Modern Vespa

Would be the first week of September leaving from Yonkers, NY

Option 1 - Lake Ontario/Niagara Falls:

Ride up to the eastern most side of lake Ontario to the Henderson Bay area. Then proceed west hitting up several state parks and attractions along the southern perimeter to Niagara Falls then back home. I'm thinking 3 to 4 days with no particular destination, just staying in various motels over night, taking pictures and enjoying the sights during the day.

Then there is option 2 - Tail of the Dragon / Cherohala Skyway loop

This might be 4 or 5 days which would also consist of hitting up whatever other local attractions, roads and/or state parks might be around there as well.

I'm torn! What seems like a nicer trip? I know that's very subjective but any input would be great!

Also, what's the best travel insurance? I'm already an AMA member but their towing only covers 35 miles which is pretty lame... I'm concerned about the reliability of my 500 being so far from home. It has however been running really great and has over 14,000 miles on it. Fairly new tires all around, new belt and new Costa rollers since my last service (12,000m). I've followed the maintenance schedule religiously since the beginning. I just want to be prepared for a break down just in case.

Thoughts?

If you are talking 4 to 5 days total The Dragon and Cherohola might be too far from NY. I started fro 200 miles south and took 3 days each way. Blue Ridge Parkway is awesome. West Virgina was also great.

Here is a ride report I did from the Area to Pennsylvania My Journey Georgia to Pennsylvania.
South end of Blueridge just a couple hours from Dragon and I rode it on way back.

Check with you insurance company. My insurance provides towing for an additional $10 per year. $300 for tow and if 100 miles from home another $300 for transportation or lodging.

Post your route here and you will likely find a list of people near the route willing to assist or at least tell you where to get it if you have trouble or people wanting to meet up with your for part of the ride.

If your schedule is flexible you should consider joining us Sept ride in the smokies Maggie Valley 2010 17th-19th Sticky Frog and Old as Dirt plan to do the Dragon that Friday I believe.

as far as being prepare for a break down I think you have it covered. You have done all the right things. If you come to the Cherahola and Dragon and have a major issue there is a dealer in Koxville, Tn. If it happens on a Sunday or Mon well I might be able to come get you in a truck and trailer. I'll pm you my number.

I can't comment on going the route 1 option but the route 2 oh yeah. There is alot of great roads to ride in this area ALOT. you could spend a full week riding different route between noth Georgia and all the way up and past Maggie Valley, NC then over to Bristol, Tn/Va . Kinda pick out or map out what you might think you want to ride on google maps and save it and post the routes, then folks can inject different options for you.

Thanks for the reply! Unfortunately, I'm locked into that week. I'd love to meet up with some MV folks some day though. I'll actually have a full 8 free days for the trip so I have plenty of wiggle room there.

Wow, that is very nice of you!

He really is that kinda guy

:shock: I plan my trips like Nasa, first trip test equipment and plans see how it
goes. Next trip will be farther and longer based on what happen on the first trip.
I've crossed the Rockies 3 times but learned a lot from the previous trips. A few years back I canceled a trip to the Smokies because a front was stuck on top of it for a week. Did upper Michigan instead. If the weather throws a kink
in my trip I have plans for plan B.

If u head south, rt 30 starting in maryland, delaware is a casual 50 mph ride. Only one town with a bridge entrance was "ticket happy". There were some troopers around, but that one town about 1/10 mile thick was collecting big time. One bridge crossing is really "high". Looks like a roller coaster up and then down!