Took off Sunday afternoon about 3:30 from Eastern Mass.  Traveled 150 miles Sunday evening, 575 miles on Monday (my new benchmark!)

I rode out 119 across Mass and hooked up with Rt 9 to Bennnington VT, then slept (off the bike for about 12 hours).  On Monday I followed Rt 7 all the way to Lake Champlain, rode Rt 2 over the Lake islands and headed for the Canadian Border.

In Quebec (I need to learn French!) I looped over 223 to 202 and came back into the States on 89.  High-tailed it down the interstate to Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory in Waterbury (ummm, good).

Rode up Rt 100 to Stowe, and then took 108 over Smuggler's Notch and back.  Then it was back down 100 to 89.

Then it got interesting because I missed my planned road, over to NH to ride the Kancamagus highway to route 16.  Instead I wandered around in mountain valleys in the middle of nowhere.  Finally got directions from a local and took a DIRT ROAD OVER A MOUNTAIN!  Who says the GS500 is not a dual sport!  I was a little tense but it was cool.

Finally back on the Interstate (91 this time), headed for home with a few last detours on some back roads.  Got home about 11:30 Monday, tired but deeply satisfied.

Trev

FYI, I have come away from this trip convinced that I have a long way to go before I really outgrow the GS500.  I have ridden close to 10,000 miles now since Spring 2002 and I am definitely a better rider than I was,  but the GS still has a lot to offer.

I am just now really playing with using the high end of the power band exiting corners.  Is it necessary?  No, but it is another unexplored dimension (for me, anyway).

If you haven't really played with your GS on some good back country roads, I encourage you to.  The highway is becoming downright boring

Trev

I did 584 miles on my DL650 in one day through the Adirondacks.
I gotta try this same trip on the GS.
I tell you the GS is a trip to ride.  I went out yersterday on my usual trip around Greenwood lake and its much more fun than the DL.  If you work that gearbox and let that engine wail its an experience.  If you have the balls to ride it to its limits you will never outgrow it.

damn  that's a hell of a ride trev.  do you know what your longest stretch without getting off the bike was?  i've found i can do 2/2.5 hours before i start getting really saddle sore.  but if you're doing more country roads (2 and 7) you're moving around a bit more on the curves and that helps.  i guess :dunno:

I think my longest stint was 3 to 3.5 hours.  Just the way things happened; I only let the bike hit reserve 1 time when I was on the interstate close to home.  Otherwise I got gas whenever I could after 75-100 miles.

** edit ** actually that is  not quite true.  I went 130-150 a few times, now that I think of it.

I did get pretty sore, though  I need that buns of steel video.  Conditioning is the key.

Oh, I also got anywhere from 55 to just below 70mpg for gas mileage depending on how I was riding.  Not bad for saddlebags and a tank bag filled with a full socket set, allen wrenches, screwdrives and pliers  

Trev

Cool ride!  How close did I get with this map?  (Your starting/ending point was shrouded in mystery, and the details at the end got a little sketchy, so I had to guess on some stuff.)

Pretty close, Kerry!

Starting point was Rt 62 from Beverly.  I did something weird here, too, so just call it 62 to Route 2 (2a?) West to 119.

From around Montpelier (near point 9) I traveled south on 89 to somewhere near Tunbridge.  I was supposed to cut across to 302 but I missed my road (64).  Between Tunbridge and Orford is where I wandered around in the mountains for a while.  Finally I got on 91 somewhere south of a town called Chelsea and then picked up 89 again (I was going to take 91 back North to 302, but it was getting late).

From there, I stayed on 89 all the way to Manchester, NH where I picked up 101 East to 95 South.  Last leg is Rt 97 South from 95 back to Beverly, MA.

Where did you get that map?  Did you scan it in?

Quote from: mp183Where did you get that map?  Did you scan it in?

Nope, I made it with Microsoft Streets & Trips 2002.  A very handy program, and pretty cheap too if you shop around.  (The current version is for 2004.)

tmckay, I updated the original map (above).  Better?

EDIT: I updated the map one more time -- changed it from Road style to Terrain style.  Hopefully it conveys the countryside a little better.

Gorgeous, Kerry!  That is very accurate.  I did do some other additional minor wandering off of 95 to avoid some tolls but I'm not sure I could even reproduce it.

Cool, I'm going to print this to a PDF, or maybe I can turn it into my desktop

Thanks,

Trev

I'd be happy to email you a "full-screen" version.  I just didn't think it would make sense to HOST one that big.

It's on its way!

Thanks!  It's on my second monitor (all the words make it tough to use as a desktop where files/folders are listed

QuoteI did 584 miles on my DL650 in one day through the Adirondacks.
I gotta try this same trip on the GS.

mp183,

 I am going to be in Saranac in August at the Young Life camp there.  I am thinking about sticking the GS in the pickup and taking it with me (wife is coming too).  Could go for some early morning rides.

I was actually an expedition guide there in 1991.  Lived in an army tent for 3 months.  I love the Adirondacks, but I haven't been back lately.

[quote="Kerry]
Nope, I made it with Microsoft Streets & Trips 2002.  A very handy program, and pretty cheap too if you shop around.  (The current version is for 2004.)

Quote
Damn, never thought of that.  I have the 98 version which is primitive.
I work for a printing company with color copiers so I can print myself copies of routes I intend to take.
Thanks for the info.