From: sysop@elan.glassboro.edu (Ken Denton (Supervisor))
Subject: Bear Mountain, NY Trip Report
Keywords: TOUR NEW YORK
Organization: Glassboro State College, Glassboro, NJ
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 17:24:41 GMT

I just came back from my first weekend motorcycle trip, and thought I'd
post a report.  Nothing spectacular, so apologies in advance.

Day One

Left Glassboro, NJ by cage (VW Corrado SLC, for those who care) to meet
up with my bike (82 CB750K), which had been resting comfortably in
Bridgewater, NJ, after the insertion of a new rotor (electrical).  Met
up with my two companions for the trip, Greg on a 91 EX500, and Harv,
on a 92 Nighthawk 750 (gee Harv, they haven't really changed that
bike much in 10 years, have they?).  Got to ride through industrial
North Jersey (yuk), through Steel Gap (that's what Harv told me it was,
the reason was not immediately apparant), and onto I-80 toward the George
Washington Bridge.  After watching Greg's EX narrowly avoid morphing into
an odd Kawa-Nissan mutation, we arrived at the first decent road of the
trip, NY 9W along the Hudson.  I should point out that I have only ridden
about 500 miles so far, mostly in Southern NJ, where road designers were
equipped with only a ruler.  Roads that have turns and hills were quite
new and exciting for all of us.

9W is a great alternate route to the Thruway, as it winds its way next to
the Hudson River for most of the way up New York State.  As luck would have
it, there was a little construction going on, including grooving the road
for some new layer of 'stuff'.  Riding on grooves was not a pleasant exper-
ience, what with the bike weaving this way and that, but maybe I'll calm
down with more miles under my belt.  After that stretch, nothing but great
riding up to Bear Mountain State Park, our destination.  Most of the roads
around BMSP are very twisty and hilly, posted at between 15-30 mph, with
one v-e-r-y nice 15 mph hairpin through the woods.  In 30 minutes, I had
leaned more than in 500 miles of South Jersey.  This was going to be a
'crash' course in turning skills.

Got ourselves settled in the Bear Mountain Inn (expensive, but very nice)
and went out to feed and explore.  Ate in Highland Falls (any Billy Joel
fans out there?), and did a quick tour of West Point (kinda nice to be
saluted whilst on a bike), and headed back to the inn.

Day Two

An all twisty-riding day.  Up and down Bear Mountain and environs, very
beautiful roads, in excellent condition.  Went further up 9W into a quaint
small town called Cornwall to grab a bite.  On the way back down, stumbled
onto Route 218, which ran through the woods with posted 25-35 mph turns
for a while, then opened up onto the side of a mountain with 20 mph posted
turns.  Looked like something from magazine ads, or from the West Coast.
On your right, mountain rock wall.  On your left, small stone wall and
maybe 500 foot sheer drop.  In front of you, 20 mph downhill twisties.  We
spent quite a bit of time just going back up and down this road.

Went further west, on something called Seven Lakes Road, met two bikers,
one of which was touring from Jersey on his FZR1000!  His friend was on
a much more touring-oriented Interceptor :-).  Finally headed back to Bear
Mountain to do a little hiking.

Day Three

Got up at 5:00 to watch the sunrise over the Hudson Valley.  Saw lots of
deer on the way up the summit, and the roads were fairly slippery, not
a good combination.  After viewing nature's spectacle, had a pretty chilly
ride down 9W into West Haverstraw (or thereabouts) for some Dunkin' Donuts
coffee.

Did some more general riding on and around BMSP, and took one more ride up
and down Route 218 before heading for home.  Had a most unpleasant headwind
on the NJ Turnpike for 2 hours to end the trip.


        Observations:

                4->1 Kerker on my bike WAY too loud.  At highway speed,
                it's all I hear.  Found a yard that has stock ones for
                $200 (4->4).  If they're in good shape, that's my next
                purchase.

                Jockey-type underwear is cutting into my butt something
                fierce.  Guess I'll try boxers.

                Don't stay at the Overlook Inn at BMSP.  Very motel-like
                with 4 star prices.

                Duffel bag from Eddie Bauer did very well bungeed to the
                back of the seat.  Suppose I'll get some saddlebags for
                the next trip, though.

                Watching Harv undo his bungee to remove his seat to lock
                his helmet (Nighthawk 750) every time was humorous.


Well, thanks for listening.  If anyone has ridden the same area, I'd like
to hear from you.  Or if you know some great rides a day's ride from NJ, I'd
like to hear from you too.