Vermont and New Hampshire Travel Advice???

[HBarlow]

A fellow Goldwing rider buddy and I are planning a ride from Texas to Vermont and New Hampshire leaving Texas on Saturday, October 1st and arriving in southern Vermont on October 5th.

Our general plan is to ride from south to north and south again in Vermont then do the same in New Hampshire ending up at Portsmouth, NH and crossing over into ME to eat fresh lobster.

What roads should we travel in VT and in NH for scenery? We would like to see some of the post card quality small towns in both states.

Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[mwilson]

Harvey,

I will try to put together a few sample routes for you tonight if I can, if not I will do it for you this weekend.



Vermont is beautiful, any major non-interstate highway such as US 2 will have an abundance of the small town, white steepled church and one general store sights that you are seeking.



Drove through Vermont two weeks ago and it always reminds of the opening shots for the Bob Newhart Show, which gets me to thinking about Darryl and my brother Darryl... ..... :-laf



New Hampshire is also beautiful, the White Mountains are my favorite place on this earth.



Bring some warmer clothes, a pair of thin blooded Texans may suffer up here in October without some extra gear. :-laf



You will enjoy the sights, I am certain.

 

[GunEBear]

After the storm, there are a few east/west roads still washed out. Most will be open within the week. The very southern part of the state was hit very hard, as well as the northeast corner. Both are beautiful parts of the state. The Vt maples will be changing colors soon.

Mike Gianni
Burlington, Vt

 

[HBarlow]

Thank you Mike and Mike.

I was studying a VT Tourism website this morning and noticed roads closed all over the state right now. Hopefully most will be reopened again soon.

Mike Wilson, your suggestions will be not only appreciated but we will make them our route. You precisely described what we want to see.

No rush in getting to it. When it is convenient for you will be great.

 

[mwilson]

I believe (Mike, correct me if I am wrong) that up until Irene blew though here it had been fairly dry in NH and VT in the latter part of the summer.



That usually creates an earlier display of colors on the trees so the first week in October may be the peak of the foilage. Will be very pretty.



Mike.

 

[Wayne M.]

Have you decided on your route getting up there? May reccomend as you come up into new england, take the NY Thruway (I87) to exit 17. Then go up through 9, then 4 in NY to ultimately get Rt7 near Rutland Vt. North from there is absolutley gorgeous. I think on some map books, it's a highlited route. That will bring you up to Burlington, and then you can take the beginning of Rt2 as mwilson said. That goes diagonal down across the state. All just breathtaking. As said elsewhere, area has suffered big damge thanks to Irene. Also, be careful of the other "leaf peepers" as we're called up there. It WILL be busy. Another great thing I did myself was to visit Cabot co-op creamery and see how the best cheddar around here is made- lots of samples, also, Ben& Jerry ice cream is there too...

 

[HBarlow]

Thanks, Wayne. I was studying a VT map this morning and thinking I'd like to arrive in Bennington in the sw corner of VT then proceed north on Hwy 7. Tomorrow when I'm fresh I will compare your suggestions to a map and commit it to writing.

I did notice a photo of a washed out section of Hwy 7 on a VT tourism website this morning. A detour around the washout may not be required by the time we plan to arrive.

 

[Wayne M.]

Oh yes! I forgot about the Hemmings motor news' Sunoco station and their HQ. Gotta see that. Right in Bennington. Since giving it some thought, I hear this is a good senic route.

Kancamagus Highway New Hampshire - NH (Kangamagus or Kangamangus Highway)



Regarding my other post about modes of travel, my Son is very impressed that you're going from Tx to Vt via motorcycle. I know he's thinking harley chopper type bike, but I know otherwise. Have a good trip.

 

[mwilson]

Definitely do the Kancamagus Highway, very pretty.



I will get to this over the weekend, the suggestion above that involves Route 4 via upstate NY is an excellent idea. NY is very pretty above Albany, many immaculate farms and pastures with beautiful horses due to Saratoga Springs' close proximity.



Should be a nice trip for you guys.



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

I saved the Kancamungus Highway website and am waiting for Mike Wilson's suggested routes. Next week I'll take all your suggestions in and put together a trip plan.

Please throw in whatever additional suggestions come to mind.

 

[Wayne M.]

Please throw in whatever additional suggestions come to mind.

Harvey, how are you coming into the northeast? If you're coming up I81, I strongly suggest detouring into the blue ridge parkway in Virginia. You can jump on and off at a few spots. I did just that on the return from Florida, and was blown away.

