The Motorcycle Trip: 
Summer, 07
A Figure 8 of Lakes Erie and Ontario

Those possibly interested in going: (<-click to send a group email)
(clicking on any name sends an email to them)
Clay Lubbers, Ed Haaksma, Mat Borsk, Marc Simkins, Mike Brock, Cal Essenberg, Curt Essenberg, Jeff Boeve, Derek Rietman, Jeff Buit, Mark Washington

This is a rough idea of distances. It has us heading west north of Erie, south of Ontario, then around north of Ontario east where we cross back into the states at Niagara at take the southern shore of Erie back to home.  Any other ideas?  Anyone?

From Mat:

I think we should head towards Detroit and then run south of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario (obviously staying in the US).  I think if we stay close to the lake the ride will be nice.  

At the east end of Lake Ontario we continue along Hwy.37 (or smaller roads) until we reach Ogdensburg NY.  We can cross into Canada here and start heading north (OR continue along the St.Lawrence to Cornwall ON and cross there).  When we head north it will pull us away from Lake Ontario but the truth is - there's nothing to see there (it's like taking I-75 to the Sault but worse - more traffic). 

 We can head towards Kanata and then Pembroke. 
Once near Pembroke we head west and into Algonquin Park.  
We can take 60 through Aglonquin Park which should be pretty cool.  All the roads in that area are nice 2 lane runs. 
From Algonquin we can head north towards the Sault to enter the US or start heading southwest towards Sarnia (Port Huron).  
If we want we can make a run south towards Toronto (depending on the time/ day - traffic).  There are a few (okay one) neat road about an hour north of Mississauga (Marc's been on it).  We could also visit my friends bike shop in Mississauga.  There really isn't any place to camp but I'm sure I can find a lawn or two if required (or we head north and out of the city).

GR to Toledo - 185 miles

Toledo to West Seneca - 302 miles

West Seneca to Ogdensburg - 273 miles  (or to Cornwall - 330 miles)

Ogdensburg to Pembroke - 135 miles (Cornwall to Pembroke - 153 miles)

Pembroke to Huntsville - 150 miles

A) Huntsville to Sault St. Marie - 340 miles

B) Huntsville to Sarnia - 300 miles 

Final run home (using main highways but we can improvise to get a nicer ride)

A) Sault St. Marie to GR - 300 miles

B) Sarnia to GR - 180 miles

 Approx Totals - (add 80 miles to each for the Cornwall cross over)

A) 1685 miles

B) 1525 miles

 Some points regarding travel :
- the 401 in Ontario is a pain in the ass (great for making time but sucks if on a bike), most of Southern Ontario is like this
- we're not Asian or on our honeymoon - skip the falls
- Buffalo SUCKS - think GR but more grey and less going on (unless you count all the fires)

Here's a Map Mat made:

 

Itinerary:

Wednesday:  Leave in the morning.



Thursday:  
    


Friday:

 

Saturday:

 

Sunday:  Back on Sunday sometime.