Topic: Interesting Roads and Destinations

[Mooshie]

+1.  I was surprised at how pretty Idaho was--loved the small towns.

[ofreen]

Here's a road to consider if you like to get away from it all.  New Mexico Route 120, AKA the Yates Highway northeast of Roy, NM is a little isolated, to say the least.  On this trip, we ran into some welcome rain after a week of 110F+ temps across Oklahoma and Arkansas.  We didn't see anyone else on the road.  If you like wide open spaces, consider not having another living soul in sight as appealing, and are intrigued by the Abandoned Thread here on the forum, you'll like this road.

The view from orbit -



There's a few abandoned farms and ranches along the way -














A hidey hole might come in handy out here -




This building had an interesting failure mode -



It wouldn't take long for Mother Nature to reclaim this road -



A New Mexican speed bump.  I missed him and stopped to encourage him to get off the road, but considering the traffic was zero, he probably wasn't at much risk -



Rush hour in Roy, New Mexico.  The town has a nice 'Omega Man' vibe to it.  We took a 30 minute break to get out of the rainsuits and drink a little water and saw no one on the street the whole time.




A vid with some rock and roll instead of the usual wind noise.

[scottly]

Awesome pics, Greg, and yes, the video with music works better than wind noise!

[Stev-o]

Awesome pics, Greg

+1.  Enchanting destination!

[ofreen]

Thanks, gents. A couple of interesting quotes from the Roy, NM Wiki page.  -

"Roy is a village in Harding County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 304 at the 2000 census. The village has massively been losing population, but is still a major center for Northeastern New Mexico."

"Roy is home to the Chili Pepper Correctional Facility, a state prison known to be one of the only in the U.S. to offer unrestricted Internet access in every cell, as well as an inmate cell phone plan with unlimited outbound calling, although all calls are routed through a control center at the facility to curb phone abuse."

[ofreen]

Here is one for those still mired in winter.  Morgan Creek Road north of Challis, ID last September -

[BobbyR]

Very interesting ride Greg. You pick your spots!

[ofreen]

Thanks Bobby.  I'm hoping to get some riding in out in your neck of the woods, maybe next year if things go according to plan.  I've never been to the northeast.

[BobbyR]

Thanks Bobby.  I'm hoping to get some riding in out in your neck of the woods, maybe next year if things go according to plan.  I've never been to the northeast.

I think you will be surprised. If you come up through NJ the southern part is filled with rolling fields which are kind of nice.

Once you get past NYC which you really should see. When you get about 1hr north of the City it starts to get green and mountainous. The mountains are mostly glacial and have a different look than the mountains out west.

Out West people from here feel too out in the open, hard to explain. Here on the road you can see maybe 1/2 mile since the roads run between ridges. The Adirondacks are very beautiful. 

[70CB750]

Thanks Bobby.  I'm hoping to get some riding in out in your neck of the woods, maybe next year if things go according to plan.  I've never been to the northeast.

You should not miss Blue Ridge and Skyline if you are coming East.

[Hersbird]

I got detoured when taking a car from Missoula MT, to St Louis by flooding and ended up in Yellowstone park and across Wyoming. I've been to Yellowstone plenty but I had never been out the top of the park Cook City and then into Cody, WY. You go over Dead Indian pass and that is amazing. Then diagonally across Wyoming in the Wind River canyon was also great. This June we are going from Red Lodge, MT over the Beartooth  mountains back into Cook City and then into Yellowstone unfortunately towing a camper so no bike. That pass is almost 11,000 feet and supposed to be amazing. We will also be exploring much of the badlands of eastern Montana on that trip Devils Creek by Jordan and Makoshika by Glendive. Unfortunately with extra kids and in laws so no room for the bike. I hope to add a way to take the bike with the camper someday or do some of these trips with just my son in law and his bike.

[ofreen]

Thanks Bobby.  I'm hoping to get some riding in out in your neck of the woods, maybe next year if things go according to plan.  I've never been to the northeast.

You should not miss Blue Ridge and Skyline if you are coming East.

Thanks, I'll be getting with you guys for some tips when the time comes.

I hope to add a way to take the bike with the camper someday or do some of these trips with just my son in law and his bike.

Hersbird, this link to my post may whet your appetite -

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,125332.msg1590915.html#msg1590915

[scottly]

Hey Greg, a while back you suggested I add 89A to Jerome here. Unfortunately I can only find a few pics, as there aren't many places to pull off the road for photo ops. The first pic was taken through the passenger-side window of a 1963 VW double-cab, en route to the annual VW bus gathering at the Gold King mine.
   

