Penn run August long weekend

[MacDoc]

Day 1

Good ride so far - horridly hot a the border - 50 minutes - 42 degrees. Paddled and walked the bikes where we could. Lunch at Orchard Park - Panera Bread - good stuff.

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/42/461520/restaurant/Buffalo/Panera-Bread-Orchard-Park

Nice out now - got in - had a quick shower then did a 44 - 144 loop just in the golden hour. Forgot the big camera but I think the iPhone 4 pics will be okay. Waiting for buds who got lost. So had a lovely solo loop during the golden hour down 44 and then up 144. Much fun and very pretty are it climbs and descends the deep valleys.

quiet roads with just about zero traffic and wonderful curves and elevation changes

the occasional lookout over mountains very smoky on a hot day.

but this is what we are here for

Forgot my big camera back at the motel - so iPhone had to do but hopefully weather holds to tomorrow.

 

[MacDoc]

Day 2

lovely 500k and change today including Wycoff Run and 144 South of Renovo both of which are keepers.

555 was nice scenery but nothing in particular.

Took a late loop out to the north in Amish country - fantastic fresh peaches for supper and some cool photos of a very different life style.

Pics to come once I get peach juice cleaned up

Weather held all day stunning lovely evening.

Kitschy Paul's Motel - $53 with wifi in a great location for riding and gas out front.

The crew ready to ride - bit of a foggy morning but warm.

Had breakfast at Fez' Diner down the road - too much good food for cheap.
Bros Cuban showing off their new ride - with matching outfits and siren.

What they came for - just had to get that pic as official photog.
If you can't see the sign open the window wider on your browser. Lot's of those sweet notices just for riders eh.

This is the northern end of Wycoff - off 120 not far out and west of Renovo - might be easier to go that direction.

The diner there behind where I took the photo does not look like much but food is good and generous.

Of course there are many more Winding Road signs - this was on the way up a road to Kettle Creek State Park.
Nice wandering secondary road that cuts up from 120 a few miles west of 144 and 120 to intersect 144 again. Good alternative.
144/44 between Coudersport and Renovo is a marvel - can ride that many times with pleasure.

Was my first time on 144 S of Renovo - highly recommended along with Wycoff Run which is damn hard to find from the southern end - the mapping software gets stupid in the area.
There is an army bootcamp......hmmmmmm

Took a solo leisurely early evening ride out east and north of Coudersport which is Amish country.
Discovered a good spot to eat tomorrow if rained out. The Corner Diner. HWY 49 at Ulysses.

That bit of machinery is perhaps a lot older than the patriarch running it.

Hard work but sure is a lovely area

Some murals as you come into Coudersport from the east on 49.

 

[MacDoc]

Day 3 - off to Allegheny State Forest via the long route....hopefully better luck than last time when it rained - and was 10 degrees - bloody cold ride that was.

 

[matthew]

Thanks for the pictures and the write up. You're basically on all of the same roads that I was on last month, so it's nice to revisit them.

 

[MacDoc]

NP - 144/44 are in a class by themselves for top end roads that are 1/2 day accessible from the GTA.
Tomorrow weather permitting will be more touristy riding with lots of camera stops which was my goal.
If the weather turns I might cut it one day short and meander home via Finger Lakes or some such.

 

[MacDoc]

Well it's tomorrow

Amazing what 15 litres of gas, 1 pint of Starbucks iced coffee and a big tailwind will do

Yes Virginia Penn is just 4 hours away from Mississauga. Home and mostly dry tho got a bit wet on the last 50k.

4 hours flat with a late gas stop that I might have done without. Had 3 litres left on a 15 litre tank and was getting just under 25k per litre. Might have made it from Ontario St on the QEW but didn't need the stress.

Looked at the weather report and the wind direction and headed out at midnight. Easy ride with a full moon and this tailwind that made for a peaceful ride in this nice bubble of quiet.
Bit of fun over the skyways tho.

•••

Noon today and quite glad to be home

 

[MacDoc]

Posted elsewhere but might be useful here - Penn is a good ride even into October with good gear and colours are superb. It's nice to be only 4 hours from home in case weather turns ugly.

It's about 300k from Mississauga, perhaps half slab to south of Buffalo and 16 is not bad tho 240 maybe more interesting.
Should be doable in 4 hours tho the small towns will slow you down and the depends on the border wait times.
Coudersport is a good start point as 44/144 are nearby - down to Renovo and past to 144 and then find Wycoff Run.
It might be easiest to hang a right at 120 and hit the north end of Wycoff at the bridge then go south on Wycoff for much fun.
Then pick up 144 over the mountain to Renovo but might be a bit tricky as very poor GPS coverage and a tangle of roads in the area that the maps I had were not very clear on.

From Renovo on the way north go left on 120 and pick with 144 north or go 10 miles further to Kettle Creek road - very winding tho not a "speed road" - and it intersects nicely with 144 after 15 miles or so.

