Exploring Southern New Jersey on an Adventure Bike

Join me as I wander around southern New Jersey on my Tenere 700 to the forgotten towns and out of the way places. There are even some fun adventure motorcycling roads.

[@blazefairchild465]

I live in a little piece of heaven in a green area of So. Jersey ,dense forest on 3 sides with no neighbors in eyesight in summer .Wintertime I can see the next home through the trees. I have lived in peace with my family in peace here for 20 years, we use our own well water & septic. We are hooked to electric , but burn oil or wood for heat. All we hear hear is the wild life, pretty strange for the most crowed state . About 5 years ago a land owner about a mile up the road sold about 15 acres & a home was built & we felt we would start to get some noise from the new house, no turns out they are not noisy except for a lawn mower once a week.

[@michaelsupple6081]

Thanks for the walk down memory lane! I live in upstate NY but was born and raised in South Jersey, mostly Cape May county. Your video wakened a multitude of memories and smells. Speaking of smell you mentioned the shells being stinky but for me the pungent smell of the salt marsh at low tide brings back wonderful memories of playing in that environment as a kid. I LOVE that smell. :) Thanks for sharing.

[@gooitzenvanderwal3027]

I think one of your best videos yet! Love all the info and the turtles!

[@billmckinley328]

Great motorcycle day trip video!! Love the commentary and interjection of historic photos. Well done!!

[@AdventurePiggy]

Thanks Bill! It was fun trip and I am so happy I found those old photos.

[@bridgetameo4841]

So true Adventure Piggy. You're an all around great guy!

[@bazz6670]

Great job on the video you put a lot of effort in. I really enjoyed watching your adventure ride. Love the T7. Cheers from Australia.

[@AdventurePiggy]

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the video. The T7 has been a great bike for me.

[@bridgetameo4841]

Great job on the video. Interspersing with historic pictures is wonderful. I love how sweet you are to the turtles. Keep producing videos!

[@AdventurePiggy]

Thank you so much! We put roads all over their territory, it’s the least we can do to help them out!

[@twobikesandadrone]

This ride reminds me a lot of where I grew up in southeastern Louisiana. Sure wish I would have had an adventure bike back then, but it just wasn't a thing yet. Enjoyed the ride-along!

[@AdventurePiggy]

I'm happy you enjoyed it! That area feels like not much has changed in quite some time.

[@TheSirhc1975]

My stomping grounds, down along the bay up to Wharton. Watching this vid as im getting ready to head out on my T7. Great job!

[@AdventurePiggy]

Thank you! Enjoy your ride!

[@leewilborg7046]

Very nice video. I like your presentation style. The history and local charms make me feel like I am there. I was stationed at McGuire AFB in the 80’s and would explore around southern Jersey in a Subaru Brat. There is some hidden adventure in Southern NJ.

[@AdventurePiggy]

My first car was a Subaru Brat and I went camping and exploring all over the pinelands in it!

[@grusgubben]

Good storytelling, nice!

[@AdventurePiggy]

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it

[@bigt4535]

Great job on video, just picked up a 24 CRF450RL. Looking forward to riding that area.

[@AdventurePiggy]

Thank you! That area has so much cool history. Have a great time with the Honda. Should be a perfect bike to explore the pine barrens area.

[@njpaddler]

Get yourself to Tuckerton. Find Great Bay Blvd., follow it east to the very end over a couple of one-way wooden bridges barely above water level. Park at the end. That's Rutgers Marine Research to the right . Walk ten seconds through the reeds. To your left is the very southernmost tip of Long Beach Island, the protected stretch that is part of the Forsythe Nat'l. Wildlife Refuge. No humans, just birds there, and look east to the A.C. skyline & Brigantine some miles away. Sit on the nearly deserted beach & eat lunch. Ride back to Tuckerton, visit the seaport museum, head north and west into the Pines to do hours on remote sand roads. Don't be surprised to drop it or get stuck, so...best not go alone.

[@AdventurePiggy]

The Great Bay Blvd is on my list of places to visit! I did go through some of the sandy bits of Bass River and Wharton later in the video. I know those roads pretty well from years of wandering around the pine barrens.

