[RC51Mike]

I hadn't actually ridden anywhere on the road in a couple years after I started to spend all my money on track days. For several years I'd spend a couple weeks in New England or upstate NY or elsewhere on a sport touring trip and was starting to wonder if I lost the desire to street ride. Last weekend I decided I needed to find out and rode 250 miles or so up to central Pennsylvania around Wellsboro, one of my favorite places to stop. For all the griping about PA roads (and I'm one of them, born and raised there) I sure found them to be in pretty good shape. Mostly on big sweeping roads rather than twisties, I had a great time again. After track riding, I really don't have the desire to tear up twisty roads with guard rails, blind turns and gravel. There are parts of PA where you just go through empty roads in the woods and farm fields with few distractions for miles and miles. Wellsboro itself was booked up so I had to stay a few miles down the road in Mansfield and listen to Harley riders in the bar complain about being tired after riding four whole hours. I swore off the RC51 for street duty after crippling carpal tunnel but the Monster suited me just fine. Still draws a lot of stares from people who still have no clue what a Ducati is. And those that do assume I'm a snob, which may or may not be true. Turns out my priorities were adjusted for a while but I did miss those rides. I don't think I can swing a whole vacation this year but, I'm sure I'll get back up there again in a few weeks, maybe with a reservation this time and maybe an extra day to get back up in the finger lakes again. Had to tell someone how refreshing it felt, good for the mind and spirit. And smiling under the visor at the most pathetic site in this country- a guy driving a minivan on vacation with a lawn chair strapped to the roof.

[Bacchus]

Sounds like a great road trip Mike! Glad you had fun...

[HondaGalToo]

Sounds awesome, Mike! I'm trying to do more street riding this summer, too. The Fingerlakes is on my list!