Rally Routes |
Hold on there, partner... you didn't think we would post the actual routes
here, did you? We must be off our rockers because we did, but you will
have to accept our terms first. What is presented on this page is a sweeping
overview of the rides and highlight the route areas, sights and attractions
you will experience along the ride.
On Friday July 16th, we have a very nice route laid out for the High Stakes Poker Run. The route is about 150 miles and has some great stops along the
way. We have a on your own lunch stop planned at the Jean Bonnet Tavern
and a special treat for desert at Fishers County Store. You'll also have time to stop at the Flight 93 Memorial and the Johnstown Flood Memorial if you didn't make it earlier in the week! Check out the route sheet and be sure to include the Friday Poker Run on your list of things to do while at Floodcity! The cost to participate in the Poker Run is $10.00 for solo rider; $15.00 for two up with 2 chances to win. The proceeds from this event will be split 50% to the winner, 50% to a selected charity.
Frank Lloyd Wright Fallingwater/Kentuck Knob Home Tours
If you've signed up to take the Fallingwater or Kentuck Knob home tours here is a route that you might choose to take. Enjoy the the tour! Remember to sign up on your pre-registration forms!
Ice Cream Social - Kissel Motorsports
Long time COG member Rick Miller has organized an Ice Cream Social during Floodcity for Wednesday afternoon at Kissel's Motorsports in State College. State College is also home to the Penn State University Creamery where they produce some great Ice Cream and Kissell's will be serving it up for us by the scoop. Large scoops for the Security Squad guys! Ben & Jerry got their start in the ice cream business by taking a mailorder course from Penn State! Rick has laid out a great ride for us though central PA both on the way to Kissell's and on the return. On the way there you can experience Route 45, the Purple Heart Highway. This will be a great route to try any day! Take a look.
Hyner View and Route 144:
This route will take you into Northern PA and follow along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. You'll head north out of Johnstown on Rt. 53 and into
Phillipsburg, PA.and Black Moshannon State Park. You'll continue North to Lockhaven, PA before heading west on Rt 120. This section of Rt. 120 follows the Susquehanna though the valley and offers a fast track, wide open route west. You'll be able to stop at Hyner View State Park and watch the hang gliders before heading on to Rt 144 south in Renovo. Rt. 144 is without a doubt one the best motorcycle roads in Pennsylvania, and on a lucky day you'll run it's length without seeing another vehicle! This area offers you many chances to get off the "suggested route" and find your own way. Don't be surprised if you see a Black Bear, lots of deer and maybe an ELK! You'll want to get an early start as this is at least a 325 mile day! Maybe more if you take a side trip from Hyner View to Slate Run for some terrific sandwiches at a quaint general store in the middle of nowhere.
Heritage Ride
If you only have time for one day of sightseeing and riding while at the Flood City Rally this is the route you'll want to take. It will allow you time to enjoy the beautiful western PA scenery and stop at some of the best tourist attractions the area has to offer. This route stops at the PA Trout Hatchery in Reynoldsville where you'll be able to see some huge breeding stock and use the facilities to rid yourself of that morning coffee! And our last stop will visit the Johnstown Flood Memorial, where you can learn about the Great Johnstown Flood of 1889 where over 2000 people lost their lives and the Red Cross got it's start!
Railroaders Delight, PA:
A pleasant 100 mile loop between Johnstown and Altoona with stops at the
following railroad related locations.
Railroaders Memorial Museum Rally Special - $4 for Museum & Horseshoe curve
Horseshoe Curve
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
Railfan's guide to the Altoona Area
Lincoln Highway, PA:
You've no doubt read stories about this route before in some of the commercial motorcycle magazines, now you can ride it yourself! We'll route you on a very scenic 25 miles trip over the mountain to Ligonier, PA with a great breakfast stop at Ruthie's Dinner. Once in Ligonier you'll be able to pick up PA. Route 30 which is also known as the Lincoln Highway, America's first coast-to-coast highway. You'll be able to travel east through some great country following the Lincoln Highway Driving Guide mile by mile, stopping whenever you come across something that interest you. Your last stop of the day before turning back towards Johnstown may be Bedford, PA where you'll enjoy many fine shops and attractions.
