Well, it's time to head out again for a couple weeks riding. We're adding a little twist this year. We're taking something called the Auto Train by Amtrac. It goes from near Orlando to Lorton, VA. My wifes never been on a train before so we thought it would be interesting. It's an overnight trip and puts us outside DC on Sunday morning. We'll do a some tourist stuff while there for a couple of days. Then we're heading to the Big Apple for a couple of days. After that over to Niagra Falls. From there we'll head back down to the Knoxville area of TN before heading on home to S. Florida.

What I'm wondering is if any of you are in those areas and know of some routes that we shouldn't miss? There is a web site called MotoWhere that allows you to post up routes that you've taken. If any of you wanted to post any of your routes, we'd check them out if we could. If you do post any, then make sure you post back here to let me know so I know what to look for. I'll try to post up as we do our trip and let you know how it's going. We're leaving on the 17th of July and return on the 31st.

 

alabama is terrible. try and go around us if you can on the way home.

 

Be safe, and enjoy yourself, Bill.

 

Well, I don't think that we're going to be headed that direction this year. But I can say that in the last 2 years we've come across some pretty nice rides outside of Birmingham, towards the East. Nice hills and curvy roads. We don't get much of that here in FL.

Shadow,

Thanks for the thoughts, we always try, but as you know we're not always successful, lol .

 

Well, we got on the road this morning around 8:30 AM to head to Sanford, FL. A nice ride of about 225 miles. We arrived at the Train Station about 12:30 or 1. We loaded the bikes onto these special motorcycle trailers that can hold up to 3 motorcycles. They then attach the trailers to each other and pull them up onto the transports for the cars.

There is a free shutle service that takes you from the station to downtown Sanford. A quaint little area with restaurants and shops. We grabbed some lunch before going back to the station. Final call for boarding is 3:10, with a 4 PM dearture. It's 6 PM now, just passing through Jacksonville, FL. We should arrive in Lorton, VA about 9:30 AM or so tomorrow. It's quite interesting traveling by train. I'm looking forward to a great trip.

I'll keep you posted.

 

If your heading into western NC We have some sweet local roads within 40 mi or so of the dragon that are very curvy with 55 mph speed limits (for now) also have the blue ridge parkway, and miles of national forest. My personal favorites are 28 from Franklin to Bryson City 20 miles of 55 speed limit and non stop curves. The other would be 281 from tuckasegee Just outside of cullowhee another wonderfull road with little traffic that can either take you to the parkway or toxaway nc. Anyway have a wonderfull trip and be safe.

 

Those sound like some nice roads. If we get to those areas, we'll check them out. We're in Canada now, and will head to Clarksburg, WV tomorrow. It rained for most of the ride from Newark, NJ to Niagara, ON. It has rained on and off here today, but generally nice. Here we are in front of the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side.


And here in Niagara on the Lake, looking at Lake Ontario.

 

Looks like your having fun. enjoy the ride.

 

Well, we ran into a little snag today. We spent most of the day riding back roads from Clarksburg, WV down to Bristol, VA. About 75 miles from Bristol, we discovered that the rear wheel bearing on Linda's bike was bad. She felt the back end of the bike wobbling around. I put it up on the centerstand and I could wobble the wheel a little. I could see movement in the right hand bearing next to the brake calliper bracket. We swapped bikes and I rode it with the bad bearing the 75 miles to Bristol. The hotel we're at has a Harley dealer behind it and a Honda dealer just down the street. I figure I should be able to get one of them to change the bearing, providing that I'm able to locate one. I don't think the dealers will have the bearing, but the size is pretty common for other things, so I should be a able to find an industrial bearing supplier here in Bristol or surrounding area. I'll keep you posted.

 

you and your damn nice looking f3s... go somewhere else and show off.