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Couldn't agree with you more, (except the high tide! ) Thanks for all the suggestions, and yes, we will pass thru Philadelphia.
It was a long time ago, I certainly didn't let the idea of riding in NYC stop me from doing it. I love to ride, wherever you go the terrain can be challenging.
So. You need to volunterr to guide the OP to where he/she needs to go. We do it in the Big Bend where urbanites are stressed 50 miles from a gas pump. You need to do it in the urban jungle.
So. You need to volunterr to guide the OP to where he/she needs to go. We do it in the Big Bend where urbanites are stressed 50 miles from a gas pump. You need to do it in the urban jungle.
I don't know Paul, I think ClassicVW has convinced me that riding in NYC should be avoided.
If the OP wants to contact me about riding in NYC he definitely should.
PM me as your plans starts to gel. I can be talked into doing my "Wilkommen in Philadelphia" tour.
And, much as I dislike NYC, I agree about the idea of parking outside of the city and taking public transportation. I also agree with the idea of the boat tour. And I'm sure there's a bus version (Grey Line???), too, for the bits not visible from the water. When you park, take everything that can be removed easily and stow it in a Port Authority locker before doing your sightseeing. Or do the NJ Liberty Park and call the job done.
To answer the initial request, I would plan on going into PA, and across NJ to get to the city, far better choice of roads and far less urban sprawl to navigate.
Lots of routes, dependent on time, a route through the finger lakes would be good and if more in a hurry Rt 390 and 86/17 (slab) isn't a bad road, little traffic and decent scenery.
If you have a couple days to travel, there are a lot of nice back roads into and across the southern tier of NY and northern PA, I could give you a list if you have that much time.
I love it! We have come to beer talk! Sorry if i hurt your feelings, it was not intended. I respect your thoughts about the subject, but i don't thinkI'd be careful bragging on Canadian beer. 25 years ago what you said was mostly true- little stuff other than light pilseners and lagers not very distinguishable here- though TX where Paul is had some. Always enjoyed the brews up north.
BUT US craft brewers have since 1976 law changes exploded and invented more new beer styles than the rest of the planet added together since 1900. Even Belgian brewers are coming to the US to catch up on what's happening here.
Do sample the local craft stuff as you drive through. US craft beers span the range from a "lawnmower kolsch" at 4.5% ABV to 21% ABV which is way more than I want in my beer. I have a number of places near me with 25-100 beers on tap these days that cover a huge style range. All of the world's beer styles are locatable in the US these days as either local, imported, or both.
The big national brands are of course unchanged except some have made mostly bad efforts to get in the craft beer game typically trying to hide their true identity when doing so. The big boys all brew by ingredient and process cost so can't compete with the folks who brew to taste. When they acquire a brand so they can increase their sales the big boys always dumb down the recipe and ruin the original product but these days it doesn't matter because there are so many replacements always coming on line.
The latest oddity I tasted from a US brewer (but in Isla Mujeres Mexico where they are located) was a sour brewed with the Caribbean hibiscus flower normally used for hibiscus tea or "jamaica". Don't expect that one to catch on.
Making that circle the way I think you might do it to those cities will take you well away from the countries best riding and slogging some of the least scenic bits.
Why all those dull and boring cities? Jacksonville? Dallas? Don't forget your sidearm for parts of NO but it is entertaining if you've never seen it.
????
I have no idea how to plan a 4 week riding tour of the US. Sure its only 300 mile days or so by shortest routes. BUT 300 miles is still a bunch if you actually want to spend any time any where- or if the roads are something fun to ride and not superslab.
Much of eastern US is not that different in appearance from ON or Germany. And the northeast is densely populated. If NYC is a "must do", I'd stop on the Hudson up by the Tappan Zee bridge someplace and take the train into and out of NYC. And allot maybe 2 days if you want to do a boat tour and explore a bit. But I was born near NYC and hate the whole area so you wouldn't get me there if you paid me.