Cherry Creek road is fun and you can zig zag around 144 and 44 and some associated side roads.
Mind your fuel - some rural areas.
This is an idea - not sure Wycoff Run shows on here. Have fun. Have always enjoyed the area
Might be a good idea to take a printed map as there is no cell coverage and even the GPS is spotty.
This is Coudersport to Renovo - Yesterdays is good spot for food but service is slow. These are large so need to be downloaded for detail likely.

this South through Renovo to 144 but as mentioned finding Wycoff might be an issue so going west to the bridge end on 120 from Renovo and then south might be easier.
There are detailed directions for Wycoff on some of the motorcycle roads sites.

Have fun mind the deer. elk and in a few areas on the way down, bear warnings.

•••

This was a second day ride plotted out - The Allegheny Park is pretty but not comparable to 44/144 for fun. Fairly easy to get off course as what doesn't show are the mountains which mess up sense of direction as the roads tend to follow the valleys tho the best roads go up and over.

http://s106.photobucket.com/albums/...ent=Screenshot2012-08-04atAug4201292648PM.jpg

 

[theprocess]

Thanks for sharing MacDoc. Looks like a great route and good times!

 

[MacDoc]

NP - many riders don't realize how close top end twisties are and no question 144/44/Wycoff etc are superb even against the likes of the Gillies in Australia which while more technical is only 19 km long. ( 200 turns - it's work )

4 hours from Mississauga and mcycle heaven and even if twisties aren't always on the agenda it's gorgeous country just to cruise especially in the fall with the colours and would be heaven on a decently tired dual sport.

 

[bluerider]

That looks like an aawesome trip Macdoc. Some cool pictures. Might be a trip I try to take. Good post.

 

[MacDoc]

Thanks - couple of notes.
Take US currency with you.
Don't count on cell phone connection working tho most places to stay have wifi.
In the rural areas things close early - gas up when you can as even a number of small towns have no service station.

 

[onecartel]

Pretty sure we passed by your group on Sunday.

 

[MacDoc]

I was back by 4am Sunday ahead of the rain but the other three stayed so could have.

Came across this loop - looks good as a second day alternative and includes Wycoff

http://www.pa-mag.com/2009/07/22/allegheny-plateau-tour-1/

 

[gcrouse]

So weather did hold out for you? Awesome, have ridden there a few times and well like you said so close it's a great area. Have to check out that hotel you mention. How was the vacancy rates there? I know the drillers are bookin guo the hotel motels and driving up prices. Did you find that down there this year ?
Thanks for sharing !!!!!
Oh btw kinzua fire rd is one awesome paved no traffic twisty from heaven.......

 

[MacDoc]

It was fine Friday and Saturday tho bloody hot at the border but took a look Saturday night and figured I'd just head home with a big tailwind.
Was kinda cool doing a very late night ride tho a bit concerned about deer. Having the in ear Nav I was confident in made it a low stress trip except for the little Tstorm coming over the Burlington Skyway and another burst 5 minutes from home.

Paul's had space - I think the frackers have moved on as we saw very few active trucks/rigs mind you I did not do my western loop through the Park. Paul's has been $50 for a long time and nice to have gas out front and a convenience store. I had the primo room with good wifi - all of $53.

Going down into the US with my kid next weekend to Darien Lake so might slip down for that western loop if weather is good and resume my touristy photo shoot. New camera having fun with .

There was a hawk on one of the back roads I really wanted to photograph but a car came up and scared it - there are simply some lovely back roads beyond the twisties and I don't mind some dirt after 3 months off road in Australia.
The Burgman is stable as long as no mud or sand and it's a good shooting platform - lots of storage and parks on angles easily.

 

[theprocess]

Are bikes safe to leave unattended over night in these small PA town (i.e. Coudersport, St. Mary's, Wellsboro, etc)? Or do you need a lock and cover?

 

[onecartel]

We stayed in Wellsboro on the main strip and the bikes weren't covered or locked. Didn't have any problems. Quiet town, friendly people. Lots of bibles.

 

[MacDoc]

One reason people like Paul's Motel beside location and price is the bikes are right outside the rooms and the units are set well back from the highway ( you can see from the photo of the trolls how far back ) The first two pictures on Day 2

A cover never hurts as it's often foggy and coming out to a soaked bike is no fun.

I think in general the small towns people are friendly and appreciate the biz the bikers bring into a rural area.

•••
gcrouse where is Kinza fire road.....are you talking the one leading to the downed bridge??

 

[Beanz]

Thanks for posting this. I'll definitely plan this for the future. I just got back Friday from a loop around the allegheny park. It's really gorgeous out there and like you said, a short ride from Mississauga. I made it with just a us visa card and $10 cdn.

 

[MacDoc]

Food is pretty cheap and Fezz is always fun - decent breakfast for very little. Just down the road from Pauls and near the 44 entrance from 6

right out of the 50s