SMOG WEEKEND

New York State Watershed Region

June 28-29, 2025

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Fellow Rogues, Scoundrels, and Highwaymen:

 

Each year in Vermont many individuals lament that they may not see many of the members of our "Vermont Group" again until the following spring.  That is certainly an undesirable circumstance.

 

Summer Motorcycle Overnight Getaway (SMOG) Weekends are the solution!  Each trip has a unique destination and a related theme.  We depart Gaby’s Café (gabyscafe941nj.com) in Frenchtown, NJ on Saturday mornings, travel great roads during the day on Saturdays, enjoy exceptional company at dinner on Saturday evenings, and then retrace the route and return home late Sunday afternoons.

 

Our SMOG Weekend for June 28-29 will take us to the New York State Watershed Region which can be described as “miles of gently rolling countryside and empty sweepers”.  If you have never visited this region, you are in for a treat.  Below you will find a high-level map view of the route, a photo of one of the Hawk's Nest lookouts along Route 97, and a preview of Route 30 along the Cannonsville Reservoir.  It will be "kickstands up" promptly at 9:00AM at Gaby’s Café and we will travel:

 

• Routes 519 and 23 through the rolling countryside of New Jersey to Port Jervis, NY;

• Route 97 up the scenic Delaware River Valley to Hancock, NY; and then

• Routes 30 and 30A through the New York State watershed area (read "empty sweepers") to Johnstown, NY.

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                               

 

It will be a comfortable ride of approximately 285 miles on varied and outstanding roads.  

 

We will be staying at the Johnstown-Gloversville Holiday Inn (click here) on Saturday night.  The hotel has a bar, a restaurant, and even a pool.  (That last item is wonderful after a day in the saddle.)  There are several gastronomic options available just a short walk from the hotel or an Uber ride to the sprawling metropolis of downtown Johnstown.  (The hotel's on-site restaurant was disappointing last year.)  A room at this hostelry with two double beds or one king will set you back about $200.

 

"How do I participate in this experience?" you ask.  Here are the three simple steps:

 

• Advise me that you will be joining us (just send me an email at the address appearing below);

• Make your hotel reservation (selecting the refundable option in the event the weather gods frown upon us); and

• Arrive at Gaby’s Café (gabyscafe941nj.com) in Frenchtown with a full tank of gas and be prepared for a "kickstands up" departure at 9:00AM.

 

If you are flying solo and want to share a room with someone Saturday night, let me know and I will put you in touch with other solo riders.

 

Rain date? Think positively.

 

If you have any questions or plan to join us, email me at WanderlustRidersNJ@gmail.com

 

Fred Larcombe