Opinions for Northeast visit

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Feb 22, 2015 | 01:41 PM

classof96

Thread Starter

Tourer

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 280

Likes: 41

From: Michigan

Opinions for Northeast visit

Ok, it's hibernation time, planning a ride and looking for opinions from personal experience. After going to Connecticut I'm heading north to Wilmington, NY.(Lake Placid) via Hwy 30. Then I want to go across the very northern parts of Vermont and New Hampshire(just because) into Maine. In VT. I'm looking at 100 up to Newport over to Norton then Cannon into NH. Using 26 head down to Bethel, ME do a circle with 4, 142, 16/27. Go over to Greenville, another circle, 201, 6/15. Head to Lubec then up to Madawaska. After financially helping all these small local communities(and lowering the beer and food inventory) I'll head home to MI.

I run solo and have 2 weeks for this one. Looking at maps(paper of course) it's pretty cut and dry, I don't use interstate unless absolutely necessary. I'm wondering about Lake Champlain in NY. How is it using the ferry crossing from Essex, NY to Charlotte, VT? Also, how about Hwy 2 that runs thru Grand Isle in the lake, go north to south or south to north, is it worth it?

Thanks for any info folks and "Think Spring"

Feb 22, 2015 | 02:39 PM

roadglider05

Road Master

Joined: Aug 2009

Posts: 874

Likes: 80

From: new york

Using the Ferry at Cumberland Head takes you to Rt 2 in Vermont and the ride is fantastic.

Feb 22, 2015 | 02:56 PM

BUZZARD II

Road Master

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 916

Likes: 12

From: NoVA

The ferry's are fine, it's a short ride. Route 2 is in good shape. Check out the Hyde log cabin, the oldest in the US. You will ride right past it.

Now the last time I was in Norton I headed west on 114 then south on 102. It was beat to $#!+. Bailed out and crossed into Colebrook. Rt. 3 was in great condition. I was riding a 1150 G/S Beemer with 7 inches of suspension and 114 & 102 still beat the bike and me. A Harley with half that suspension would not be fun. YMMV. or they might fill the potholes, but don't count on it. Try to check with a local in late spring.

You should consider turning off of 100 at Stowe and taking 108 through Smugglers Notch. Then hook up with 15/100C to 100 again. While in NH you don't want to miss Rt. 112 AKA The Kancamagus Highway.

Try to allow time to stop at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake at Rt. 28 & 30. It's worth an afternoon.

Feb 23, 2015 | 07:21 AM

BigWaterJim

Road Warrior

Joined: Nov 2012

Posts: 1,962

Likes: 152

From: Not here

Great game plan. If you are avoiding the slab going from CT to upstate ny head over to RT 22 in NY and head north. Or Rt 7 in Ct from the Danbury/New Milford are north. Great rides.

Mar 1, 2015 | 10:29 AM

classof96

Thread Starter

Tourer

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 280

Likes: 41

From: Michigan

Thanks guys for the great information, I'll plan to spend a whole day in Wilmington area and check out Hwy 2.
Buzzard, great info about 114 and102. I figured 114, 3, 26 to Bethel, I will ask about 114's condition. The 100, 108 sounds good and will try it. I'm not planning a route home so I will make a note about Hwy 112 and maybe run it when I'm heading west back to Michigan.

Stuff like this and some of the tech info is what makes forums great.

Think Spring(30 degrees in the forecast this week lol)

Mar 1, 2015 | 11:17 AM

Joe Mc

Banned

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 2,554

Likes: 230

From: CT

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigWaterJim

Great game plan. If you are avoiding the slab going from CT to upstate ny head over to RT 22 in NY and head north. Or Rt 7 in Ct from the Danbury/New Milford are north. Great rides.

I agree, Danbury and north on RT7 and to get to Vermont RT100 I would continue north on 7 to RT 8 to North Adams where off of RT2 you pick up RT100 north through Vermont.

Mar 1, 2015 | 01:13 PM

Rocker NH

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2012

Posts: 3,910

Likes: 7,601

From: NH

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Mc

I agree, Danbury and north on RT7 and to get to Vermont RT100 I would continue north on 7 to RT 8 to North Adams where off of RT2 you pick up RT100 north through Vermont.

Parts of 100 are still rough from storm and floods, really avoid northeast corner of VT, I would take 2 somewhere near St johnsbury over to NH into Maine. Ive done tons of miles through Vt-NH-Maine-- you,re better off in Maine to take 11 from Bangor area to Madawaska [full day ride] and come back down 1 [you may make Bar harbor in 1 day]--I wouldn't ride the northwest corner [not much there] but your call. You,ll enjoy more towards the middle of the state and coast. Time wise also in NH you may want to go down 302 then back up 16 to 2 again- you,ll enjoy it-- my estimate for vt-nh-maine roads, it would take 5-6 days if you stop and enjoy and have a few beers--[maybe 7 days]--sounds fun It takes me 5 days to go from southwest nh -to rt.2 Mt Washington area-to Bangor-to madawaske-to Bar Harbor -to Home