My wife and I used to take many 2-up camping motorcycle trips prior to 1990 when our son was born. Now 27 years later on the 1200 Sport Guzzi, we�re ready to do it again but without the camping gear. Planned this as a 3-day trip to the Catskill Mountains of New York but �fortunately� the weather turned it into 4 days.
I don�t have saddlebags yet on the Guzzi but I have a 45 liter H&B rear trunk and a Cortech tank bag to hold our stuff. We each filled a saddlebag liner with as little as possible which added 21 lbs. into the rear trunk and our rain gear plus odds and ends amounted to 10 lbs. in the tankbag. Oh, and we duct taped our sandals to the top of the trunk. We planned to motel it.
With an overcast sky and 68 degrees, we headed north from Lancaster, PA on Rt. 501. The sun came out near Pine Grove and the temp stayed in the 70�s for the remainder of the trip. Anytime you can have temperatures in the 70�s in July is a blessing. Backroads, interstates, parking lots, dirt roads, the 1200 Sport handled them all well.
Day 1: Knoebels amusement park in Elysburg, PA for lunch and a coaster ride but not in that order
Seven Tubs Nature Area - Wilkes Barre, hiking the gorge and the 7 pools.
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Stayed in Milford, PA at the Myer Country Motel - individual cabins
Day 2: Milford, Pa, - Long sleeve morning as we rode north on Rt 6 to
Twin Lakes Road� a beautiful tree lined, back-country road
led us to the Delaware River and into New York. A beautiful ride on Rt. 55 north to White Lake, NY and thru Liberty, NY. and Neversink Reservoir
and onto a favorite of mine..
upload facebook pictureFrost Valley Road. In the center of the Catskill Mountains, peace solitude of the v-twin and we wonder our way over the mountain and past Slide Mt. and thru Oliveria to Big Indian.
On up Rt. 42 and the riding is great! Right onto 23A gives us a magnificent view of
lightshotHunter Mt. ski area. And only in the small hamlet of Tannersville do we stop at the town deli for a truly �Fresh Sliced� Canadian hero with Russian dressing and coleslaw. So so good! Next destination:
Kaaterskill Falls, a 260 ft, 2-stage cascade waterfall. One of the highest in the east. Viewed it from above and a 45 minute hike from below. Onto Woodstock, NY (not where the rock concert was) a �hippie-like� town unlike any other. Found a nice B&B and spotted a green Tenni Griso mossy in and out of town. Ended the day sitting outside enjoying a fire-oven pizza.
Day 3: RAIN in the morning. Took our time and got on the road around noon when the rain ended and the roads dried off. Headed down NY 209 to Ellenville, NY the hang gliding capital.
Rt. 52 took us up the mountain for a 180 degree vies of the Catskills and the valley below before exploring a forgotten area of Cragsmoore on the mountaintop. Stopped and took in an old stone church and a community library, all on top of the Shawnangunk mountain ridge.
Gabby�s Mexican restaurant was recommended and did not disappoint as we sat outside for lunch. Continued the Guzzi down Rt. 209 for a gas stop in Port Jervis, NY. As we returned to Milford, PA, the skies looked ominous. It was 5 pm and I thought we would make it home by nightfall but we decided to stay another night in the cabins at the Myer Country Motel.� our new �home away from home�. The 1200 Sport is tremendous running bike!
Day 4:
Saw an amazing tree carving in the neighborhood of Milford.We headed to several waterfall areas that I had never heard of.
First was Ramondskill Falls,
imghostSecond was George W. Childs Park
Third was Dingmans Falls
All three are now within the U.S. Park Service in the Delaware Watergate Region.
Avoided any rain on the way home. 646 total miles and got 44 mpg (2-up).
upload gif imageA most fantastic trip. Never to be forgotten!
Can�t wait to get some H&B saddle bags on the bike and go for some longer rides.