[@charlesvanacore7459]

I've been there a couple of times but never on two wheels. Great bay Blvd is how you describe it . Then after the ride through the pines go to Christine's house of the King Fish Barbeque in Shamong. I think it's on 202. It's like you took a transporter to Mississippi. Old school, get wonder bread by the slice to go with your bbq beans and ribs....

[@AdventurePiggy]

@@charlesvanacore7459 I stopped at Christine's House of King Fish BBQ at the end of this ride! It was excellent :) I don't know why there weren't more people there. Pic-A-Lilli just down the road was packed...

[@saucehollywood]

This is by far the best moto vlog i ever seen. I mean if you firget abour the motogeo ones lol. This is cool love all thd info you givre . Wanna give adv riding a try soon tryin to pick up a used triumph tiger 800 to start

[@AdventurePiggy]

Thanks for the kind words! The 800xc is a great bike. It’s definitely a bit more road biased than my Tenere 700, but no problem with fire roads and the like.

[@akiuliano]

Excellent post! I ride my street bike through the pine barrens back roads and the dual sport through the single / double tracks. Such a beautiful area.

[@AdventurePiggy]

It really is a beautiful area. You can go out into the woods and not see anyone for hours if you pick the right roads :)

[@jdavishornet]

Just bought a place in brigantine. Looking for places to explore on my 450rl. Seems like you guys know all the spots.😂

[@AdventurePiggy]

Congrats on the new place! There’s lots to explore in Bass River SF

[@jdavishornet]

Thanks. Going to have to get there and check it out.

[@perfectmotoadventurespaulf1968]

Perfect

[@AdventurePiggy]

Thank you!

[@maxostrowski5269]

Who knew there was such great riding in NJ! I live in FL and I didn’t picture the riding to be so similar. You were ripping it!

[@AdventurePiggy]

Lots of sand and pine trees in the Pine Barrens. No palm trees though :)

[@dangareau]

I used to live in Cape Coral, Fl, now I live in Millville, NJ. It is basically the same exact riding. When you fly over the handlebars into a huge puddle the mud even tastes the same😝

[@maxostrowski5269]

@@dangareau got used to that and then having the gritty sand in your teeth 😂 makes for a great experience.

[@TexasTacoKiller]

The last track before the main road with all the giddy ups was a surprising enduro trail before the end.. that had to throw you off a bit but fun

[@AdventurePiggy]

There's a whole lot of little tracks like that in the pine barrens. That's the first time I've heard of them called giddy ups! That's an awesome name for them :) I've always heard them called whoops around here.

[@TexasTacoKiller]

@AdventurePiggy well, ya know... Texas.. pls for the folks in stage coaches, back in the day, it must have been upchuck central and ppl flying out their seats, cuz you know the coachman we're laughing their asses off.

[@AdventurePiggy]

Oh, man... Stagecoach must have been an absolutely terrible way to travel...

[@halter1268]

South Jersey has some pretty crazy wildlife. The terrapins are one, but there's also some pretty aggressive muskrats that like to hop onto the road. There's also an awfully nice blue hole with some nice trails in south Jersey

[@AdventurePiggy]

I've never seen the muskrats. I'll have to keep an eye out for them next time.

[@dangareau]

@@AdventurePiggy If you head south on 47 on the left there's a fish monger that sells "marsh bunny" if you're feeling adventurous. I believe it's called Bailey's Seafood but you might need the secret password if you don't sound local. Jokes aside muskrat evidently is a very localized delicacy.

[@MikSane]

Can't WAIT till I find one used on Craigslist

[@AdventurePiggy]

It’s a great bike and I can’t believe it took the Japanese manufacturers so long to get there especially when BMW and Triumph had success with the F800gs and tiger 800 in 2008 and 2010. I’m glad Yamaha finally did, because they really got it right.

[@dangareau]

I live in Millville and ride my Rally and Monkey everywhere in between Millville and Cape May. Far South Jersey's a little different from the image most people have of NJ. It's got a little of everything and simutaneously nothing. There's this god awful song that my grandpa used to listen to that went something like, "I'm a little bit country, he's a little bit rock and roll.." Horrible song but perfect description.

