NYS Expedition in the planning - suggestions please.

[woytovich]

I am starting to plan a short (1 week or so) expedition style tour of (mostly northern) New York State. I'm looking for suggestions. Roads to travel, unusual/unique places to visit and any easy backroad/off-road travel opportunities along the way. I'm looking for "real" places... I'm not interested in the standard tourist attractions like Niagra Falls. I am looking for things like the Long Island Duck (http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/NYFLAduck.html). Real local restaurants, odd museums, quirky local establishments... Also dramatic scenery and roads that are interesting to drive. I want to stay off of the interstates as much as possible.

I'm shooting for doing this this fall before the snow flies, an optimistic plan I know. Planning on a low budget affair, sleeping in my small travel trailer and generally roughing it. Probably traveling with my 13 year old son and maybe my 11 year old son. We plan on stopping alot on the way to see stuff and take photographs. Hoping to write it all up with photos...

Any thoughts are welcome.

Mark
mark@woytovich.com

 

[mudpaws]

Mark-

Something that comes to mind is Au Sable Chasm...My cousin went there growing up...Also Howe Caverns...look them both up for more info as I've never been to either as yet. Just heard they were cool and interesting to visit.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[woytovich]

Thanks for the idea... this trip has been rescheduled to this next spring... so if anyone else has input bring it on!

 

[macneill]

Dave's Place for some wheeling...

 

[woytovich]

Maybe rabbit... maybe

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

If it were me I would shoot for a trip from NE of the finger lakes east into the Adirondacks. Go west in Albany and pick a spot and head north. Then when you get up there start meandering your way easy. Some really po-dunct stuff up there, roads that hardly exist, lots and lots of lakes, sick multi day high, gnarly, multi-portage specific canoeing and terrain, and real back country. then come back in somewhere in the central western park, near places like the Racquets and Long Lake. And then into the north western Adirondacks. Perhaps take the back way up to Saranac. Heck from there maybe even hit Ausable Chasm (tourist destination but impressive) if you want)... Beleive it or not there is not a lot out stuff out there, super super rural and it is gorgous. Almost all paved for the most part, but gorgous. I grew up/lived up near Keene Valley and we did a lot of exploring up there, particualrly with the canoe. Never got very far as far as distance, other than driving. Took a trip up there on a back back way from Saint Lawrence college after my interview that I will never forget...

Then maybe head to Vermont and go south back to LI that way. There is a great all-dirt road system starting a couple exits west of White River Junction and goes south and south east past Barre and such. Through light deep Vermont mountain valleys, places where there is still an old rickety general store at a 3 way intersection in the middle of nowhere of some random dirt road system. Goes through a town called Bernardston, and there is a real hardcore cruiserhead out there named Stuart Levasseur (old french Canadian) who has more 60 parts than you can imagine. If he still has it, imagine he would, been about 8 years since I was there. And cruise back that way. Completely rural. That direction even deep into Northern and Western Mass is great. Then west of Greenfield is also super back road-ish and good stuff, through Colrane and stuff. that all would be a huge, amazing trip. Then down to the ferry and go home that way...

 

[woytovich]

Wow... great! I'd love to get more specific info... actual roads to seek out... what you describe sounds like just what I'm looking for... mark@woytovich.com

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

no worries Mark, also a typo I meant go NW of the finger lakes up to that region, then start heading east. Couldn't tell you specific roads until you really get around the high peaks region of the Adirondacks (Keene Valley Lake Placid area and north and east of there).. But pull out a map and you'll find some killer stuff out there. Honestly, just pick a route, the more rural the better. Seriously some back woods stuff out there... Then when you get the Adirondacks feel free to ask my advice if you want any further info...! Again Long Lake to the Saranacs is a killer route and gorgous, lots of great beautiful lakes.. And north and north east of that region are also pretty killer, some great routes up towards Plattsburgh (just north of the park) that are also super rural.. Rule of the Bones type rural (takes place up there)... Then I would take the route along Lake Champain heading south (and again you can stop by Ausable Charm and falls and other desinations if you want) then actually take the bridge over unless you want to take the ferry (cheap, I think $18 with car) to Middlebury area. From there head east. Perhaps over Lincoln gap towards Mad River Glen to shoot over to where I mentioned in Vermont. Or you can head north from there if you want to hit Burlington. Or, head east, then go north through Huntington (there is a great gorge there too, lots of typical Vermont barns. When you see the most massive white barn you've ever seen, smile at it I painted it for about a month one summer).. And take the Bolton Valley I-89 exit west to Burlington or east to the Bernardston/Woodstock area I mentioned about 30 miles. And go through those roads. You can head south, then even go see and/or check out Wally's (Tyke Moses) area down near Bennington, then down south into Mass that way...

Hope this all helps. This all would be a killer epic trip. I've done a lot of it but never together, it would be a blast.. I bet well over 1K miles easily... I'll PM you my phone number if you want any more specifics.. Cheers, Andre

 

[KevinNY]

I know I'm late to this thread but the area you are talking about is my back yard. I'd be happy to give you some specifics, like long dirt tracks with excellent camping in the heart of the adirondacks, or even join you for a couple of days.

 

[woytovich]

Excellent. I was going to revive this thread here in the next month or so... THANKS!!!

MArk

 

[JohnnyC]

did you go yet?

you should go on an abandonded tour of NY...many places to ...........see link:

New York

its not listed here but...and its free to see....just like anything thats abandoned....tahawus is a cool old titanium mine from the 1940's see link:Tahawus or Adirondak - Ghost Town

there is even two abandoned fj40's there...but...if you remove them you will be arrested

 

[woytovich]

I have not gone yet... I'm hoping to find some time this spring - my son's school schedule will dictate our travel schedule...

Thanks for the info and links...

 

[macneill]

New York

Wow, some pretty cool places there. Makes me want to go myself.

 

[Lovey]

New York

Wow, some pretty cool places there. Makes me want to go myself.

That Xmas tree is/was a customers on my route.
Pretty big production when they take those down.


Mark,

what do you think of a club expedition run in the future?

 

[woytovich]

A club run would be way cool. I've thought about a run up through Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and across to Newfoundland and then eventually to Quebec and back down to NY...