To see things different then both of you are used to I'd be planning most or all time out west. Just trying to do a few of the most scenic/famous national parks plus riding the west coast roads from southern CA to the Olympic peninsula is plenty for 4 weeks.
Trying to pack too much in will reduce the time you two will have to enjoy each other's company and possibly result in two very exhausted riders trying to chase a too tight "schedule". I'd be trying to keep the mileage at around 250 or less per day to allow time to enjoy decent meals and relaxing evenings plus some exploration time of sights along the way. And though that doesn't sound like much, throw in a few days of rain riding and it gets longer. 30X250= 7500 miles total. Which is not enough for a "full circle"
And 7500 might mean tire changes and other maintenance depending on if you start with new tires and freshly serviced machines.
Don't forget you could be riding in conditions from desert dry heat where keeping core temps in control is mandatory to near freezing if you head for mountain altitudes.
And riding at night can be risky in areas with a lot of wildlife unless you have seriously upgraded lighting. I like first light starts and late afternoon stops.
So what would you put on 7500 miles? Or do you want to ride to exhaustion and do 12K or more which is what a fun road full circle would probably take.?
I have no idea how to plan a 4 week riding tour of the US. Sure its only 300 mile days or so by shortest routes. BUT 300 miles is still a bunch if you actually want to spend any time any where- or if the roads are something fun to ride and not superslab.
Much of eastern US is not that different in appearance from ON or Germany. And the northeast is densely populated. If NYC is a "must do", I'd stop on the Hudson up by the Tappan Zee bridge someplace and take the train into and out of NYC. And allot maybe 2 days if you want to do a boat tour and explore a bit. But I was born near NYC and hate the whole area so you wouldn't get me there if you paid me.
To see things different then both of you are used to I'd be planning most or all time out west. Just trying to do a few of the most scenic/famous national parks plus riding the west coast roads from southern CA to the Olympic peninsula is plenty for 4 weeks.
Trying to pack too much in will reduce the time you two will have to enjoy each other's company and possibly result in two very exhausted riders trying to chase a too tight "schedule". I'd be trying to keep the mileage at around 250 or less per day to allow time to enjoy decent meals and relaxing evenings plus some exploration time of sights along the way. And though that doesn't sound like much, throw in a few days of rain riding and it gets longer. 30X250= 7500 miles total. Which is not enough for a "full circle"
And 7500 might mean tire changes and other maintenance depending on if you start with new tires and freshly serviced machines.
Don't forget you could be riding in conditions from desert dry heat where keeping core temps in control is mandatory to near freezing if you head for mountain altitudes.
And riding at night can be risky in areas with a lot of wildlife unless you have seriously upgraded lighting. I like first light starts and late afternoon stops.
So what would you put on 7500 miles? Or do you want to ride to exhaustion and do 12K or more which is what a fun road full circle would probably take.?
We ride for a few (2 or 3) months every summer. West of the Mississippi 300 miles is 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. In the congested east all bets are off. Voni has been solo to the opening of the "Art and the Motorcycle" exhibit at the Guggenheim in NYC. I hate cities - too many chances for them to run me over and kill me.
Decide what you wish to see. Plan short days in the congested east. Plan longer days in the west. Go see. Go do. Have fun.
I grew up 60 miles north of there. Riding in the city is a nightmare I no longer wish to experience. You can lose a GS in some of the pot holes! Plus, you have the hassle of what to do with all your gear. Look in the Anonymous book for a rider from Carmel, Brewster or that area who can possibly store the bikes. The trains from Brewster are commuters and run often. You'll draw less attention to yourselves in regular street clothes.
There ARE some decent and cheap hotels in the city. Again, use your anonymous book to get up to date information from someone who lives there. You can probably spend two weeks there and not see everything! Bring plenty of money. Everything is expensive and taxed.
With that said, I'm sure that you'll have a great time. NYC is one of the most exciting and entertaining cities in the world.