Pennsylvania Advice Needed

[Carmen]

If weather cooperates, I am planning my first trip to PA this weekend. Would leave Thursday morning and return Saturday (might even stay Sunday if the weather holds and I remain amused).

I was wondering If I should base myself somewhere centrally (such as St. Marys), on Thursday, leaving Friday to circle the region, or if I should base myself in the east Thursday night (Wellsboro) head west the next day and book my second night in a western town such as Warren before I head home.

Thanks,

Carmen

[Rotten_Ronnie]

Three days are fine to make it down and back. You should be across the border in a couple of hours, then about an hour and a half to get off the interstate and into New York, then into Pennsylvania well before six. You can always call ahead a book an off season motel room for a great rate down that way.

I'd also suggest including "Renovo Pennsylvania" and Route 144 up and over the mountain. It was recently resurfaced and is just plain fun to ride, although I'd caution you to be alert for wildlife as I've seen a bear cub, turkey and a deer on that route.

Make sure you dress for cold weather riding, you can always peal layers off, but I rode through there in May one year and nearly froze my boys off. On the way home I was wearing everything I owned including my rain gear and cursing that I'd brought a sweatshirt instead of a wool sweater. This year I'm armed with a heated jacket and will be heading down to Hunter Mountain for the weekend.

Cheers, and don't forget your emergency medical coverage!

[MacDoc]

deer and turkeys especially near dusk and early morning. Had two sets of does cross the road - one pair at dusk - had lots of visibility and I was solo. The other in a group the next morning - again no threat - but it's the ones you don't see. Use a car as a deer catcher if you get caught out at sunset - with the light sky and dark road - damn hard to see them.

Really enjoyed the area. PM me if you want a riding partner - might do a second run - maybe go down with you and then solo down to Lancaster - pig out on the Amish Harvest

second the layers - was down to 4 one morning...then to 29!!!

Roads are terrific. PM Mototrek - he knows the regions well - there is our thread further down as well. If you are coming out of the city I have a nice back roads route to the border if you want some early enjoyment instead of slabbing it.

Can't recall the second might place ( should be in the thread ) but very biker friendly - yeah Lantz Corners or some such. Might be a good spot to work out of.

[speedster]

If weather cooperates, I am planning my first trip to PA this weekend. Would leave Thursday morning and return Saturday (might even stay Sunday if the weather holds and I remain amused).

I was wondering If I should base myself somewhere centrally (such as St. Marys), on Thursday, leaving Friday to circle the region, or if I should base myself in the east Thursday night (Wellsboro) head west the next day and book my second night in a western town such as Warren before I head home.

Depends if you are carrying lots of luggage or packing light. If you have to lug a lot around, best to set-up somewhere central where you can leave your bags in the room when you are touring during the day. If you travel light, then I believe riding your planned route and getting a room along the way could be preferable. With the second option, your last night in Warren puts you about 1 hr closer to getting back over the border & home when on your return than being in St. Mary's. Nothing too critical, but if you're worn out from touring or if weather happens to be less than ideal on your return date, that extra hr of riding, maybe in stormy weather, will have you cursing inside your helmet.

[FJgeezer]

Just something to think about, if you are anywhere within a 100 mile radius of State College (actually a great town, lots to do,eat etc.) on a weekend when Penn State University is playing football at home (in State College) there will be no hotel, motel rooms to be had. Just a heads-up. Otherwise Penn. is a great place to ride, closer to the mountains the better.

[mototrek]

Great Cheap Motels along HAY 6 from Port Alleghany to Wellsboro
,Buttonwood Motel & Restaurant 368 Sizerville Road
Emporium, PA 15834, (814) 486-0522
http://www.buttonwoodmotel.com/
$48.00 plus tax = $52.32

Eagle Rock Motel, 633 Elm Street Tionesta, Pa 16353
(814) 755-4444
http://www.mybluecanoe.com/

Mid-Town Motel 201 Elm Street
Tionesta, PA 16353 (814) 755-3576
http://www.mid-town-motel.com/
$59.00 plus tax = $64.31

The Royal Inn 17089 Boot Jack Rd,
Ridgway, PA 15853 (814) 773-3153
http://www.royalinnpa.com/
$54.05 plus tax = $58.91

Smethport Motel 105 Marvin Street
Smethport, PA 16749 (814) 887-5550
http://smethportmotel.info/default.aspx
$63.00 incl tax

