55 in 2011, where to go?

[JoseyR3Wales]

I will reach the age of 55 in 2011 and I am determined to ride out to places that I have either never been too or to places that I have not been to in 30+ years.

Without knowing when and where the RAA events will be, I want to hit a few places. I would greatly appreciate you input, please. By then I will have all of my add ons done and the trailer to pull behind the bike ready to roll. I should be rolling out of North Carolina or Kentucky as a starting point.

1. Sturgis,SD. Worth it or not? 30 + years since I was there last.
2. Daytona Spring or October, which is best ?
3. Blue Ridge from stem to stern or North to South?
4. Northeast USA ? You Yanks help me out with this one.
5. I know that I need to ride into Pa. for a visit with friends.
6. Any suggestions without riding to or across the Rockies ?

Those folks that know me well also know that I don't do group rides very much at all and I am hesitant to attend #1 or #2 but I could be enticed for a day or two. I also do not consider trailering the Rocket as an option generally speaking.

OK Guys and Gals, get busy and do some homework for me, fire up the memory banks. I am looking forward to hearing from everyone and reading your ideas.

Keep in mind that my arse is also 55 and about 500 miles a day would be enough.

 

[TriumPhil]

For my money, I'd go somewhere I haven't seen before. New England has some absolutely glorious scenery and lots of history, too. Plus, you more than likely would not need to put on more than about 200 miles between any worthy stops! then you could hit up your homeys in PA and cover the Blue Ridge Hwy, North to South, on the way back to rebel territory.

 

[snuffcityrider]

Check out Hwy 191 aka 666 in AZ.

 

[BigWillie]

Do Daytona in Oct. Both are fun but the crowd is less in Oct and the weather is nicer. Not as many boneheads either. I don't know about you but I turned 55 in 2910. I don't like putting up with most of the "bikers" out there any more. Posers are more like it. If you go to Daytona, go to Earl's hideaway down south of Cocoa Beach. There are also some great places to go outside Daytona and Ormond beach. And remember 55 is just a state of mind. Sore ass is any age.

 

[scowherd]

Ozz me and the wife did skyline drive and the blue ridge parkway end to end this year for my birthday let me know I can give you the iteniary we used

 

[azbbqer]

Check out Hwy 191 aka 666 in AZ.

First "distance" ride wife and I did when I got the Rocket. Fun ride. Wonderful views! Did the south/north ride. would like to do it again when we have more time. only had a couple of hours before it got dark and I didn't want to be on the mountain twisties when the elk were starting to move. But there were several places I would like to have stopped to enjoy the views.

 

[HellFire]

500 miles a day .... that's what I call an "Iron Ass".
The wife and I really enjoyed the ride to Niagara Falls on 33 in Pennsylvania. It was a good scenic ride, the only problem was that the mines and highway construction companies bought all the quaint roadside motels for their employees use only. A real bummer when trying to find nice places to stay on the way.

 

[sweettennbabe]

I myself would love to do Natchez Trace from start to fininsh.If you are a history buff its been rumored that you can take a week and camp on the trace and stop and see the battle fields.... We keep saying " ,maybe next summer we can make it" Ime hoping next summer gets here in 2011

 

[RatBoy]

(1) Ride Pacific Coast Highway in California north of San Francisco into Washington state/Canada.

(2) Ride the Blue Ridge Parkway SC thr. Asheville, NC up to Boone, NC (it gorgeous in the Spring, Summer, and Fall)

(3) Ride thr Vermont and New Hampshire during the early/mid fall (the mountains and fall colors are gourgeous)

(4) Ride across southern Canada (in the summer only)

(5) Go on a rally tour.... Laconia (NH), Daytona, Sturgis, etc. (Motorcycle Events) this should help.

About riding just about anywhere in the 48 continguous states ... try this site(Explore Byways) it breaks it down for you and makes it real easy. Be sure to click on the map in the upper right to see the details.

 

[saboteur]

If you contemplate the northeast, I'd recommend the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Green Mountains of Vermont. You can combine those two states with the Berkshires in western Mass and the mountains of western Maine... up maybe as far as Jackman or Monson.

And if you do come as far as Maine, don't forget about Canada. Quebec City and fabulous French cuisine is only a couple hours away, and Atlantic Canada to the east is fabulous New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, especially if you get as far as Cape Breton.