Seneca Rocks, WV - 3 States Run:
This is one of my favorite day routes out of Johnstown. It will cover some of the best riding (twisty, fast, very scenic) of the Floodcity National. We'll head south out of Johnstown and you'll spend time in three states; Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia and at the end of the day you'll have about 325 miles showing on the odometer! You'll want to get an early start so you have lots of time for sightseeing. The New England guys really liked this run during the "Scouting Party". Here are a few places you'll pass by:
Flight 93 Memorial / Bedford County, PA loop:
We'll head south out of Johnstown and follow one of my favorite routes (Ridge Road) south towards Somerset County. Our first stop will be at the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA. This may be a very personal, emotional stop for
some, but definitely a must do while in the area. This site is on a fast track to become a National Park! From Shanksville we'll travel the Lincoln Hwy east through Schellsburg, PA (antiques) and on to Bedford, PA, where you have many opportunities to eat, shop or site see! Your route home from Bedford can take several scenic paths with my favorite taking you past Blue Knob State Park and right past the Johnstown Flood Memorial. This route will allow plenty of time to enjoy the ride and the attractions along the way. This is one of my favorite loops when out for a "Sunday Ride", I promise you won't be disappointed!
New Bethlehem / Brookville / Punxsutawney
We laid out a great route that will take us on a wonderful 200 mile loop
northwest of Johnstown and will take you near Punxsutawney PA
and the home of Punxsutawney Phil. We'll travel a bit further north to Brookville, PA.; within riding distance of Cooks Forest if you're up to it, and then swing south to New Bethleham, PA. You'll enjoy one of my favorite routes south that will take you through the Christmas Tree growing Capital of the World, Indiana, PA where you might stop to visit the Jimmy Stewart Museum or Indiana University of Pennsylvania. We won't stop just yet, but continue south on a great little back road that will drop us into Ligionier, PA which is a great stop for a bite or to do a little window shopping! Our route home will take you to the top of the Laurel Mountains on the Lincoln Highway and then home on my favorite route back into Johnstown! Russell Fleming & Bobby Winters gave this run their seal of approval during the Scouting Party, you won't be disappointed!
Green Mountain Windmill Farm
Just south of Johnstown, Somerset County has become a hotbed of alternative energy in the form of Windfarms! Yep, in the land of coal and steel
windfarms are popping up like crazy! At last count there are 3 sites with more than 30 of the 300' tall windmills dotting the skyline and I have arranged for a private tour (Saturday) at the Green Mountain facility in Garrett, PA. You can do this ride anyday without the guide tour at the Windmill! Our suggested route will also take through Rockwood Pa. where you might stop at the Opera House http://www.rockwoodmillshoppes.com/ for lunch or a little shopping.
You'll also pass near 7 Spring Mountain Resort and if a little mini golf is in order don't miss Caddy Shack and of course a stop in Ligonier, PA is also
enjoyable. You might even stop for a locally brewed beverage at the
Johnstown Brewing Company, which is just 2 miles from the Holiday Inn on Rt. 271 as you enter Town. This is sure to be a Floodcity Favorite!
Easter Ride
I headed out this past Easter Sunday and just let the front wheel lead me. My route took me South through Somerset County, and then west through the Rolling Rock Estate (Mellon Family) via scenic route 381 and onto Ligionier, PA. Just west of Ligonier I picked up Rt. 259 north and enjoyed it's scenic
beauty, one of my favorite roads by far! Eventually you'll arrive in Dilltown, home of the Dillweed B&B. You can buy a nice ice cream cone at the B&B and the Ghost Town Trail will offer a nice park bench to sit while enjoying the ice cream! From here you're just a short ride from the Holiday Inn. Your odometer should read about 120 miles when you return.