Mid-Town Motel 111 N. Main Street
Port Allegany, PA 16743 (814) 642-2575
http://mid-townmotel.info/default.aspx
$67.00 incl tax

Port Motel 730 N Main St
Port Allegany, PA 16743 (814) 642-7022
http://www.portalleganymotel.com/
$45.00 plus tax = $50.00

Mill Stream Inn (expensive but new)
918 E 2ND St,
Coudersport, PA 16915 (814)274-9900
http://www.millstreaminn.com/

Laurel Wood Inn U.S. Route 6 East
Coudersport, Pa (814) 274-9220
http://www.laurelwoodinn.com/
$50.00 plus tax = $54.50

[HarleyHare]

Great Cheap Motels along HAY 6 from Port Alleghany to Wellsboro
,Buttonwood Motel & Restaurant 368 Sizerville Road
Emporium, PA 15834, (814) 486-0522
http://www.buttonwoodmotel.com/
$48.00 plus tax = $52.32

Eagle Rock Motel, 633 Elm Street Tionesta, Pa 16353
(814) 755-4444
http://www.mybluecanoe.com/

Mid-Town Motel 111 N. Main Street
Port Allegany, PA 16743 (814) 642-2575
http://mid-townmotel.info/default.aspx
$67.00 incl tax

Port Motel 730 N Main St
Port Allegany, PA 16743 (814) 642-7022
http://www.portalleganymotel.com/
$45.00 plus tax = $50.00

.......................... and all others along Route 6

I was in Pennsylvania two weeks ago on my annual September ride to the U.S. and I can tell you the motels/hotels along Route 6 are a BUST!! BTW the highways are called "Routes". Ask for directions and refer to a "highway" and Americans freeze for several seconds not sure of what you are asking.

On my fourth and final day I intended to ride Route 6 (National Geographic said it was one of the top 10 most scenic roads in the U.S.) west from Wellesboro to Warren. After visiting Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon near Wellesboro, I intended to stay somewhere along Route 6 for the night then on the final day ride along Route 6 to Warren and then home. It was late, dark and freezing cold and I rode from town to town (this was on a Tuesday night) and every room was booked solid! Even the farmer's daughter in the dark would have looked good at this point.

The reason? Mexican migrant workers drilling for natural gas along Route 6. Motel rooms have been booked solid since May.

My advice - phone first and reserve if possible. I had to ride to Bradford in pitch darkness missing the scenery before I found a room at 10:30 pm and it was not fun even though the heated grips kept my hands warm.

[BeastieGirl]

I was planning to hit Wellsboro area the following week - Thanksgiving weekend (targeting Route 6 and PA Grand Canyon) and couldn't get a reservation anywhere I checked on the net (at least at a decent price - a couple of $150+ a night B&B's) - as well this is not "off season" for this area - it is peak foliage time. Even Mansfield was booked solid. I ended up booking in Corning NY for 2 nights and will do day trips from there - but just to add another warning to be careful you don't get stuck for accommodations. You can almost always find something high end at the last minute, so it depends on your budget.

[Carmen]

Thanks for the advice every one. Accommodations are not my problem. The cold forcast for the weekend is my problem. Saturay and Sunday calls for a high of 10 with night time lows barely above freezing.

[wonderings]

Thanks for the advice every one. Accommodations are not my problem. The cold forcast for the weekend is my problem. Saturay and Sunday calls for a high of 10 with night time lows barely above freezing.

Get some good warm gear, bundle up, make sure that neck is protected from the cold and have a blast. September and October are amazing times to tour, if dressed properly. You really cant go wrong in PA, stay off the interstates and just go explore, stop when your ready and repeat next day. Wellsboro is a fantastic destination with non stop perfect twisty roads.

[MacDoc]

And now for something completely different.........took a look at the weather and we are NOT going east...going to PA instead.
Going to base out of Coudersport - leaving tomorrow at 6 am

http://www.motorcycleroads.us/regions/pa_allegheny.html

staying two nights ( Friday and Saturday at )
Laurel Wood Inn U.S. Route 6 East
Coudersport, Pa (814) 274-9220
http://www.laurelwoodinn.com/

email or post here if you happen to be nearby and want to hook up.

[MacDoc]

http://www.intellicast.com/Local/WxMap.aspx



Shfited gears to PA - basing out of Coudersport instead....

too wet to the east.....and that band is moving north and just drifting east...damn thing stretches all the way to the Carolinas.

