Long Way Across - SF to Boston

BarkALot · 06-07-2007, 08:51 AM

I have to be in Boston for a week in July, which messed up my plans to ride to Inuvik & Tuk... I've decided to ride to Boston & ship the bike back after my work week.

What are the interesting routes/spots between SF and Chicago? I will probably pass through both Chicago and up into Toronto (family and friends).

I've done the 50CC thing in the past, but on this ride I plan to sort of meander across the country, perhaps doing 500-600 mile days rather than 1500 mile days. Would like to see some small towns across the plains etc..

Would it be best to ship the bike from a BMW dealer in Boston back to my dealer here?

thanks for suggestions.

Piston · 06-07-2007, 06:58 PM

well i can't say much for the rest of the country, but once you get to boston be sure to hit up the white mountains of NH-the kangamangus highway is a can't miss ride, also take the auto road up mt. washington while your there.

joefromsf · 06-08-2007, 01:20 PM

Devil's Tower is pretty cool.

HMR71 · 06-08-2007, 01:32 PM

How about following HWY 50 (small highway that goes coast to coast) as far as you care and then heading north to Chicago?

BarkALot · 06-08-2007, 02:32 PM

thx for the suggestions.. HWY 50 is the sort of thing I was looking at, but its a bit farther south than I wanted.

Was thinking of riding up through northeastern Cal, up to the Grand Tetons, and then back down to 80..

BarkALot · 06-08-2007, 02:48 PM

Devil's Tower is a great idea... thx

Cheap Ryder · 06-09-2007, 06:05 AM

Stop by in Helena Mt. and I will tell you stories of multiple trips to Inuvik starting in 1979. Then you will really regret not getting there this summer.

BarkALot · 06-10-2007, 12:39 PM

Is that all Helena's got to offer ?

BarkALot · 06-19-2007, 08:33 AM

After reviewing time constraints & balancing family committments I narrowing it down to a coast to coast to coast..

Tues - San Fran to Rawlins, WY
Wed - Rawlins to Chicago - overnight w/ friends
Thurs - Chicago to Toronto for weekend w/ friends & family
Sun - Toronto to Boston for the week
Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon - Boston to San Fran...

Apart from it being roughly 1000 miles from the start, Rawlins is where Larry Wilcox (co star of CHIPS) grew up... now if that ain't an attraction I don't know what is....

hopefully there's a shrine or historic marker

kbasa · 06-24-2007, 09:12 PM

Ever been to Yellowstone? Arches at dawn? Bonneville?

BarkALot · 06-27-2007, 12:55 PM

hmm.. Bonneville. capital idea.

arcticcatmatt · 06-28-2007, 05:48 AM

aww your skipping NY!

garandman · 06-28-2007, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcticcatmatt

aww your skipping NY!

Except for 315 miles of NY Thruway!

What is your planned route from Toronto to Boston? If you get an early start, you could swing north somewhere east of Albany, cut through the Grreen Mountains in Southern VT, take NH Route 9 up to Concord, take the 'mangus, then take 16 and 95 down to Boston.

It would be a shame to ride all that slab and then skip some of the many great roads in central and northern New England.

The stretch from Toronto to Boston via Route 90 is something over 500 miles and 10 hours riding or so if the border crossing is clear. But it's not very interesting until you get to the Appalachians, called the Berkshires in MA, Green Mountains in VT, and White Mountains in NH. The route I described above would add a good three hours. If you wanted a more interesting route that's only a little longer, you could swing N onto Route 2 around Troy NY and take it across MA in lieu of the MA Turnpike.

Wanna ship your bike to our office in Manchester, NH, take Southwest to the airport, and ride off from there? I work with a BMW aficionado and I bet he would help. I'd watch.

If you are gonna do the Route 90 section, sign up for an EZPass - http://www.e-zpassny.com/. I don't think NY state requires a deposit for the transponder like MA and NH do. You will save a lot of time at tolls, and a little money.

BarkALot · 06-29-2007, 06:38 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. I could head up to about Cornwall and then down in to Vermont and to Boston. I'll fiddle around w/ Google maps and see what I can plot out

BarkALot · 07-05-2007, 07:09 AM

well, 5 days before the ride begins and I have accomplished two tasks..
1) washed the bike
2) made a list of things to take

this is planning far in advance of normal for me. I'm waiting for my tank bag to arrive, but have been wondering if I should replace the pillion seat with some form of rigid waterproof case..