[ofreen]

Nice shots, Scott.  I know what you mean by the road. Lots of curves and not much in the way of shoulders along a good part of it.

[ofreen]

Here's another nice destination for those who like to get away from it all.  Located in a rather remote area of southeast Oregon about 30 miles north of the Nevada line, Fields Station is a nice little oasis.  There is a store, cafe, a nicely kept two room motel (usually booked weeks in advance),  and the biggest draw for motorcycles - 2 fuel pumps.  I showed this spot back in 2013 with the first pimpzilla ride after picking him up in Fernley, Nevada.  There is a fair amount of dual purpose bike riding in the area, but really few know about it or are inclined to venture to such a remote area.  So don't worry about crowds.  In fact, don't go there, you won't like it.  



The rest of these were taken along the Fields-Denio Road, about 60 miles of pretty nice gravel.

[madmtnmotors]

Dammit Greg, you're killing me! 

I want to get on my bike and not stop till I get there! 

[ofreen]

Let me know when you are on the way, Wilbur, as you will no doubt be tired when you get here.  We have room.  I forgot to mention Fields Station is famous for their cheeseburgers and especially their milkshakes.

[ofreen]

Some of the best roads don’t start or end in any place in particular.  The Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway in Montana is one of those.  The southern end splits off from SH 278 and ends on the north end at Wise River, a nice little old wide spot on Highway 43.  The road winds past forests, climbs and follows ridgelines for scenic vistas, through marshes and mountain meadows, passes ghost towns, ranches, both working and abandoned, and features pavement in great shape considering where it is.

Orientation –



The southern end of the road –



Got hay?


Polaris, MT –








Slightly weathered but legible if you squint –


An old timey ski resort –



Further north –







Coolidge ghost town is at the end of a nice 5 mile gravel and dirt road off the main highway.  I was on the GS, but it would be no challenge on a SOHC4 –




Here’s some info on Coolidge.  If you re in the area and like ghost towns, I suggest not delaying a visit.  Between winter snows and summer fires (there is one in the area now) the old town is taking a beating.  Many of the buildings are flattened and the forest is taking over.
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/mt-coolidge.html












The Teddy Nichols Annual Rod Run in Wise River –









A Ranchero in need of rescue –



A short vid of the road.  Look out for cow #$%* in the curves –

[70CB750]

I don't think I would be working much if I lived where you live.

[ofreen]

I don't think I would be working much if I lived where you live.

I need to get out east and explore your neck of the woods.  Hopefully I'll have time in the not too distant future.

[70CB750]

I don't think I would be working much if I lived where you live.

I need to get out east and explore your neck of the woods.  Hopefully I'll have time in the not too distant future.

Let me know, I live 40 miles from Skyline drive - you should not miss that road.

[BobbyR]

I don't think I would be working much if I lived where you live.

I need to get out east and explore your neck of the woods.  Hopefully I'll have time in the not too distant future.

Yes, you must come out east. The topology is quite different as you keep moving from South to North. The South tends to be flatter unless you go through the Mountains which are quite pretty. Southern NJ is fairly flat and rolling with a lot of farms. As you enter NY you run right into the City which is really worth a look. As you head into upstate NY is becomes very hilly with barely a straight road to be found other than the Thruway which is uninteresting. The Northway into Canada is quite beautiful. The mountains here were formed by glaciers so they are very craggy. In Cali and out west they tend to be pressure ridges which sort of ripple.

[ofreen]

I am looking forward to it.  I'd like to see some of those roads in this thread if you want.

[70CB750]

Skyline Drive runs between Front Royal and Waynesborro:



Nicest in the Fall, IMHO.

map:

http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/whole_park.pdf

It connects to Blue Ridge Parkway:

http://www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm

and if you stick to the direction going South, you can get to the Tail of the Dragon eventually.

I usually don't ride more than 100 miles of it, 35mph and always on lookout for (almost) tame deer worns me out.

I heard Cherohala Skyway is better than Tail of the Dragon; did Dragon last Fall, did not get to Cherohala yet.

[70CB750]

I like Interstate 66 in the North, where it crosses MD, WV a VA with lots of hills and towns like Cumberland and also the Sideling hill road cut:



Route 33 cuts through Monongahela National Forest and Judy Gap, nice twists on that road - actually with specific warning for motorcycles 

And 211 crosses Massanutten Mountain, Lurray and leads to Skyline Drive, quite popular road too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massanutten_Mountain