Just got back from a wonderful five day ride from Pittsburgh, up through the Catskills into Lake Placid, NY. Crossed over Lake Champlain into Vermont and then snaked my way down through into Southern Vermont and then over to Syracuse area at my brother's house, then down through PA mountains home.

I logged 1600 miles on my 2008 XL1200C and loved every minute of it except the last 5 hours home when I finally hit rain and my butt was really starting to hurt. If anyone wonders about seeing upstate NY and Vermont, then it is worth the trip by bike or car.

 

Looks like you had a great trip.glad you enjoyed it.most people dont realize how nice upper ny state,vermont,rhode island,maine are.we have some of nicest scenery and bike roads in the country!

 

Thanks for posting the pictures. Vermont is beautiful.
Funny, I woke up this morning thinking about a trip to Vermont, then I see this post.
Synchronicity baby!
Ride safe.

 

What roads did you take?

 

coming out of the catskills, we jumped on and followed 30N up to Lake Placid area. Left there and followed 86 to 9N and then followed 22 into Essex to catch the ferry across Lake Champlain.

The North Ferry was still closed due to some flooding up there so we altered our route. Looked like the Essex ferry was just barely opened as the landing had lots of debris on it still.

Across the lake, we rode rt 7 for a bit then jumped on one of my favorite roads,. rt 17 up over the mountain. Great switchbacks and I was banked so hard around a few bends, I was scraping. Jumped on 100 and rode that for awhile until we hit rt 125 and back onto rt 7. Followed that for awhile then snaked over to rt 4/100 and rode that out snaking our way back over to 7 again through Coolidge state park and rode 7 down into Bennington to stay for the night.

Next day, we rode 7 back up to Mt Equinox and then headed west through Saratoga Springs which was the worst part of the trip. After being on back roads, we hit that town and it was extremely busy as we rode through town. we rode 29w for a long time and then got into my Brother's territory, so I lost what roads we were on after that.

Good riding to say the least..

 

Looks like it was a great trip! I know that country a little, but never did it on my bike. It is some of the best this country has to offer.

And cool for doing it on your Sporty! I also have an '08 XL1200C and love taking it road trips. I bet it was a blast going up Equinox.

 

When you turned left to start climbing Whiteface, you were only a few hundred yards from my house.
That toll road is getting a little bumpy isn't it?

 

I'm "from" Northern New York and have had a blast every time I made it around the Adirondack region. +1 for doing it on a sporty. I'm glad you enjoyed the area.

 

Great pics, I was born and raised in NH/VT area. It's great to go home and ride the mountains!

 

Thanks for sharing!