An alternative PA route via Letchworth.

MacDoc

MacDoc

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This adds 60 km to the route and I would suggest doing it on the way home.

You can hit Letchworth State Park http://nysparks.com/parks/79/hours-of-operation.aspx for a really good feed and some scenery around 5 pm and be home at 8-9 after a pretty ride through the park depending on traffic.
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There are some variations on this to the east of Coudersports on some of the smaller roads in the Amish area.

For the GPS you want to get to Portageville NY to the southern entrance to Letchworth and then stop for eats at the Inn.

Very good food and a lovely setting.

It was nice to come home a different route than the same old through Olean.

BTW there are some quieter roads to the east of Olean as well. The TomTom Winding Roads led on a quiet alternative and we ended up to the west of Coudersport and then took 6 in.

Add your variations and suggestions.

We stayed near St. Mary's but it was fully booked so had to hop over to Ridgeway to get a room.
Took 555 back across in the early morning and then Wykoff and across 144 to Renovo.
All were in good nick.

The southern part of 144 is fab now - out of Renovo to the south - just lovely twists as is the portion north of Renovo - it gets choppy past the Cherry Creek junction so take than newly paved section as an alternative.

Very little traffic even on the weekend and mostly excellent pavement.
 
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Hey, first time poster here...just wanted to say thanks for all the info in your posts on PA.

Made my first three day trip there this past weekend. Took 219 down through the ANF, then 120, 255, 555, 120, Kettle Creek, 144, 120, Hyner View, 44, 144. Overnighted at Kane Manor and Colton Point Motel. Visited Rim Rock, Kinzua Bridge, Elk County Visitor Center, Hyner View, Grand Canyon, and Letchworth SP. My route home was pretty much what you outlined here, with the exception of taking 449 from Route 6 to 19.

For me, 20A was mind-numbingly boring - I was in the back of a line of cars led by a Versa doing just ever-so-slightly below the speed limit. Other than that, fabulous weekend!

Anyway, thanks again! Looking forward to my next trip, already have some ideas...
 
Yes that's the downside - once you get to 417 it's pretty dull and then after Letchworth horrid.

But I find the park is a nice break - there are always a few critters around 6 pm then it's not a bad - tho boring ride into the sun to get to the border.

You packed a lot into a weekend.....when did you leave and what was total mileage ( we were 1600 km total )
 
Total was just shy of 1300 km, from Hamilton. Left on Sat at 5:30 am and got to Kane around 2:00 pm, with a side trip to Kinzua after dinner. Both Sun & Mon left before 8:30 am and made sure to end my days mid to late afternoon. Sunday was the long day, maybe too long and the side trip to the Grand Canyon wasn't worth it to me, probably because I was too tired.

Letchworth was awesome. Totally jaw-dropping. I said to my wife afterwards that it was almost visual over-saturation, felt like there was an overlook every half mile and about halfway through the park I started yelling out "Are you kidding me?!? Another friggin' overlook?!" Loved it.

Did you go with a group? Interesting to me...of all the bikes I saw, the majority out of state were ONT license plates. And everyplace I stopped at listed above, I always saw at least one ONT plated bike.
 
Two ...the odd couple...my Burgman 650 and buddy on a Blackbird.

SUV of motorcycles - 110 litres of storage - no side bags.

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built for comfort.... ;)

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and a legendary sports machine

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Part of the distance difference I guess to Mississauga but we also did 144 a couple of times and wandered west of Olean.

They WERE long days. 6 am to 9pm day one ( partially chasing a room and dodging deer - tired out our minds )

and 7 am to 10 pm day two ( border and traffic on Sunday night tho vry relaxed ride in the afternoon after having fun down by Renovo on 144 and Wykoff)

We were chatting on the Scalas as we approached the park and I said....."Hardly looks like an area for a major geology feature eh? " :D

Did you get to eat at the park?
 
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Not this time around. From what I hear the food is great, so I'll make sure I get a meal the next time.

Cool bike. I've always thought those Burgmans were neat. I love my Bandit, but am intrigued by some of the more practical motorcycles out there. Sounds like you get a lot of use out of it!
 
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