Eastbound and Around

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Alright, I haven't officially left for my first big trip but much of the adventure begins even before you head out on the trip.  It has so far for me.  Thanks to everyone over the last year or so to help plan for this trip.  I was originally going to head out West through the Badlands, Yellowstone and down to see my sister in UT then head up to Glacier and back home.  This trip is for my 30th birthday (which is in July).  I realized that with a sister out there, I have an excuse to go that direction sometime.  I didn't have an excuse to go to New York or the East coast, except for a motorcycle trip.  East it was, initially going through Canada to circle all of the Great Lakes.  I heard the lakes weren't that great so I planned a more Southern trip.  In January Bruce made the decision to come and it became a two man trip.  Bruce has a Ninja 250 and we've had a few people doubt that it will make a trip like this, they just don't know how much the 250's can do.  Besides, the best way to sum it up is "It's an Adventure, not a Vacation."  

The background story:

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That's me on the right (Dan) and Bruce (Lee)  on the left.  

- July of 2010, on my 600 mile birthday weekend to the UP Michigan with my wife, I mentioned I'm turning 30 in 2011, I should get a good trip.  She said yup.
- Thanksgivingish 2010, what was originally a 4 day trip kept expanding.  Family Thanksgiving I pull out all of the guns, I say in front of her family "yeah, she's given me the okay to take a week or longer trip."  They believed me and she couldn't say no now!
- January 1st at 10:30am cnt, I write on Facebook "Has decided to go East instead. Unless I change my plans (again) I should hit 8 states, 2 countries and 2 provinces... http://goo.gl/maps/23eU (it's a work in progress)"
- January 1st at 10:48am cnt, Bruce replies "When are you going on this adventure?"  (today my solo trip turned to a 2 man show.  Let the Bromance ensue...)
- April 2011, we resurrect Bruce's Ninja 250 from years of neglect and get her running again
- June 11th, 2011, we have a small 5 man group ride.  This is the first real time for Bruce and I to ride together and get a feel for how each other rides.  
     - We head from Minneapolis down to the best "local" roads from the Twin Cities in SW Wisconsin and along the Mississippi.  
     - The Wisconsin "letter" roads are very well known for being great roads, but in farm country with gravel in many corners.
     - Noonish, We're hitting the roads hard and I hear a noise in the comm system.  Bruce is down, but not bad.  Stood it up over gravel to hit the field straight on while hitting a corner with gravel too hard.  Everything's okay, bike rides.

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     - We finish up the day about another 100 miles with no problems on the bikes.  
- June 16th I leave to go East, no destination in mind.  (edited from original version)

We would love to meetup with people along the trip to ride with or just to meet.  If so, pm me or email me.  

We leave in just a few days, we have some final prep stuff to do and some work to do to Bruce's bike but we're ready to go.  The trip will be 7-10 days.  Ready to go!!

You will be coming right through my area (Flint, MI) I won't be around for any riding, but if you want to avoid the "slab" for a few miles, get off the freeway at Bay City, MI on US10 and find M15.  You can take that south all the way to Clarkston, MI and rejoin I-75 there.  Not many curves but still some decent scenery.

[image: View Post]Yamarocket630, on 14 June 2011 - 09:49 AM, said:

You will be coming right through my area (Flint, MI) I won't be around for any riding, but if you want to avoid the "slab" for a few miles, get off the freeway at Bay City, MI on US10 and find M15.  You can take that south all the way to Clarkston, MI and rejoin I-75 there.  Not many curves but still some decent scenery.

Awesome!  That is exactly the kind of info I'm looking for. The only real slab I have on my trip is to bypass busy cities.  

New Update

Bruce is out so it's now a solo trip.  My plan now is there is no plan.  I'll be heading along the same route through MI and to Niagra Falls into NY.  From there it's open game.  My only real goal on this trip is to find somewhere on the East coast to go sailing.  I'd love to find an opportunity to crew on a 30+ foot sailboat. If anyone has any tips or knows anyone, please let me know!!

I'm thinking of heading up to Maine and riding some of the roads up there, maybe stopping at Acadia National Park.  

HELP ME DECIDE WHERE TO GO
I'd love to meetup with as many people as possible to ride with or hang with for a bit, I'm completely open and flexible on the trip now.

I have a friend  here that will take you out on lake erie not the ocean but still might be fun let me know !

Your ride from Binghamton NY to Port Jervis is a nice road when you reach 97 (17 is slab if my memory is right).
If you're in the Port Jervis area on a weekend I could meet you and hit some of the better roads along the Hudson
River.  It would add a few hours to your schedule though.  Good luck and safe travels   :fing02:

I am just outside of Virginia beach   :cheerleader:
-Drew

I'm thinking of heading up to Maine now, I'm not sure I'll make it down in southern NY.  As of right now, I have no definite destination or itinerary.  I'm going to wing it and hopefully find a place to sail and some other members to meetup with.  If I am in southern NY I'll definitely hit you up for a ride!

[image: View Post]danmurphymn, on 14 June 2011 - 08:03 PM, said:

I'm thinking of heading up to Maine now, I'm not sure I'll make it down in southern NY.  As of right now, I have no definite destination or itinerary.  I'm going to wing it and hopefully find a place to sail and some other members to meetup with.  If I am in southern NY I'll definitely hit you up for a ride!


If youre in maine, that leaves you about a day and a halfs ride (maybe 2) from one of the top ten drives in the world. If you have the time, consider doing the Cabot Trail. Absolutly unbelievable. Ive done lots of driving in my life up and down various coasts, and nothing touches it. Curves, elevation changes, and breath taking views. Amazing locals as well.

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[image: View Post]Harbourone, on 16 June 2011 - 08:12 AM, said:

[image: View Post]danmurphymn, on 14 June 2011 - 08:03 PM, said:

I'm thinking of heading up to Maine now, I'm not sure I'll make it down in southern NY.  As of right now, I have no definite destination or itinerary.  I'm going to wing it and hopefully find a place to sail and some other members to meetup with.  If I am in southern NY I'll definitely hit you up for a ride!


If youre in maine, that leaves you about a day and a halfs ride (maybe 2) from one of the top ten drives in the world. If you have the time, consider doing the Cabot Trail. Absolutly unbelievable. Ive done lots of driving in my life up and down various coasts, and nothing touches it. Curves, elevation changes, and breath taking views. Amazing locals as well.

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OOOh, that is exactly the kind of info I'm looking for.  This just became a #1 on my list, we'll see what kind of time I make to maine.  Thanks for this info!!

Also, since I don't have a planned route I created a blog that I can update from my phone multiple times per day.  I'll try to keep this ride report updated but it's likely that the blog will be the most frequently updated with pictures since I don't know how to post pictures here without a computer.  

http://www.danmurphymn.blogspot.com

Day 1 - 6/16
I had planned to head as far as I could into Wisconsin today but instead decided to stay and watch my girlies for a few hours before I don't get to see them for over a week. I am staying in Forest Lake so I can wake up early and hop right on highway 8 and head east. My goal tomorrow is to cross the mackinaw bridge which is aboot 500 miles away. I'd like to make it farther but we'll see how the day progresses. Wisconsin is boring and they smell there so I hope to make good time and put some miles behind me quickly.

Day 1 = 40 miles

I haven't been able to keep up posts on here but I am doing Better on my blog. I'm in ny, plan to ride down 219 from buffalo and east on 17? I think it is. If you're in the area, email danmurphymn@gmail.com and I'll give you my # so we can meetup.
I stayed with Joe (gmtech) in Ontario last night. Awesome guy. I'll post more when I can...  Full report coming when I'm back after the 28th.