory so more comments are appreciated. Problem is also that there is no way to get there from here syndrome....from central TN even back roads basically run valleys and I want to stay off 40.  John _____________________________ "Political Correctness" is fostered by an illogical, liberal minority and promoted by media, which holds forth the proposition that it is possible to pick up a turd by the clean end. http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa215/flibuoy (in reply to jeffbarb17) Post #: 6

RE: Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 3/23/2008 3:22:38 PM    bumpusp   Posts: 8 Joined: 3/22/2008 Status: offline 50/55 Real good hwy. 50 Is 2Ln, 55 from Tullahoma to McMinville 4Ln mostly. 70 I40 Good road. I'm headed to Plymouth, MA. in june. Plan on Interstate most of the way. Riding solo, 08 Road Glide. (in reply to flibuoy) Post #: 7

RE: Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 3/27/2008 8:18:38 PM    flibuoy   Posts: 399 Joined: 11/15/2006 Status: offline Thanks for comments on 50/55. I am making a point to avoid the big slabs and 40 ranks just slightly ahead of 10 in my book. Trucks and roadway showing truck use. I welcome input on the roads I listed in my first post...and certainly am open to changing.   John _____________________________ "Political Correctness" is fostered by an illogical, liberal minority and promoted by media, which holds forth the proposition that it is possible to pick up a turd by the clean end. http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa215/flibuoy (in reply to bumpusp) Post #: 8

RE: Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 3/29/2008 5:46:27 AM    plattjg   Posts: 32 Joined: 1/2/2006 Status: offline totally agree on the ih 10 from beaumont all the way to lafayette is trash and will beat u to death.lots of construction in both bmt,orange ,vidor area on over in to lafy. not sure how long it has been since you have ridden 12 or any of 108,77,71, but those are all pretty much used up.the logging pulp wood trucksand permit loads  have beat them to death. we pretty much refuse to head east anymore.even when going to the tenn,nc area. we go north east up 96 and make our changes at Texark ,atlanta ,or shreveport. can't add much more than that. we plan to try and pick up the brpwy(above the closed portion) in nc where we left off and go on into wv and maybe dc. (in reply to flibuoy) Post #: 9

RE: Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 3/30/2008 11:10:09 AM    flibuoy   Posts: 399 Joined: 11/15/2006 Status: offline I 10 is a mess for sure ....either road torn up by all the truck traffic, or torn up to replace...and just the amount of trucks makes it brutal and keeps getting worse towards New Orleans. 12 out of Beaumont to Starks is very short ride and was OK last time I was on it...unlike 12 around N O. The others you listed are not on my route as it stands now. Thanks, keep observations coming guys...I see all sorts of TN/KY riders here    John _____________________________ "Political Correctness" is fostered by an illogical, liberal minority and promoted by media, which holds forth the proposition that it is possible to pick up a turd by the clean end. http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa215/flibuoy (in reply to plattjg) Post #: 10

RE: Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 5/13/2008 9:09:04 AM    flibuoy   Posts: 399 Joined: 11/15/2006 Status: offline Bumped for update I have the route down pretty well Houston to just inside TN at Cypress Inn. From there 227 was recommended for the ride, not time. From there (and looking for suggestions) 43/64/50/55 to McMinnville from there (looking for suggestions) to Crossville then pretty well worked out to Greenville WV which is south of Union. Debating whether to leave bike there and ship home or continue on to Holyoke area of MA. Looks tough to find a pleasant ride on that portion...and too long for 1 day, too short for 2...but looking for comments on that part. Incidentally the ride from Kermah (SE of Houston to Greenville) was done with ZERO interstate miles. Overnights planned in Kosciuskp MS, Oprah's birthplace not being a factor, and Crossville TN to keep 3rd day shortest.         John Thumbnail Image Attachment (1) _____________________________ "Political Correctness" is fostered by an illogical, liberal minority and promoted by media, which holds forth the proposition that it is possible to pick up a turd by the clean end. http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa215/flibuoy (in reply to flibuoy) Post #: 11

RE: Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 5/13/2008 6:40:50 PM    Wrong Way Posts: 17 Joined: 5/12/2008 From: Raleigh, NC Status: offline Sorry, Flibuoy. Just joined the forum yesterday. Unless time is a factor, you don't wanna skip PA and Western Mass. Here's a thread that covers PA. http://www.hdforums.com/m_3354994/tm.htm I'm thrilled with the roads I mentioned in the thread. I used to dread that state. Now I love it. 219 in WVA is superb. Pretty good up through MD too. Some lightely traveled slab when you get into southern PA, but after a while it becomes very good again. Mute point though, as you're heading to Mass and 219 in PA is pretty much far west. Alternative. 219 intersects with 50 in, I believe, Maryland. If not, pretty close. Taking 50 east to Winchester, Virginia might be a good road. Have not done it, but I'm sure someone has and can report. Once to Winchester, north on 522. It's 4 lane non-slab for a little while, and not too bad for being that I might add. Once it goes 2 lane, you're officially loving life. (see other thread) Heck, I think 522 intersects with 144 near I-80. Take it north. Once about a few miles above I-80, you will be on the best riding road I've ever been on. True story. I didn't see my tail-gunner for 45 minutes. I heard him on the CB a time or two, but did not see him. Take 144 to Galeton. Route 6 is supposed to be one of the better roads in PA. I've only been on 30-ish miles of it and it was fine. A little quicker pace than 144 which you might be ready for anyhow. It does go east-west, which is quite good for getting towards Mass. See the other thread and highlight some of those roads I mentioned. Play connect-the-dot, avoid Scranton (draw up a little detour north of Scranton) and head towards the upper-east corner of PA. I think that puts you close to in line with the Conn/Mass border. The other fellow is going to post his route from the PA line to Brattleboro, Vermont. Even if you go way out of the way and go TO Brattleboro, you're something minor like 30 minutes north of Holyoke. Hope this helps. I cannot stress enough how good that 522 and 144 will be. _____________________________ 2003 Softail Heritage (in reply to flibuoy) Post #: 12

