It's tough to explain how to get to the Lancaster, Ohio Fairgrounds; site of the 2000 RA National Rally. It's easy enough if you're driving a Winabago. You would simply take one of the Interstate Highways, I-70 or I-71, to the I-270 Columbus outerbelt. Follow the outerbelt to the southeast side of town and take US 33 southeast to Lancaster. You will pass some shopping malls on your right. When you pass a Dodge dealership on your left you need to be in the left lane. The next light is Fair Avenue. Turn left and go about 2 blocks; the Fairgrounds will be on your left. From the south you would follow US 33 through town. When you pass a Pizza Hut on the right, the next light will be Fair Avenue. There is also a sign on a lamp post pointing to the right that says Fairgrounds.
If you're on a BMW, the difficulty is in picking from the many great roads.
From the Northeast, I recommend taking US 62 from the Canton area or Ohio 39 which turns west from Route 7 along the Ohio River. Route 39 will join 62 at Berlin (spelled the same as the city in Germany where fine motorcycles are made but pronounced locally with the accent on the first syllable). Berlin is the heart of the largest Amish-Mennonite settlement in the world; so horse drawn vehicles may occupy the road around any blind curve. You could spend an entire day in the area. At the very least I recommend a stop at one of the area's restaurants. Route 62 winds southeast through beautiful country that has changed little since 1940. Four miles past Utica, make a left (south) on Ohio 661 for a 12-mile roller coaster ride into Granville. If you meet patrolwoman Sanchez around Granville, say hello for me. I met her twice in 1999. She is a very pleasant lady but when I met her the cost was too high - both times. In Granville you will turn right (West) for two blocks and then left (South) on Ohio 37, which will take you into Lancaster. When you make a hard right and left around Rising Park, get ready for a right turn on Park Avenue and another Right into the Fairgrounds.
If you are coming from Maggie Valley or other points southeast, you might want to stop for a while in Marietta. This was the first white settlement in Ohio and today is the home of Marietta College, which has a beautiful campus. The Lafayette Hotel has a Sunday brunch that draws people from miles around and is a fine, though pricey, place to eat at any time. There is also a lot of Ohio Riverboat history here. If your wife is with you, try to avoid the antique shops. Don't think of trying the excuse that you are on a motorcycle and can't carry her purchases. Any of the shops will be glad to ship your purchase. I am told, by people who claim to know, that prices here are frequently lower than in larger cities. From Marietta, take Ohio Route 60 along the Muskingum River to McConnelsville, then left on Ohio 37 into Lancaster. This section of Route 37 is a beautiful, twisty, rolling highway. When you reach Lancaster watch for Route 37 to turn Right on High Street, which you will follow for about 8 blocks to Fair Avenue where you will turn left.
If you are coming from the East and don't have any extra time you may have to take I-70 into Zanesville and US 22 from Zanesville to Lancaster. Route 22 joins 37 just east of town.
From the south you might take either US 35 or US 23 into Chillicothe. Near Chillicothe is the Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheater, where the Outdoor Drama Tecumseh plays nightly throughout the summer. If you are going, reservations are required. You can call 1-800-BUCKEYE to get information on this and on other things that are happening around Ohio. From Chillicothe you can take Ohio 159 until it joins US 22 southwest of Lancaster. Follow Route 22 to Route 33 and turn left (north) to Fair Avenue.
From the West or Southwest it is difficult to avoid coming through either Cincinnati or Dayton. From either, if you have a day or more to spend I recommend the Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton. This is the largest display of military aircraft in the world. It includes every significant Air Force plane which the United States has used as well as notable foreign planes such as the Soviet MIG and Japanese Zero. There is also a large section devoted to the Wright Brothers and their early experiments. From Dayton you can take US 35 to Washington Court House where you will hit US 22 and follow the route from the last paragraph.
From the Northwest you will see the Ohio that most people from outside the state expect. This is flat glacial till, and some of the finest agricultural country in the world. There will be field after field of ripening corn and soybeans. Highways run mostly on a north-south, east-west grid. You might want to make a brief stop at Kenton, which was founded by the frontiersman Simon Kenton. South of Kenton via Ohio 31 is Marysville, where Gold Wings are born. Just off US 23 near, Upper Sandusky, is Indian Mill which is worth a stop for an hour. It has a great topographical map of the State of Ohio as well as very interesting history of water powered mills. From these areas you will proceed to the Columbus outerbelt via US 23 or 33 and follow the Winabago route from paragraph 1. If you have a day to spend in Columbus, you would enjoy a visit to the Center of Science and Industry, which just moved to a new and larger location.
Whatever your route, we hope to see you in Lancaster in September.
Updated 03-07-01