[@RoyClendaniel]

Grew up in Vineland. Road a dirtbike everywhere. Ive been to these spots many times. Go back with my KTM 1090R every chance I get.

[@AdventurePiggy]

I spent a lot of time at the racetrack in Millville, but not enough in the woods around there.

[@AdventurePiggy]

I spent a lot of time at the racetrack in Millville, but not enough in the woods around there.

[@DavidDacaro]

Watch out for ticks in the pines

[@AdventurePiggy]

Always! Those little buggers are everywhere!

[@dangareau]

Ain't that the truth! I have a Tick Tornado as a key chain on my 300 Rally cause I live in the Pine Barrens.

[@DavidDacaro]

@@dangareau careful brother, those f'ers took me out for 12 years, and many others I knew who worked in the pines as survival instructors.

[@ndrew19]

Fairly certain that turtle #3 was a red-eared slider...not sure if they're native as far north as NJ

[@AdventurePiggy]

They aren’t native here in NJ, but they are a common pet that gets released.

[@hunczar]

Great vid! I live in S NJ and the Delaware River side and Pinebarrens are great…and, yes, sometimes, the google maps photo shows a road and then a gate…too bad. Can you post towns you hit? There are some that I did not hit when I rode and wold love to explore them

[@AdventurePiggy]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video! The route was Millville, Newport (Fortescue is a worthwhile detour), Turkey Point, Port Norris with the remains of Bivalve and Shellpile nearby, Heislerville WMA with East Point Lighthouse, Moore's Beach, Belleplain State Forest, Tuckahoe and the WMAs there, Mays Landing (Crabby's), Edwin B Forsythe NWR, Bass River SF, and into Wharton SF going near Batsto and ending by Atsion.

[@hunczar]

@@AdventurePiggy Thanks! Yeah, never hit Bivalve, Shellpile, nor the Heislerville WMA nor EWF NWR -those seem great! Thanks again!

[@enginedotengine]

This is an amazing adventure. Totally inspiring me to explore a bit more in NJ on my adv. What tires are you running?

[@AdventurePiggy]

I am using the Bridgestone AX41. They are light, pretty easy to mount, on the lower end price-wise of ADV tires (though they have all gotten so expensive the last couple years), and do well off road and on. I've had a rear last 5500 miles, but 3500 to 4500 is probably more realistic.

[@hb13848]

I really enjoyed your video. Thank you for sharing it! I've been hearing a lot about the Pine Barrens, but I understand the area is huge. Could you recommend a good starting point to begin exploring from? Thanks!

[@AdventurePiggy]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! The area IS huge! I think that Brendan T Byrne State Forest is a good place to start. The larger sand roads tend to be pretty well maintained and not too deep. There are some old cranberry bogs to see and Whitesbog Village to the north gives a pretty good idea of what the little towns in the area used to look like. It's a good idea to bring a friend. (I know, I know, this video was solo) Cell phone service is spotty so be prepared for that too. If you are new to sand riding, the Pine Barrens Adventure School has a good intro to sand riding course. Lighter bikes will be much easier. Wharton State Forest is really cool as well, but is more remote and tends to have deep sand and water. Oh, regarding puddles; ride around them. You never know what lurks beneath the surface in the Pine Barrens. And the Pine Barrens 300 or 500 event usually takes place in November and gives a 2 or 3 day GPS guided tour with food and a sweep crew to make sure no one spends the night in the woods. I typically avoid the pine barrens when it's above 65 degrees or so. Sand riding is hard work.

[@hb13848]

Thanks a million for your reply. Super helpful information. I'm sure others will find it valuable as well. Safe riding and I look forward to more of your videos.

[@glennmcguire5571]

Great video and you handled the deep sand very well. Wear did you get your seat cover? I have the exact T7.

[@AdventurePiggy]

Thank you! I got the seat cover on eBay. Motorcycle Protecting Cushion Seat Cover for Tenere 700 T7 T700 2020 Seat. I think it is an improvement, but it’s not perfect.