RE: Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 5/13/2008 7:57:23 PM    Woodchuck Posts: 466 Joined: 10/1/2006 From: Vermont Status: offline Ya gotta go through WV!  Recommend you head for Beckley.  Take 19 N and stop at the visitor's center at the New River Gorge Bridge. 60W, 20N, 39/55W, 150 N (VERY NICE, don't skip it), 219N, to 50E in Md and then back into WV, to 220N.  If you have the time, a nice side trip is 66,28,92 (National Radio Astronomy Observatory) 33 by Seneca Rocks and back on 219N in Elkins. I'm on the road Wednesday and should be back home in the next to the last week in May and can help you thru NY.  Look on the NY map for the Taconic Parkway.  Four laner but no commercial traffic.  It's a parkway straight out of the '50's (no tolls).  Rte 22 that parallels it is a good choice also. (in reply to Wrong Way) Post #: 13

RE: Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 5/14/2008 5:06:38 PM    flibuoy   Posts: 399 Joined: 11/15/2006 Status: offline Very helpful on both the above replies...thanks for the time. I have driven most of the NE and rode a good bit as well. Raised in western MA so Vermont/NH and so forth are familiar. The WV to western MA is the bugger but you gave me something to map study. Thanks again. _____________________________ "Political Correctness" is fostered by an illogical, liberal minority and promoted by media, which holds forth the proposition that it is possible to pick up a turd by the clean end. http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa215/flibuoy (in reply to Woodchuck) Post #: 14

RE: Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 5/28/2008 7:46:34 AM    Woodchuck Posts: 466 Joined: 10/1/2006 From: Vermont Status: offline We recently took Rtes 522 and 220 through PA and it was a good ride. If you take Rte 50 east in northern WV, you'll meet up with Rte 522 near Winchester, VA.  Rte 522 is a combination of four lane and two lane that moves along good.  There was some road repair when we went through last week but no big tie ups.  We took 522 up to Middleburg (west of Selinsgrove, PA), then 104 to Mifflinburg and Rte 45 east to Rte 15.  Rte 15 intersects Rte 220 in Williamsport.   An  alternate, quicker way to get to 220 is to stay on 522 into Selinsgrove and then take Rte11 and Rte 147 and I-180 to 405 and then 220.  Rte 220 between Williamsport and Towanda is rolling hills and an enjoyable route.  In Towanda we took Rte 6 east maybe 15 miles to Rte 405 and Rte 706 east to I-81.  Rte 706 was fairly twisty and a great traveling route.  With a little help from some locals, we avoided I-81 by taking a back road through Brushville and Susquehanna to Rte 92 (changes to Rte 79 in NY).  Or take 706 to I-81 about 10 miles to Rte 171 east to Rte 92. We took Rte 92/79 to Rte 7 in NY.  I-88 parallels Rte 7 and would be quicker but I try to avoid the interstates and I-88 was torn up the last time I was on it.  Rte 7 goes through a number of towns but it wasn't too slow and we weren't on it for that far.  We took Rte 23 east out of Oneonta to Hudson ($1.00 toll bridge over the river when going east).  Nothing too exciting about Rte 23 but the traffic moves along well and there aren't too many towns to slow you down until you get to around Hudson.  Rte 23 intersects with the Taconic Parkway or Rte 22 a little more east or Rte 7 east of Rte 22.  All three will get you north and I prefer them in that order: Taconic best (watch for deer), Rte 22 is scenic but maybe a bit slower, and Rte 7 is scenic but slow. Long story short, Rte 522 -> 220 -> 706 -> 7 (or I-88) -> 23 is a good way through PA and NY in my opinion.  If this helps and you want more info about getting northeast from the Taconic or whatever, let me know. If you're headed for Holyoke, just stay right on 23 east to 20 and then 202 into Holyoke. < Message edited by Woodchuck -- 5/28/2008 8:07:33 AM > (in reply to flibuoy) Post #: 15

RE: Requesting advice on route Houston Area to WV - 6/2/2008 9:36:56 PM    swestbrook60   Posts: 1005 Joined: 7/16/2006 Status: offline John, If you remember I was going to make the trip from Houston to Chicopee, MA and back last September. Unfortunately due to a riding mishap I wasn't able to make that ride but am planning on it again this September. I would be interested in knowing your final route, and the actual one if it differs, and your opinion of it when you get back. I would prefer a different route coming back than going just to experience new roads and places, but I can see some overlaps too. I will most likely do the Dragon and BRP on the way back since time will be of little importance in that direction. C'mon guys, give some advice on roads you have traveled. There are so many choices to pick from when you know nothing about the area up the eastern coast. Steve (in reply to flibuoy) Post #: 16

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