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Today I decided that before I take an extra long trip to Alaska (as previously discussed) that perhaps I should first try just a plain long trip. I looked at a map and identified where my friends and colleagues are within a reasonable first long trip radius. I ended up throwing the dart to Jacksonville, Florida. Why Jacksonville you ask?
I have a very good colleague and friend in Jacksonville who shares some of my passions such as “Star Trek” and Sci-Fi. I would like to ride there and take him and his family out to dinner. Additionally, Jacksonville is just a few hours from Mickey Mouse in Orlando and I thought that my wife could fly down and spend some time with me at Disney and perhaps even ride with me home.
So today I will begin planning the trip day-by-day. From last year’s riding experiences I seem to prefer to ride about 6-Hours maximum before I need a real good break. Therefore, I will plan to ride approximately 6-hours each day. I am an early bird so I can see myself getting up with the sun and riding those 6-hours then finding a place to stay. This approach will surely allow me some time in each pit-stop to see some sites or just relax next to a pool.
By the way, if anyone wants to meet alone the way or even ride all or part of the way with me, do not be shy and leave a comment so we can hook up!
So My plan Starts Here and the dates most likely will be early summer or late spring.
Day 1
Day 1: 4 Hours, 55 Minutes – 238 Miles
Cornwall, Ontario to Lansing, NY
- 1. Head west on Meadowvale Crescent toward Edgevale Ct
- 2. Take the 1st left onto Cobble Hill Rd
- 3. Turn left onto Brookdale Ave
- 4. At the roundabout, continue straight onto Brookdale Ave/ON-138 S
- 5. Slight left onto ON-138 S Toll road
- 6. Continue onto Seaway International Bridge Toll road Entering United States (New York)
- 7. Continue onto International Bridge Rd Toll road
- 8. Continue onto International Bridge Approach Partial toll road
- 9. Turn right onto NY-37 W
- 10. Slight left to stay on NY-37 W
- 11. Continue onto US-11 S
- 12. Turn right onto New York 3 W/Arsenal St Continue to follow New York 3 W
- 13. Continue onto NY-104B W
- 14. Turn right onto NY-104 W
- 15. Slight left onto NY-104 W/W Seneca St Continue to follow NY-104 W
- 16. Turn left onto NY-34 S
- 17. Turn left onto New York 34B S
- 18. Turn right onto Co Rd 122/N Triphammer Rd Continue to follow N Triphammer Rd
- 19. Turn left onto Graham Rd
- 20. Continue onto Dart Dr – Lansing, NY
Day 2
Day 2: 5 Hours, 40 Min – 251 Miles
Lansing, NY to Hagerstown, MD
- 1. Head south on N Albany St toward Esty St
- 2. Turn right onto W Seneca St
- 3. Slight right onto W Martin Luther King Jr. St/W State St
- 4. Take the 1st left onto New York 13A S/Floral Ave Continue to follow New York 13A S
- 5. Turn right onto NY-13 S/NY-13 Scenic S/NY-34 S/NY-34 Scenic S/NY-96 S/NY-96 Scenic S/Elmira Rd Continue to follow NY-13 S/NY-13 Scenic S/NY-34 S/NY-96 S/Elmira Rd
- 6. Slight left onto NY-34 S/NY-96 S/W Danby Rd Continue to follow NY-34 S/NY-96 S
- 7. Turn right onto NY-34 S/W Tioga St Continue to follow NY-34 S
- 8. Turn left onto NY-34 S/Gee St Continue to follow NY-34 S
- 9. Turn left onto Chemung St/Spring St
- 10. Turn left onto Chemung St
- 11. Take the 1st right onto Cayuta Ave
- 12. Continue onto Spring St Entering Pennsylvania
- 13. Slight right onto Mohawk St
- 14. Turn left onto PA-199 S/N Keystone Ave Continue to follow PA-199 S
- 15. Turn right onto PA-199 S/Tioga St Continue to follow PA-199 S
- 16. Turn left onto US-220 S/Main St Continue to follow US-220 S
- 17. Slight left onto US-220 S/James Monroe Avenue Continue to follow US-220 S
- 18. Turn left onto PA-42 S
- 19. Slight right to stay on PA-42 S
- 20. Turn left to stay on PA-42 S
- 21. Turn right onto PA-254 W/W Main St Continue to follow PA-254 W
- 22. Turn left onto PA-44 S/PA-642 W/Danville Rd
- 23. Slight right onto PA-642 W/Danville Rd Continue to follow PA-642 W
- 24. Turn left onto PA-54 E/Continental Blvd
- 25. Turn right onto US-11 S/Northumberland St Continue to follow US-11 S
- 26. Turn left onto King St
- 27. Take the 2nd right onto US-11 S/Water St Continue to follow US-11 S
- 28. Turn left onto US-11 S/US-15 S/Susquehanna Trail
- 29. Merge onto US-11 S/US-15 S/Susquehanna Trail via the ramp to Harrisburg
- 30. Turn right onto PA-34 S/Hunters Valley Rd Continue to follow PA-34 S
- 31. Turn left onto PA-34 S/PA-849 E/S 4th St
- 32. Turn right onto PA-34 S/PA-849 E/Keystone Way Continue to follow PA-34 S
- 33. Continue onto PA-274 W/W Main St Continue to follow PA-274 W
- 34. Turn left onto PA-233 S/Green Park Rd Continue to follow PA-233 S
- 35. Turn right onto PA-233 S/Doubling Gap Rd Continue to follow PA-233 S
- 36. Turn right onto US-11 S/Ritner Hwy Continue to follow US-11 S
- 37. Turn right onto Edgar Ave
- 38. Take the 2nd right onto College Ave
- 39. Slight left onto Philadelphia Ave
- 40. At the traffic circle, continue straight onto US-11 S/S Main St Continue to follow US-11 S Entering Maryland
- 41. Slight right onto N Burhans Blvd
- 42. Turn left onto National Pike/W Washington St
SEE JACKSONVILLE (2) FOR DAY 3 AND 4…..
Peter, I’ve read that riding pillion on the Vespa becomes uncomfortable quite rapidly. Your wife might not make it out of Florida. The foot pegs are a particular issue for many, or so I’ve read. Some have attached footpegs to crashbars and that seems to improve matters to a degree.
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Well, my wife’s legs are not long and they seem to hit the pegs ok. Last summer we went to Picton and Sandbanks through the back roads. My GTV has a separate leather padded seat for the passenger and the addition of the top box with the padded back rest help as well. Obviously she is not as comfortable as those riding on the back of a Goldwing with stereo and coffee cup holders but to date she seems fine (she is petite) Our biggest complaint with two plus luggage is the that we often will bottom out on bumps and since I see them coming I can lift up my ass in time but for her it is simple a large bump! I will fix this first thing by adding new performance shocks: http://vespaadventures.ca/2012/10/15/bitubo-performance-shocks/
Finally, she is planning to take a motorcycle course this spring and hopefully will get her own GTV-300. That will allow for much more storage between the two of us.
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FYI – If all that fails, well then… http://www.bmw-motorrad.ca/bikes/C650GT
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