Winter ride idea: down the east coast to Florida keys

[RickySpanish]

Hi,
Is there a good route from PA to the Florida keys?
I'm thinking about taking a ride down there in the middle of winter.
I'd ride down the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it's closed in the winter.
Is there any other nice route?
I don't want to take 95south, lol.

[Thumper]

Well, I have taken 17 which is really nice but I can"t remember if it goes all the way to Pennsylvania. US27 might be too far west but it goes all the way down through Florida. Also, US41 is nice.
Have a safe trip!

[twowheeladdict]

How about putting your bike on the autotrain and riding it down to Sanford, FL. Then you can tour from there.

[BLACK DOG]

Originally Posted by twowheeladdict

How about putting your bike on the autotrain and riding it down to Sanford, FL. Then you can tour from there.

that's what my friends w/Hardleys do

[waxrash]

In general the parkway is open, unless there is really bad weather. It is quite a bit colder up on the mountain. 95 is a bore, 17 is a crawl in some sections, 1 as well. There are plenty of routes in between but no specific road that makes the trek.
If you go around march 16, the Daytona 200 is running. First time last year, what a blast. It's on the last weekend of bike week, so many of the yahoos have gone home.


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[Bones]

Trouble is all the good roads heading down -- through West Virginia, Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia -- are in the mountains. You'll always face the threat of winter weather.

I've driven U.S. 1 from Homestead to Key West probably a dozen times, nearly always in a convertible. That's the transportation type I'd recommend. Going through the Keys I don't recall that I ever wished for a motorcycle...it's just not the kind of road that makes me crave two wheels. Very pretty, just flat and straight...ho-hum.

[Satanic Versys]

Mr. ah ... Ricky: Check out US-19, which runs from Lake Erie, north of Pittsburgh, to Memphis, Florida. There, it connects with US-41, which runs to Miami. South of Miami, well, you can figure it out. US-19 weaves with I-79 into West Virginia, so you could jump onto a slab if you get tired of small towns and traffic lights. I hope to take this route ... someday.
Best wishes for a great, safe ride.

[andykisz]

About 7 years ago I made a trip from CT to Orlando and then Tampa in October. I wanted to get south quickly to get away from the cold by the second day so I used I-81. It turned out to be a great alternative to I-95. Still super slab but a far cry from the mess of I-95. Also, it parallels the Blue Ridge so that remains an option weather permitting.

It will get you to the VA/TN border where you can probably patch in to some of the more scenic routes suggested in the other posts. Just my two cents.

Andy

[RickySpanish]

Hmmm...nice ideas...

I may take the auto train and take my 690 enduro.
I can keep my 50/50 rear tire and ride offroad, where ever that may be...I have no idea....I have a vaugue idea that there's a lot of "sugar sand".....


But taking the versys would be nice too.
I know there's some historic sites I'd like to visit. I'd like to avoid the cities and crowds....but St. Augustine would be nice to visit.

[twowheeladdict]

Originally Posted by RickySpanish

Hmmm...nice ideas...

I may take the auto train and take my 690 enduro.
I can keep my 50/50 rear tire and ride offroad, where ever that may be...I have no idea....I have a vaugue idea that there's a lot of "sugar sand".....


But taking the versys would be nice too.
I know there's some historic sites I'd like to visit. I'd like to avoid the cities and crowds....but St. Augustine would be nice to visit.

Definitely recommend touring St. Augustine. Catch a meal and drink at the Old Mill. Yes, sugar sand is plentiful and fun. Riding on the beach will always be a great memory for me.

[fasteddiecopeman]

Originally Posted by twowheeladdict

Definitely recommend touring St. Augustine. Catch a meal and drink at the Old Mill. Yes, sugar sand is plentiful and fun. Riding on the beach will always be a great memory for me.

...and don't miss the "Ripleys Believe it or Not" Museum....

[RickySpanish]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I had a great time. I went to St. Augustine, went to bike week in Daytona, saw the Daytona SX race (Villopoto on Kawi won), did some demo rides and rode in Ocala & Osceola N.F.
Here are some pics:

[tom edison]

Cool, away from that is , looks like some good spots for the KTM.
Nice photo's

[RickySpanish]

I'm glad you like my pics.
Sux to be back home....