[Carmen]

I'm sorry I didn't see your post earlier. It appears we were in PA at the same time. I would have loved to meet you guys down there.

My original plan was to leave Thursday, but the weather down there was rainy. My new plan was to leave Friday morning with an overnight stop in Wellsboro and a second overnight in Warren on Saturday before heading home. I had to change my plans again at the last minute when the forcast for north western PA was for 50% chance of rain with cloudy conditions on Saturday. I kept my Friday reservation for Wellsboro but headed north east through the Finger Lakes and checked in to a motel outside of Rochester Saturday night. Weather was great Friday and Saturday, but I woke up to rain Sunday morning in Rochester. The rain remained my unwelcome companion until I got to Burlington. Thankfully it was relatively warm in Rochester Sunday morning. Got home around 1:00 pm.

I'll admit I was quite stressed just before my departure as I watched the ever changing weather picture develop and modified my plans accordingly.
I suppose these are the perils of fall riding. In the end it's all good. I got back safely and saw some beautiful places.


Btw, did you check out the colourful farmers market in Coudersport when you were there?

Carmen

[MacDoc]

Yeah - would have been fun.
You did miss a perfect day on Friday - superb sun ( see the pics in the other thread )
Here's what we had

Saturday started great but the fog was heavy early- cleared a bit and we hit the Kinzua rail bridge.
Then rode the western loops around Kane and the Kinzua dam area.. Some neat back roads....one a bit more than we bargained for - had to play dual sport Burgman - one narrow, rocky, slippery trail to turn around on .....and few reasonably steep rises to awaken old skill sets. Glad Jay did not stop at the top - I would have Tboned him with the Burgman....had to get some decent speed up.
Burgie did okay....no problem for Jay's dual sport but fully loaded it's not very agile either. Was quite happy to leave that stretch behind ( GPS said it was a road and went through....goat road more like ).

Spotted a Frank Lloyd Wright look alike house along 6 - startled me - was run down and abandoned - turns out it was built by the builder of Falling Water but not designed by Wright - the pair had a fight apparently.
Shame tho - tremendous location and view.
Here's the background
http://www.smethporthistory.org/port...lynnhall3.html

here's the real thing



Has anyone ridden in the area around Falling Water south of Pittsburgh??

If you've never been - well you are missing on of the most famous houses in the world....
http://www.digsdigs.com/fallingwater...r-a-waterfall/
..and deservedly - the design and setting take you breath away - let alone when it was built!!!.

I'd love to go into the area and ride next year.

Weather was changeable - I would have liked to chase the sun to Lancaster but would have put us too far away.

We had a tiny bit of rain on Saturday - brief showers and then sun then clouds but we had a good time.

Jay didn't sleep well so we headed home.
Nassssty - got colder and colder - was right at the limit of my gear and then it started raining near Buffalo but arrived home in sunshine so that was okay.

I'd still like to do a Finger Lakes ride this year...anyone??



That western side series of roads alone would be a great weekend project and it's only about 3 hours away.

Farmer's market??? nope - too stupid to stop....and it was there THREE days when we were....one of those things.....each morning we got rolling..and there were some good eats we could see.
You riding again this year?

[Carmen]

There will be no more over night trips for me this year. I did four of them this summer: Vermont/New Hampshire in July, Lake Placid, Lake George, and PA/Finger Lakes.

I might be up for a day trip if the weather holds though.

Btw, I rode rte 6 from Bradford to Troy PA, stopping over in Wellsboro for the night and seeing the grand canyon. I left PA and circled to the east through Seneca Lake, stopping at Watkins Glen (lovely town.) The slopes of the lake are lined with vineyards and wineries.

Cheers,

Carmen

[MacDoc]

Would you consider Finger Lakes on a weekend? _ I really want to hit the Corning Glass Museum and do a bit of the mcycle roads. Can't see too clearly but I guess not much protection up from the Bandit.
Area is close enough to not have to do much advance planning if the weather is nice.
How flexible are you?

After this trip I'm setting 10 degrees as my lowest daytime limit for my current gear.
I'd want heated vest and gloves to go under that and not sure it's worth it as I want to continue to ride with an open face helmet ( balaclava does fine but iffy below 6 C for any distance )

I was getting chilled below 10, as soon as it hit 11 or so just fine.