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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: ChuckS on April 29, 2006, 05:42:17 AM

Title: Sarnia to Toronto Route?
Post by: ChuckS on April 29, 2006, 05:42:17 AM
I've got to get from Sarnia to Hamilton/Toronto in a couple weeks. Please please don't make me take 401/402...... What's a better, prettier, less scary (trucks) way to get there?

Thanks!

ChuckS
Title: Re: Sarnia to Toronto Route?
Post by: DMac on April 29, 2006, 09:09:22 AM
I kinda want to find this out as well, but I keep taking the 401 anyways.. I'm lazy so I don't do it but try mapquestiing and say that you don't want to go on freeways.

I wouldn't mind finding a good way back from Ottawa to Toronto avoiding the 401 but I can't imagine there being a faster way and after 5 hours I feel it enough.
Title: Re: Sarnia to Toronto Route?
Post by: mike_mike on April 29, 2006, 10:53:22 AM
go to futureshop or best buy and purchase microsoft streets and trips

it is about 40-50 bucks and it will let you find every which way between points. I love it, i have been using it weekly for years.
Title: Re: Sarnia to Toronto Route?
Post by: DMac on April 29, 2006, 11:46:54 AM
To get that program seems like a lot of work compared to my old strategy.. Use a compass and sometimes flip a coin.  :thumb:
I've been able to find amazing roads, but I can't seem to find them for a 2nd time because I don't know where I am when I find them. I live off of Lake Ontario so I know when I want to get home head south till I hit the lake or the border then I find my way.

I might look into getting a gps thingy because even in cars I have 0 sense of direction, lol.  :dunno_white:
Title: Re: Sarnia to Toronto Route?
Post by: mike_mike on April 29, 2006, 12:37:20 PM
Quote from: DMac on April 29, 2006, 11:46:54 AM
To get that program seems like a lot of work compared to my old strategy.. Use a compass and sometimes flip a coin.  :thumb:
I've been able to find amazing roads, but I can't seem to find them for a 2nd time because I don't know where I am when I find them. I live off of Lake Ontario so I know when I want to get home head south till I hit the lake or the border then I find my way.

I might look into getting a gps thingy because even in cars I have 0 sense of direction, lol.  :dunno_white:

today i bought a handlebar mount for my garmin geko gps i use for hiking.
Title: Re: Sarnia to Toronto Route?
Post by: ChuckS on April 30, 2006, 10:47:55 AM
Thanks guys!  I'm too cheap to actually buy anything, so I'll just leave early & go East until I get there.  Love my GPS, but I always try to defer to local knowledge.  More than once I've been on what was supposed to be a real road that turned into a cowpath.  Fun, but tough if I'm on a schedule.

ChuckS
Title: Re: Sarnia to Toronto Route?
Post by: RedShift on April 30, 2006, 12:21:03 PM
Chuck,

If I didn't care how long it took and I had all day to get there, I'd take Hwy 7 from where it starts (or ends) the foot of Centennial Park (Front St) in Sarnia, above London, past Stratford, all the way to Kitchner.  Make a right there on Hwy 8 South, through Cambridge, Dundas and into Hamilton.  A lot of pretty farm land though there are quite a few miles of straight roads. You'll hit the Niagara Escarpment in the last 10 miles of so.  Should be a pretty view coming into Hamilton.

I've been on both these roads and for the most part they're two lane and good asphalt.  No guarantees on slow-moving traffic or farm vehicles. 

When I head from Sarnia to Toronto it takes me 2-1/2 hours via 402 & 401 -- you'll need at least 4 hours to do it via Hwys 7 & 8.  This is not the direct route but way more fun.  :)  They're "historic" roads designed in the 1800's so they go through every little farming town.  (Hwy 7 goes all the way to Ottawa.)

If you do it, grab a camera and write us up a story of what you see.
Title: Re: Sarnia to Toronto Route?
Post by: mike_mike on April 30, 2006, 02:11:16 PM
I like highway 7 - i ride that road often

the rural drivers are often more alert on the roads than some of the minivans swerving every which way on roads closer into the city.
Title: Re: Sarnia to Toronto Route?
Post by: daneilah on May 01, 2006, 07:05:37 AM
Quote from: RedShift on April 30, 2006, 12:21:03 PM
I'd take Hwy 7 from where it starts (or ends) the foot of Centennial Park (Front St) in Sarnia, above London, past Stratford, all the way to Kitchner.  Make a right there on Hwy 8 South, through Cambridge, Dundas and into Hamilton. 

Like Mike_Mike says, take 7 from Sarnia (turns into 22) ... then alternatively, shortly after London, duck down to Hwy 2 and it'll take you right into Hamilton.  Perhaps a little shorter.  If you don't want to pay the money for Street and Trips, try maps.google.ca or mapquest.   :thumb:

Title: Re: Sarnia to Toronto Route?
Post by: mike_mike on May 01, 2006, 07:15:52 AM
the OPP bike cops are all over the place this morning - looks like they're out now.. so be careful.
Title: Re: Sarnia to Toronto Route?
Post by: RedShift on May 02, 2006, 03:15:49 AM
Quote from: daneilah on May 01, 2006, 07:05:37 AM
Quote from: RedShift on April 30, 2006, 12:21:03 PM
I'd take Hwy 7 from where it starts (or ends) the foot of Centennial Park (Front St) in Sarnia, above London, past Stratford, all the way to Kitchner.  Make a right there on Hwy 8 South, through Cambridge, Dundas and into Hamilton. 

Like Mike_Mike says, take 7 from Sarnia (turns into 22) ... then alternatively, shortly after London, duck down to Hwy 2 and it'll take you right into Hamilton.  Perhaps a little shorter.  If you don't want to pay the money for Street and Trips, try maps.google.ca or mapquest.   :thumb:

I agree that Daneilah has the more direct route.  But you do need to go through London, Woodstock & Brantford.  Microsoft Trips & Streets says it'll take a little over three hours -- not bad considering the back roads.  Daneilah's suggestion has the benefit that you're paralleling the 402, 401 & 403 highways, so anytime you feel you're not making progress, you have an out.   :)