I want to plan the next road trip to focus on that parkway.

 

[HBarlow]

Wayne,

The same riding buddy and I rode across the southern tier of states and up I-81 to Hagerstown, MD in May. Our plan had been to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive but we encountered lousy weather and dangerous heavy fog and gave it up. Then we rode I-81 to Hagerstown with the plan of turning west across PA, OH, IN, IL, etc to get home but heavy rains moving across the midwest forced us to change that plan and run south. We'll try to do the BRP again a little later in the year but not this time.

This time I think we'll just take the shortest route to Bennington, VT which will take us along the south shore of Lake Erie to Rochester and Syracuse, NY then into VT. My friend is a retired school district administrator but has a retirement job so his travel time is limited. We're going to try to do the entire trip in 16 days.

 

[mrtrombley]

Harvey, I haven't been on here for a while, so just seeing your posts.

Vermont (more so than NH and ME) has been devastated by Irene. The whole state got hit pretty bad. I have seen localised damage like this before, but nothing like the scope of this storm. Right now you really "can't get there from here!". By the time you plan on coming, you will probably be able to pretty much get around, but most all roads, even major highways, have washouts and have lost bridges. It will literally take years to rebuild the roads and bridges. At this point, the bridges that can't easily be repaired, will probably have temporary bypass bridges built. That is why I think you will be able to get around.

It has been amazing what has been done so far. Approx. 13 towns were pretty much wiped out and/or completely inaccessible. As of yesterday, they had built temp. emergency roads to all of them. Approx 170,000 customers were without power. Today it was down to about 1100. The state, National Guard, power companies, telephone and private companies have all pulled together to get emergency services to the people. Pretty impressive in my opinion. Of course we saw the same responces after the tornadoes down your way.

Please contact me before you get here, I can help you with routes, etc. Also, if you come up US7 from Bennington to Rutland, you will be going within 1 mile of my place. Feel free to stop and say hello. I have my Toy Hauler in the yard if you need overnight accomodations. Can also recommend campgrounds if needed.

Hope to hear from you.

 

[Wayne M.]

Prayers are with the people who are suffering due to irene. Seems she went right around my area. Either that or we can handle the runoff better. I don't know.

Last weekend on my way north from Florida, all I saw were utility trucks coming up with me. The TV has some unbelievable reports. Now Katia poses a threat, and there's Lee in the gulf...

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey, I haven't been on here for a while, so just seeing your posts.

Vermont (more so than NH and ME) has been devastated by Irene. The whole state got hit pretty bad. I have seen localised damage like this before, but nothing like the scope of this storm. Right now you really "can't get there from here!". By the time you plan on coming, you will probably be able to pretty much get around, but most all roads, even major highways, have washouts and have lost bridges. It will literally take years to rebuild the roads and bridges. At this point, the bridges that can't easily be repaired, will probably have temporary bypass bridges built. That is why I think you will be able to get around.

It has been amazing what has been done so far. Approx. 13 towns were pretty much wiped out and/or completely inaccessible. As of yesterday, they had built temp. emergency roads to all of them. Approx 170,000 customers were without power. Today it was down to about 1100. The state, National Guard, power companies, telephone and private companies have all pulled together to get emergency services to the people. Pretty impressive in my opinion. Of course we saw the same responces after the tornadoes down your way.

Please contact me before you get here, I can help you with routes, etc. Also, if you come up US7 from Bennington to Rutland, you will be going within 1 mile of my place. Feel free to stop and say hello. I have my Toy Hauler in the yard if you need overnight accomodations. Can also recommend campgrounds if needed.

Hope to hear from you.

I was hoping you would see and respond to my post. I had not seen a post from you in some time and thought you may have quit TDR.

I appreciate your insider report on what's going on in VT. I would like to stop and say hello. Would also enjoy having you join us on our ride for a couple of days if you're interested and can take off from work.

Both of us are too old and I am much too spoiled by years of travel and "camping" in comfortable travel trailers and fifthwheels to pack a tent and sleep on the ground. We'll be staying overnight in motels. We'll just be two old guys, no wives along, so we stay in cheap Motel 6s or other low end motels if they fit into our plans.

I'll pm you my cell phone number this weekend and again before we leave. I'll appreciate any travel advice you'd like to offer.