Has anyone fitted a pelican or something onto the pillion platform when the 3 vario bags are installed?

thx

06-07-2007, 08:51 AM	#1
BarkALot ^OP inhabitant Joined: Oct 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Oddometer: 212	Long Way Across - SF to Boston I have to be in Boston for a week in July, which messed up my plans to ride to Inuvik & Tuk... I've decided to ride to Boston & ship the bike back after my work week. What are the interesting routes/spots between SF and Chicago? I will probably pass through both Chicago and up into Toronto (family and friends). I've done the 50CC thing in the past, but on this ride I plan to sort of meander across the country, perhaps doing 500-600 mile days rather than 1500 mile days. Would like to see some small towns across the plains etc.. Would it be best to ship the bike from a BMW dealer in Boston back to my dealer here? thanks for suggestions.

06-07-2007, 06:58 PM	#2
Piston Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Central MA Oddometer: 133	swing through nh well i can't say much for the rest of the country, but once you get to boston be sure to hit up the white mountains of NH-the kangamangus highway is a can't miss ride, also take the auto road up mt. washington while your there.

06-08-2007, 01:20 PM	#3
joefromsf Dark Happens Joined: Apr 2005 Location: San Francisco Oddometer: 1,273	Devil's Tower is pretty cool. __________________ --Joe .................................... http://joefromsf.smugmug.com/ We can't crash an infinite amount of times, so you better learn from every one! (by ARZ)

06-09-2007, 06:05 AM	#7
Cheap Ryder Ride for enlightenment Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Montana great divide Oddometer: 545	Inuvik Stop by in Helena Mt. and I will tell you stories of multiple trips to Inuvik starting in 1979. Then you will really regret not getting there this summer.

06-24-2007, 09:12 PM	#10
kbasa Tinaversal Joined: May 2002 Location: Marin County, California Oddometer: 59,298	Ever been to Yellowstone? Arches at dawn? Bonneville? __________________ IMHO. Fuck Cancer. Ride bikes. - dave + tina

06-08-2007, 01:32 PM	#4
HMR71 Significant Pickle Joined: May 2005 Location: Sweet Home San Diego Oddometer: 342	How about following HWY 50 (small highway that goes coast to coast) as far as you care and then heading north to Chicago?

06-08-2007, 02:32 PM	#5
BarkALot ^OP inhabitant Joined: Oct 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Oddometer: 212	thx for the suggestions.. HWY 50 is the sort of thing I was looking at, but its a bit farther south than I wanted. Was thinking of riding up through northeastern Cal, up to the Grand Tetons, and then back down to 80..

06-08-2007, 02:48 PM	#6
BarkALot ^OP inhabitant Joined: Oct 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Oddometer: 212	Devil's Tower is a great idea... thx

06-10-2007, 12:39 PM	#8
BarkALot ^OP inhabitant Joined: Oct 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Oddometer: 212	Is that all Helena's got to offer ?

06-19-2007, 08:33 AM	#9
BarkALot ^OP inhabitant Joined: Oct 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Oddometer: 212	After reviewing time constraints & balancing family committments I narrowing it down to a coast to coast to coast.. Tues - San Fran to Rawlins, WY Wed - Rawlins to Chicago - overnight w/ friends Thurs - Chicago to Toronto for weekend w/ friends & family Sun - Toronto to Boston for the week Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon - Boston to San Fran... Apart from it being roughly 1000 miles from the start, Rawlins is where Larry Wilcox (co star of CHIPS) grew up... now if that ain't an attraction I don't know what is.... hopefully there's a shrine or historic marker

06-27-2007, 12:55 PM	#11
BarkALot ^OP inhabitant Joined: Oct 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Oddometer: 212	hmm.. Bonneville. capital idea.

06-28-2007, 05:48 AM	#12
arcticcatmatt wanna be adventurer Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Berkshire NY Oddometer: 533	aww your skipping NY!

06-29-2007, 06:38 AM	#14
BarkALot ^OP inhabitant Joined: Oct 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Oddometer: 212	Thanks for the suggestions. I could head up to about Cornwall and then down in to Vermont and to Boston. I'll fiddle around w/ Google maps and see what I can plot out

07-05-2007, 07:09 AM	#15
BarkALot ^OP inhabitant Joined: Oct 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Oddometer: 212	well, 5 days before the ride begins and I have accomplished two tasks.. 1) washed the bike 2) made a list of things to take this is planning far in advance of normal for me. I'm waiting for my tank bag to arrive, but have been wondering if I should replace the pillion seat with some form of rigid waterproof case.. Has anyone fitted a pelican or something onto the pillion platform when the 3 vario bags are installed? thx

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: .
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode