Who's starting off in or passing through Connecticut?

[TBonesR1100]

I'll be heading north to VT on 20 July. I'd love to join a ride in progress or hook up with folks originating from CT...I'm open to different routes...I'm getting psyched!

[BuckRider]

I'll be starting in Madison on the 20th. Will likely head to Orange to meet up with a friend. We are thinking of heading up via Western MA. then up through central VT.

We are staying 20 miles south of Essex Jct.

Not sure what time we are headed out yet, but I figure at least a 5 hour trip. :bolt

May also have a chase vehical (if wife doesn't want to ride pillion).

[TBonesR1100]

I'm about 20 minutes from Orange in Fairfiled Cty. Rt. 7 will take you all the way to Burlington. I really wouldn't mind if it took 10 hours as long as the ride is enjoyable and we pass a few gas stations...!

[lcarlson]

There are some good combinations of routes through CT, eastern NY, Mass & VT. I grew up in northwestern Mass (Williamstown), so I'm pretty familiar with the possibilities.

[TBonesR1100]

cool...let me know your time of lift off as i'm close to Redding - off Hattertown Rd...You camping on site?

[lcarlson]

I'm estimating 7 - 8 hours to get there on non-slab highways, so I figure a start of 8:00 to 9:00 am would put us in by late afternoon. I'm actually staying in Stowe, so I'll "commute" to Essex Junction.

[BuckRider]

I'm familiar with Route 7. It is pretty straight - and a bit congested in the Rutland area. I'm thinking Rt 100 once in Vermont, but any route is fine with me.

It is about a 250 mile trip by highway, so we will only need to find 1 or 2 gas stations.

I agree that a relatively early start is in order. Mapquest says it is 6.5 - 7 hours by back road.

We are staying in Starksboro and also "commuting" to Essex Junction. I used to live in Colchester, VT. Any commute in the area is wonderful. :D

[Rob Nye]

I'm familiar with Route 7. It is pretty straight - and a bit congested in the Rutland area. I'm thinking Rt 100 once in Vermont, but any route is fine with me.

It is about a 250 mile trip by highway, so we will only need to find 1 or 2 gas stations.

I agree that a relatively early start is in order. Mapquest says it is 6.5 - 7 hours by back road.

We are staying in Starksboro and also "commuting" to Essex Junction. I used to live in Colchester, VT. Any commute in the area is wonderful. :D

Hey now,

Any road (even the interstate) near the rally site is a great commuting road.

See you in Vermont, It's not flat!

[BuckRider]

Looks like we'll be staying at St.Michaels now! Someone cancelled a reservation, and we had put our name on the waiting list, so we'll be headed all the way now. :dance

We are shooting for a 9:00 am start - gotta get the dogs to the kennel first and I haven't yet figured out how to get both of them on my bike at the same time..... :banghead

[n1hnr941]

I am leaving from New Hartford, Ct. This will be my second rally. Went to the Finger Lakes rally a couple years ago. Can we camp on the the rally grounds and is it first come, first serve type deal? I'll be going up rt 8 and rt 7. It is shorter by 40 miles and a nicer drive. the traffic can be a bugger on that road sometimes. Only two lanes. Anyone intersted we can meet somewhere. bob

[BuckRider]

n1hnr94 - are you headed up on the 20th? Since there are several riders from CT headign up, perhaps we should plan an official route with some stops and times so people can join up? - Just an idea.....

[AZgman]

I will now be headed out on Thursday the 20th from NE, CT. If you post a route with approximate times, I would be interested in hooking up.

[BuckRider]

Is everyone up for Rt. 8 to 7 into Vermont? Rt. 7 in Rutland area is tough as is South Burlington area, otherwise an enjoyable (albeit straight) road.

If so. I can probably put together a trip plan with times for those roads.

[lcarlson]

From Redding CT is:

U.S. Route 7 to Great Barrington MA;
Mass. Route 41 to U.S. Route 20 west of Pittsfield MA;
Route 20 west to N.Y. 22;
N.Y. 22 to Route 43 in Stephentown NY;
Route 43 to U.S. Route 7 in Williamstown MA;
Route 7 to Manchester VT;
Route 11 to Route 100;
Route 100 to Stowe VT

[TBonesR1100]

That sounds like a plan...I'm planning to leave on that thursday so far...putting together my loose agenda for the area...lots of intersting things to do and see in VT...

[n1hnr941]

hey Buck and everyone else.. I am goin up on the 20th . How do we all get hooked up. I will be going up route 8 to 7 and on up north.We could meet in winsted at Canton BMW at the intersection of 8 and 44.

[lcarlson]

Those going from CT via Winstead could join those going up Route 7 in Canaan CT or alternatively, in Great Barrington MA.

[n1hnr941]

Ya-ya, that is a good idea too. I am hoping to get a grand parade.!!!

[BuckRider]

OK, lets say we meet at Canton Cycles at 10:00 am, and then pick a way point to hook up with the Rt 7 contingent. Canaan, Great Barrangton, or where Rt 7 and 20 meet up near Lee are all fine with me.

Rt 8 north of Winstead is all about twisties along a river with decent pull-offs.

lcarlson - have you tried Rt 183 (Rt 8 over to 7 - Great Barrington)?

According to Mapquest, it is about 45 vminutes via Rt 44 & Rt 7 from Winsted to Great Barrington. If you want to use Great Barrington, should we pick 11:00 am as a meetign time?

[n1hnr941]

I am game. I live 10 minutes from Canton Cyles. For clarification Canton Cycles moved to Winsted and is still called Canton Cycles for those not familiar with the shop and is right at the end of the multilane Route 8. Go to the end of Route 8 and look to the right and thar she be...! Route 8 continues to the right and then a right again at the NCCTC college 1/4 mile up from Canton Cycles. Also make note on the rally forum about reflective stuff on your helmet in Vermont. :bikes

[lcarlson]

Don't believe I have been on RT. 183. In this case, it wouldn't really make sense for those of us coming up route 7 from southern CT, as 7 runs basically due north to Great Barrington from where we are starting.

[BuckRider]

Hi lcarlson: sorry I was asking about the road in the context of it being a way for us to cut over from Winsted to Breat Barrington to meet up - my bad.

Is 11:00 am a good meet time for Great Barrington?

[lcarlson]

11:00 am in Great Barrington sounds about right to me -- we'll have to come up with an easily located spot to meet.

[n1hnr941]

So we are not meeting in Winsted and are in Great Barrington?

[lcarlson]

Riders from the Hartford area may want to meet in Winstead, then join the riders from SW CT in Great Barrington.

[n1hnr941]

Aye, aye Captain.... Those going to Winsted I say 10 am is good

[BuckRider]

I can see from the time stamps that everyone had a productive day at work... :laugh

As for meeting in Great Barrington: we could meet at their High School which is on Rt 7, about 2 miles north of the intersection with Rt. 23. School should be out that time of year, so I would think we could congregate in their parking lot while everyone rondevous:

Monument Mountain Regional High School
600 Stockbridge Road (Rt 7) Great Barrington, MA

Here is a link to mapquest: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&formtype=address&popflag=0&latitude=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&cat=&address=600+Stockbridge+Road&city=Great+Barrington&state=MA&zipcode=

I am also open to other suggestions - just getting the ball rolling :stick

[Callmethebreeze]

Winsted to Great Barrington to Essex Junction on the 20th sounds like a plan. I'll check with my riding buddy to see if he's a go.
This could be good.
Breeze

[lcarlson]

I just learned that riders will be assembling at Cliff's BMW in Danbury CT for a 9:00 am departure for the rally.

[soffiler]

I see this thread began back in April, and it sounds like it is oriented toward the western part of CT, but, for what it's worth, I'll be leaving my home in eastern CT (FAR eastern CT, 200 feet west of the Rhode Island border) early in the AM on July 20th and heading up using a route "to-be-determined" although I am leaning heavily toward finding an expedient route to VT 100 and enjoying the ride from there. I am camping onsite and want to get there moderately early Thursday. At the moment I am solo, but flexible. I figure once on Rt 100 I won't be solo any more, regardless.

[r100s]

Are all of you nuts? I hate the super slab probably more than all off you put together.
And have traveled all these roads that are mentioned. Rt7, Rt8, 22, 8a etc.
I did a preliminary run on Sat. from Bridgeport to Dalton MA. 115 miles / 2hrs.20min. And was moving at a good clip ignoring the posted speed limit.
Rt8 is good until Otis MA. but than becomes to residential, 35 mph tops with traffic. Which will be heavy during the week.
Rt7 After Kent CT is OK, but once you’re close to Great Barrington MA. Becomes very congested.
Do not forget that the locals that live in these areas have no interstate to use. And in the middle of the day all the rural routes in CT, and Ma. Will be like Main St USA.
I have decided, and recommend that you grin and bare the interstate until you’re in VT. Than take some rural route that we nutmeggers do not get a chance to ride on.
WARRNING TO ALL: taking back roads the whole way will make for a very long day. And after 8 hours in the saddle, your judgment will be impaired.

[r100s]

And by the way. The later you get there, the less you will have to pick from if camping. (like real rally goer's do).

[lcarlson]

If you check my April 24 post, you'll see a route I recommend. Sure, you hit a little congestion around Great Barrington and Bennington, but hey, these are not major population centers, and the rest is nice and bucolic.

For me, early arrival is not an issue -- I'm not camping, and want to enjoy the ride.

[jshuck]

I'm leaving the 14th!!! NA Na....

[BuckRider]

OK, here is a map of the "Plan" as I understand it:

http://www.yourshelter.com/images/mc/cttomoaoverview.jpg

According to Garmin Mapsource, it will take the Cliff's contingency 1:40 to get to Great Barrington. Original plan was to meet in Great Barrington at 11:00 am. Cliffs group starts out at 9:00 am, so this should still work.

For those meeting in Winsted at Canton Cycle, it is a 0:48 ride to Great Barrington. So this group should be able to leave Winsted at 10:00 am as planned.

If we follow lcarlson's suggested route from there, it will take 5:20 to get to fairgrounds (not to bad considereing it is a 4+ hour ride by high-speed slab). So with minimal stops, we could be in Essex by 6:00 to 6:30 pm.

I am all for lcarlson's suggested route, as this is as much about the journey as the destination.

For those who want; I've created some GPS files in Garmin Mapsource of this ride. I have created 3 different formats, so pick your poison appropriately.

For those coming from other directions, we should be at the intersection of RT 11 and RT 100 at 1:26pm.

At RT 103 and RT 100 (Ludlow) at 1:47pm.

RT 4 and RT 100 in West Bridgewater (near Sherburne) at 2:09 pm.

All times are rough estimates of course so :violin wait if you wish, or not....

Here is a zipped file for GPS: CT_to_MOA.zip (http://www.yourshelter.com/images/mc/CT_to_MOA.zip)

[lcarlson]

I am still planning to leave from Redding CT about 9:00 am Thursday. I'll swing by Marcus Dairy in Danbury around then in case anybody is interested. Should be at the intersection of Route 7 (Main Street) and Route 41 in Great Barrington about 11:00 (it's at the north end of town just west of the bridge over the river). If anybody's there, great; if not, I'll head up Route 41 solo. I'm on a black R1150R BTW.

[Callmethebreeze]

I am still planning to leave from Redding CT about 9:00 am Thursday. I'll swing by Marcus Dairy in Danbury around then in case anybody is interested. Should be at the intersection of Route 7 (Main Street) and Route 41 in Great Barrington about 11:00 (it's at the north end of town just west of the bridge over the river). If anybody's there, great; if not, I'll head up Route 41 solo. I'm on a black R1150R BTW.

I've had a change of plans due to volunteer commitment so I'll be headed up on Wed.AM. I'll slab it to Bratlleboro then shoot over to 100N from there.

Breeze

[TBonesR1100]

I'll be leaving the Danbury area by 8am on Friday 21 July. My original plan was to leave Thursday but...

Send me a pm if the lift off time on Friday works for you. I'm agnostic as to route but i prefer not to dawdle...!

[Unregistered]

I am game. I live 10 minutes from Canton Cyles. For clarification Canton Cycles moved to Winsted and is still called Canton Cycles for those not familiar with the shop and is right at the end of the multilane Route 8. Go to the end of Route 8 and look to the right and thar she be...! Route 8 continues to the right and then a right again at the NCCTC college 1/4 mile up from Canton Cycles. Also make note on the rally forum about reflective stuff on your helmet in Vermont. :bikes

Guy's this sounds good, if you don't mind I'd like to tag along on my K1100.

[Woodie]

I'm leaving home around 8 or so, should be at Canton Cycles by 9:30 or so, then on to the North!

[soffiler]

I'm leaving home around 8 or so, should be at Canton Cycles by 9:30 or so, then on to the North!

Woodie - glad to hear you've got a plan! You have PM from me. Sorry it didn't work out.

[Woodie]

Met with one other guy (K1100)..had a nice ride. Missed the folks in Great Barrington, (directionally challenged finding the school, arrived there about 11:10 or so). Fair amount of construction/traffic along Route 7. Did well by cutting over to 116.

Hope to ride w/ folks tomorrow into Canada. :D

[Unregistered]

I ended up making the trip by myself -- used the Taconic Parkway to eat up some miles early on, but it still took me almost 8 hours. A great ride, though. I'm staying at the Green Mountain Inn in Stowe, about to head over to the rally now --

lcarlson