 

[MChrist]

Harvey, in case you don't have them on your bike, I have seat beads from BeadRider - Beaded Motorcycle Seats on my 'Wing. I didn't think they would do much, but they act like air conditioning for your butt!
Easy to install, cheap, and when your "undercarriage" is happy, everybody is happy... also, I installed a Küryakyn backrest on my bike. Very comfortable, since it keeps me from slouching on longer rides. Again, very easy to install, and the backrest pattern matches the 'Wing material and pattern perfectly. Looks factory installed.
How many miles on your 'Wing??

 

[HBarlow]

I also have a Kuryakn back rest. I was aware of it from a friend's Goldwing so I asked the dealer to install one on mine before I took delivery in January. Also a set of Kuryakn handlebar risers, rider floorboards, and highway boards on the crash bars. I love all.

I hadn't given much thought to the seat beads but my most recent trip around the Great Lakes in July/August required me to ride through OKC where it was 110* and humid when northbound and 111* two weeks later when southbound returning home. Something to cool the GW's seat and my own would have been very welcome. I'll take a look at the bead product you suggested. It's still going to be hot through OKC again when we leave home in a few weeks.

My wing has just a bit over 25k miles. It was new on January 17th but has been to San Diego, central TX to ride the Three Sisters, across all the southern states to FL then up the eastern seaboard to Hagerstown, MD, including side trips in the Smokies and over the Tail of the Dragon, then around Lake Superior, south to Detroit, east to Toronto, ON, then from Buffalo, NY back across PA, OH, IN, IL, MO, AR, OK, and home again. I keep the wheels turning.

I didn't know you are a Goldwing rider. How long have you been riding one? Do you travel a lot with it? Are you interested in going to New England with us?

 

[MChrist]

I appreciate the invite, however we already have a 4 family camping trip planned for Columbus Day weekend (7th-10th)

I've been on two wheels since 5 years old and ridden just about everything, and the Goldwing is my favorite.
Funny story. . we bought my wife a Honda VTX, and I was at the dealer getting the windscreen installed, when I saw a black 'Wing pull up. Dealer just got it on trade. Couldn't take my eyes off it, so I asked for a test drive. I let out the clutch and within 10 feet I knew it was the bike for me. I bought it on site, went home and told my wife I got a bike (like she wanted me to), so she had a riding buddy. She was all excited, until I told her I bought a Vespa!! I explained to her that the Vespa is comfortable, and that I can ride with my knees together, and if I go shopping, I can fit groceries under the seat! Oh, and I also told her it was painted "a cool, vanilla color"!

She failed to see the humor...

Anyway, I'd love to go out East. Farthest I've been is Rochester, NY.

When do you plan on arriving in Vermont? If possible, I could meet you there, but it doesn't sound feasible, with getting ready for Columbus Day and all.

 

[HBarlow]

Our plan is to leave TX the morning of Saturday, October 1st and probably spend the end of the fourth day on the road in Rochester or Syracuse, NY. Beginning the morning of October 5th it is only a short distance from either of these two cities to Bennington, VT where we will do a little quick sight-seeing then turn north up Hwy 7 toward Rutland, VT.

You have been riding far longer and more than I have. I owned a '80 Yamaha XS-1100 Special while in the Philippines from '79 to '85 but sold it in late '80 and didn't ride again for 30 years. Last summer in July I bought myself a very clean, very low mileage '06 Honda ST-1300 for my 68th birthday. It was incredibly fast and had awesome brakes and good handling but was not real comfortable for long rides. I rode it a little over 9,000 miles in six months but I made the mistake of allowing a couple of young salesmen at the Lubbock Honda dealer to talk me into riding a Goldwing last fall. I know exactly what you mean about deciding within 10'. I was hooked. I didn't buy one that day, didn't even buy from that dealer, but in January I made a deal to trade the ST for a new Goldwing in Searcy, AR and Shawnee, OK, joint dealerships. The Goldwing is fantastic. I ride it every day and like it more each time I ride it.

Join us if your schedule permits but I understand that it is unwise to break family vacation plans already made and planned for.

 

[MChrist]

You're right, it's not in the cards this time. Perhaps another trip. Our kids are still in school, so we don't have your flexibility.

Vermont in the fall... sounds like a postcard!

I forgot to mention in my "Vespa" story why it was especially ridiculous for me to have one. . I'm 6'3 and 210. . plus I always wear helmet and gear, so I would look like a chimp sitting on a football!! Not the picture my wife had when she wanted me to be her riding buddy!!

Anyway, if I'm deep south someday, I'll look you up. Have a great trip!