Off The Beaten Path: Mid-Atlantic BDR Route

BRIDGEWATER, CT – Exciting news on the adventure riding front here in the eastern United States. Backcountry Discovery Routes, in partnership with Butler Maps, has just released the MABDR, which stands for Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route. It’s BDR’s first east coast route and covers 1,080 predominantly dirt miles stretching through four states from Damascus, VA to Lawrenceville, PA (on the border with New York).

The BDR route is the first of three east coast routes charted by the group’s team. In coming years, the route will expand to include a northern segment (NEBDR), which is expected to stretch from the Lawrenceville northeast to Maine, and a southern segment (SEBDR) from the Virginia/Tennessee border.

BDR is a non-profit organization. Its mission, according to the BDR website, “is to establish and preserve off-highway routes for dual-sport and adventure motorcycles. Through education, advocacy, and promotion of responsible motorcycle travel, BDR seeks to preserve backcountry motorcycling opportunities for generations to come.

“BDR works with the forest service, land managers, and agencies responsible for public land, to keep trails and remote roads open for motorcycling. Through careful investment of funds and resources, BDR is able to map new routes, provide free GPS tracks and advice, create photo and video archives of the routes, and educate the motorcycle community about managed travel on public lands.”

BDR’s goal is to create a new route every year. A full-length documentary film complete with trailer (see below), a Butler map and free GPS tracks are also released. The film had its first showing on Friday at Cross Country Cycle in Metuchen, NJ. Screenings in the northeast are planned in March – on Thursday, March 15 at the Frontier Cafe & Theatre in Brunswick, ME and on March 24 at the four MAX BMW locations. (For a full national list, check here.)

In fact, there will be two showings each on Saturday, March 24 at the MAX BMW dealerships – one at 10 a.m. and the other a 1 p.m. MAX BMW stores are in Brookfield and South Windsor, CT; Brunswick, NY; and North Hampton, NH.One of the great things about a BDR route is that it takes much of the stress of planning an adventure off the shoulders of the rider by providing details on lodging/camping accommodations, scenic/historical sites and gas stations along each route.

Members of the Northeast Dualsport Riders, myself included, will check out the MABDR this spring. We expect to complete the route in roughly four to five days so we can take in both the scenery and the many sites along the way. There are also some enjoyable options to complete our journey back north, including Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive.

Once the better weather arrives, a grand adventure awaits! As always, enjoy the ride.

(Photos/graphic courtesy of Alfonse Palaima/BDR)