From Toronto to Altoona, Pennsylvania - Dragon 2016

Destination Dragon

September is the best time of the year to do a motorcycle trip. Big or small. The weather is excellent in North America. The holiday traffic is now back at school, the motels are easy to book and the roads are quite.

Our nearly 4000km (2500mi) round trip from Toronto to Deals Gap in North Carolina would take us 8 days through Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina--return for the best riding I have ever done in America.

The Crew

Nick riding a very clean 2006 KTM, 950SM (Super Motard); always prepared MacGyver who can be seen waiting for everyone else to get their gear on.

Alex riding a 2012 Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200; ring leader and pusher of miles and in favour of infrequent stops.

Paul riding 1994 Harley Davidson, Road King; supporter of frequent stops, susceptible to wardrobe malfunctions and most respectful of the speed limits.

Marina riding a 2010 Triumph Street Triple, aka Peaches; not as slow as expected!

The Road

From Ellicottville which is a cute ski village in Cattaraugus County, New York, we took Route 75 South to Hamburg and continued South on mostly 219 slab to get as much miles in as humanly possible.

When we arrive at the Wye Motor Lodge, we were all beat but Alex was ready and willing to do more miles. He jumped off the Triumph Explorer and straddled Paul's Road King for a beer run, no helmet required.

Day 1 ended with take out pizza, perogies, beer and that good sleep you get after a good long ride with friends.

The Wye Motor Lodge was a clean and acceptable resting place for US $65 per night; large rooms with parking right outside for our girls. Despite the local right off the road way, it was remarkably quite.

Wye Motor Lodge is at 200 Plank Rd, Duncansville, PA 16635, United States; Phone:+1 814-695-4407.