My Pennsylvania Ride Report

Carmen

Well-known member
While this is my fourth trip through PA, it is my first 4 day dedicated ride there. I was planning to ride to Maine but Hurricane Irene altered my plans.

I stayed in Wellsboro on my first night, Coudersport on my second, and Warren on my third.

First I'd like to mention motels:

I stayed at The Canyon Motel in Wellsboro. It exceeded my expectations and at $76 the price was fair.

I stayed at the Super 8 in Warren it was satisfactory and the price was $68.

While in Coudersport I stayed at Paul's Motel and Citgo at the recommendation of another forum member. I will never stay there again. The only good thing was the price ($50 including tax). The room smelled so musty I had to buy an air freshener at the gas station to hide the stench. There was a hole in the carpet. The furniture was something from the 1960's. While I was sleeping I felt an itch on my neck. I grabbed something the size of a small seed and threw it to the floor. It was some kind of bug and it didn't fly. I couldn't sleep after this and took a shower and put all the clothes I was wearing in a garbage bag. There was also a fast food container under the night table that the room's cleaner had forgotten to remove.

Let's talk about food. I loved Fez's Dinner. I ordered three pancakes because they were a dollar each. However, I couldn't finish them because they were 9 inches in diameter and about half and inch thick. Talk about overkill. The waitress laughed at me when I couldn't finish them.

My favorite places:

I liked Hayner View, and the Allegheny Reservoir. As well the area around Renovo had some of the nicest scenery. The PA Grand Canyon was somewhat of a disappointment at only 800 feet of elevation from the valley floor.

Roads Covered:

6/219/144/120/872/59/62/666/44/555
 

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Ill have to try super 8 in warren. usually do the holiday inn nice but pricey........ Perkins does give seniors discounts though :) Sucks about the bugs that would be bad for sure. Post up some pics if you can. Like you always liked the renovo area. Did you eat at the old diner in Renovo?
 
I don't see a Wykoff Run Road on your list? Check it out next time...you won't be disappointed !
Did you continue south on 144 from Renovo? If not...you should! It's fantastic!
Yeah, Renovo is a dump! I would never stay or eat there.....ever again!
 
While I was sleeping I felt an itch on my neck. I grabbed something the size of a small seed and threw it to the floor. It was some kind of bug and it didn't fly.

Gak! Maybe that was part of the the free breakfast.
 
When I stay in PA I have always stayed in Coudersport, at the millstream inn. Usually 75-90 bucks per night. Clean rooms, covered parking for motorcycles, sort of.. they let you park right in front of the front door, with a 'roof' over the driveway.

Free hot breakfast, 2 free public computers - 1 mac, one pc, free wifi, and free towels for wiping your bike.

You do get what you pay for. How can a hotel make money charging 50 bucks a night, and still have money left to pay rent, salaries, cleaning supplies, new linens, beds, carpets, etc....

I have also found out what people call 'decent' can be interpreted very loosely. What one guy might call a decent hotel, might be a dump to others.
 
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+ 1 on Wykoff run. I find Pauls motel to be the same as you experienced but the room above the gas station is better than the ones outside at the back.I always bring my sleeping bag for cheap motel/hotel.
 
Why? The 50 theme diner is excellent, super friendly folks in and around town too.
I don't see a Wykoff Run Road on your list? Check it out next time...you won't be disappointed !
Did you continue south on 144 from Renovo? If not...you should! It's fantastic!
Yeah, Renovo is a dump! I would never stay or eat there.....ever again!
 
Yes renovo is not the most modern town, but it is a cool place to go. Feels like you stepped back in time. I ate at the 50's diner.. and it was good.

Mountains in every direction, surrounded by twisties.
 
Ahhhh I love PA :)

Thanks for the sketchy motel tip!
 
Hey finally someone that agrees with me :lmao:
Yes renovo is not the most modern town, but it is a cool place to go. Feels like you stepped back in time. I ate at the 50's diner.. and it was good.

Mountains in every direction, surrounded by twisties.
 
Ill have to try super 8 in warren. usually do the holiday inn nice but pricey........ Perkins does give seniors discounts though :) Sucks about the bugs that would be bad for sure. Post up some pics if you can. Like you always liked the renovo area. Did you eat at the old diner in Renovo?

Yes I ate at "Yesterdays" in the old hotel in Renovo. The food was only ok and I found the waitress less than friendly. I later found out by a local that their cook left there to open his own place. I'll tell you, PA people are no where near as friendly as West Virginians. I love those people.
 
I really liked the PA canyon - did u like the road going up to it??

Route 126 (gold miners road) is also a good one! http://www.motorcycleroads.us/roads/pa_gmr.html

Next time go to an info centre on the way down & grab a room saver magazine - it has coupons for hotels ( good ones) for AMAZING prices.

I liked the road leading to the grand canyon but the canyon itself was a bit of a let down. Don't get me wrong, but 800 feet of vertical is underwhelming when you've been to Whiteface 3500 ft of vertical, Mt. Washington 4500 ft of vertical. Heck even the look out mountain in Lake George has 1600 feet of vertical.
 
I don't see a Wykoff Run Road on your list? Check it out next time...you won't be disappointed !
Did you continue south on 144 from Renovo? If not...you should! It's fantastic!
Yeah, Renovo is a dump! I would never stay or eat there.....ever again!

I guess I missed Wykoff Run. I did however do 555 which I forgot to mention. My schedule was pretty full as it was. I I rode from about 9:30 to 4:30 each day.
 
Sounds like a nice trip! Thanks for sharing. This may seem like an odd question, but since I'm always looking for my next bike I like to get other rider's perspectives; on your trip I'm assuming you were on your Bandit, did you wish you were on any other type of bike at any point? and if so what?
 
Sounds like a nice trip! Thanks for sharing. This may seem like an odd question, but since I'm always looking for my next bike I like to get other rider's perspectives; on your trip I'm assuming you were on your Bandit, did you wish you were on any other type of bike at any point? and if so what?

The only time I wished I was on another bike was when I was on a multi-lane hwy. A little more wind protection would have been nice. However the reality of my situation is that my Bandit is all I can afford. I bought it 5 years ago for $4400 and all I've had to do in terms of maintenance is oil changes and tires. The bike now has 60,000 km on it. If I could afford it my ideal bike would probably be an FJR1300, Concours1400, or Honda ST1300.
 
The only time I wished I was on another bike was when I was on a multi-lane hwy. A little more wind protection would have been nice. However the reality of my situation is that my Bandit is all I can afford. I bought it 5 years ago for $4400 and all I've had to do in terms of maintenance is oil changes and tires. The bike now has 60,000 km on it. If I could afford it my ideal bike would probably be an FJR1300, Concours1400, or Honda ST1300.

Thanks for that, it sounds like a pure sport tourer is the object of your desire. I like to hear about possible next bikes, but the reality is that I just got a new to me bike, and won't be getting something else anytime soon.
 
Yes I ate at "Yesterdays" in the old hotel in Renovo. The food was only ok and I found the waitress less than friendly. I later found out by a local that their cook left there to open his own place. I'll tell you, PA people are no where near as friendly as West Virginians. I love those people.

I agree with you on both points. Yesterdays is TERRIBLE! And I love the people of West Virginia, they'll give you the shirt off their back if you need it.
 
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