[@glennmcguire5571]

@@AdventurePiggy Thank You!

[@Voltomess]

Turtles like to sit on a hot asphalt and you bother them!!

[@AdventurePiggy]

The ones I moved looked like they were trying to get across, but I'll keep that in mind in the future. I've just seen too many squished ones.

[@Voltomess]

@@AdventurePiggy Yeah I get it but I guess that area is very remote and not many vehicles around?, anyway you're a good person, who knows maybe you saved a few turtles that day.

[@tiger6102]

I need someone like you who can show me around NJ. I am new to adv riding. I live in old bridge NJ. Let me know if anyone is interested in riding together. BTW, awesome video!!

[@AdventurePiggy]

Thanks! What are you riding? I'd be happy to go for a ride some time. @advpiggy on instagram

[@tiger6102]

@@AdventurePiggy I ride norden 901 expedition

[@neilmeiskey5482]

Due to some medical issues plus being 75 I don’t do overnight camping when riding my ADV bike. Is it practical to do a chunk of this ride in 4-6 hours? Looks really interesting. Did you get any salt residue rinsed off before damage?

[@AdventurePiggy]

You can certainly visit a good chunk of the Delaware Bay area in that time frame. It's a really interesting area to wander around. Fortescue and Higbee's Luncheonette are worth a visit too. And yes, the bike got a thorough cleaning after the trip.

[@KYWIP]

Where was that train at the start of the video?

[@AdventurePiggy]

Just south of NJMP on railroad ave

[@Fitmin1992]

Can I ride Harley Davidson sportster 1200 there ?

[@AdventurePiggy]

Absolutely! I would stay out of Bass River and Wharton State forests. Lots of deep sand there. Don’t miss Fortescue. It’s a neat little town at the end of a dead end road.

[@carvalhonj]

Wow, very nice trip, great video. Do you have this route to share? Thanks

[@AdventurePiggy]

My trip had lots of dead ends and turning around, but here are some points of interest from the ride. maps.app.goo.gl/p4tB1LAwXPDLUhD76?g_st=i

[@carvalhonj]

@@AdventurePiggy Thank you, I really appreciate it.

[@carvalhonj]

@@AdventurePiggy I also watched some of your NEBDR videos and I want to be able to watch some other videos on your channel. Great job, you certainly inspire some people.

[@AdventurePiggy]

You’re welcome! Just be aware there is some deep sand in Bass River State Forest as well as Wharton.

[@AdventurePiggy]

I appreciate the kind words! I’m glad you are enjoying the videos!

[@tiger6102]

How do I find these roads? Do you have gpx files?

[@AdventurePiggy]

Here is the track from the ride. If you don’t have deep sand experience, beware of Bass River State Forest and to some extent Wharton State Forest. The rest is all pretty tame. go.rever.co/yHzw93aP7Jb

[@markmc9229]

Is there a route map?

[@AdventurePiggy]

go.rever.co/8RdxPZD0xJb

[@MyMotorcycleBlog]

Curious if there is maps on apps for this.

[@AdventurePiggy]

Here is the track from the ride. There is some deep sand in Bass River and Wharton. go.rever.co/yHzw93aP7Jb

[@MyMotorcycleBlog]

@@AdventurePiggy Guessing Rever is worth it?

[@AdventurePiggy]

It depends. It comes with the revzilla subscription, which makes it a much better value. It has all of Butler Map’s recommended roads, which is pretty cool. I still prefer to use a standalone GPS, for navigation, and I prefer basecamp for route planning. I did use Rever for my trip to AZ and it worked fine. It also saved my bacon when the stand alone gps was losing gps signal last weekend. Their base map is very detailed. The auto zoom can be a little annoying. It’s free to use, but the subscription covers the butler map stuff and offline features. You can definitely get a sense if you like it with the free version.

[@404marc]

you didnt wave.

[@AdventurePiggy]

I've been waving with my foot since I saw that riding around Ireland :)

[@The333]

Are you based in the Philly/NJ area? I ride regularly in the NJ Pines... Cool post.

[@AdventurePiggy]

I'm about an hour or so north of the pine barrens in NJ.