Ride around the Great Lakes

[smitty141]

Mehaffydr is on the road this morning on a Great Lake ride around. After a little arm twisting I got his password and made him a SpotWalla page. Here is a link for his trip..

Smitty

"Great Lakes or Bust"

 

[rickcorwn]

The question that must be asked... Clockwise or counter-clockwise?

 

[101stpathfinder]

The question that must be asked... Clockwise or counter-clockwise?

It looks like clockwise. He said in his post that he would return into US near Watertown, so I am

assuming (From his current path) that it is a clockwise ride.

 

[101stpathfinder]

Looks like some rest across from the Thunder Bay airport? A motel?

 

[mehaffydr]

Just stopped for the night in Thunderbay Ontario. The Border crossing took all of about 5 min. no problem at all. Hope to get back on the road around 5:00 am and head toward NY.

CLOCKWISE

the weather was great today not to hot and I managed to miss the rain. Hope tomorrow is as good.

 

[101stpathfinder]

Just stopped for the night in Thunderbay Ontario. The Border crossing took all of about 5 min. no problem at all. Hope to get back on the road around 5:00 am and head toward NY.CLOCKWISE

the weather was great today not to hot and I managed to miss the rain. Hope tomorrow is as good.

Good ride so far. You are set up nice for a day of eastern travel if you can bare the sun in your eyes

to start out. Real interested in your ride as this one is on my "To do list" Ride safe.

 

[Bungie]

I'll keep an eye on this today/tomorrow and maybe do an intercept and give him a little company.

 

[Bungie]

Google has him coming through Sudbury around 6pm from Rossport (where he is right now). I can't see him taking the northern route (101/11 or 101/144). I'll check in later this afternoon to verify his route and intercept him near Espanola... hum.. now that I think about it, I've got to go and take some pics of a friends totaled ST1100 in Webbwood. Two birds with one stone.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Go Mike go!!!

 

[Bungie]

Go Mike go!!!

Holy crap. Mike's tickin'! I went out when he was near Rossport and came back in to check on his whereabout and he's Batchawana already! Remember my 6pm time guess? At his present rate, I'm guessing he'll be here around 4 - 4:30!

 

[Bungie]

Met up with Mike in Massey about 100km west of here after waiting around for about 15 minutes. I'd just lit a smoke and their he comes! Jumped on the bike and hauled some chimmychonga's to catch up to him. Stopped for a set of lights and asked him if he was going to fill up in Sudbury or North Bay (one is required for the GLC cert). Sudbury he says. So lead him to the only gas station thats within a couple of clicks off the Trans Canada (their aren't any on the highway IN Sudbury).

Let him do his record keeping and made are way south down 69 where we parted company at the Killarney turn off.

That guys a riding beast! Thunder Bay to Toronto in one sit! At least I gave him a surprise and hopefully turned the pilot light back on.

Go Mike Go!

 

[wheatonFJR]

Good job Steve!

Go Mike Go!! :clapping:

 

[101stpathfinder]

Met up with Mike in Massey about 100km west of here after waiting around for about 15 minutes. I'd just lit a smoke and their he comes! Jumped on the bike and hauled some chimmychonga's to catch up to him. Stopped for a set of lights and asked him if he was going to fill up in Sudbury or North Bay (one is required for the GLC cert). Sudbury he says. So lead him to the only gas station thats within a couple of clicks off the Trans Canada (their aren't any on the highway IN Sudbury).
Let him do his record keeping and made are way south down 69 where we parted company at the Killarney turn off.

That guys a riding beast! Thunder Bay to Toronto in one sit! At least I gave him a surprise and hopefully turned the pilot light back on.

Go Mike Go!

Good job Bungie,

A meet up on the road is better than any energy drink that I know of. Let a rider know that they're not

alone on the ride. That is a great lift! Is he going to cross back over tonight, or wait till the am? Anyone

know his trip plan?

 

[101stpathfinder]

Toronto it is?

Was wondering...... the routes I have checked out for the Great Lakes usually show

that at Sudbury, you can continue EAST on #17. The southern route must be an option? What are

the advantages/ disadvantages to the options? Is this ride generally full of speed zones?

I want to start planning this ride. I want to do it similar to the 1 week / all 5 rides that have

been done in the past. Looks like the "gold" will be a tough ride?

 

[Bungie]

A meet up on the road is better than any energy drink that I know of. Let a rider know that they're notalone on the ride. That is a great lift! Is he going to cross back over tonight, or wait till the am? Anyone

know his trip plan?

He mentioned he's going to catch some ZZZ's at a friends place in Toronto. I'm guessing he's going to be out bed early to beat the Toronto traffic heading East on the 401 toward Waterdown (another required stop).

 

[Bungie]

Toronto it is? Was wondering...... the routes I have checked out for the Great Lakes usually show

that at Sudbury, you can continue EAST on #17. The southern route must be an option? What are

the advantages/ disadvantages to the options? Is this ride generally full of speed zones?

I want to start planning this ride. I want to do it similar to the 1 week / all 5 rides that have

been done in the past. Looks like the "gold" will be a tough ride?

According the GLC docs, Sudbury or North Bay are required as well as Watertown NY. If I were doing it. I would've continued east onto North Bay then to Ottawa then south toward Watertown. Theirs a lot of traffic from Barrie south and along the shoreline of Lake Ontario heading east.

I just looked at the Spot Tracker.. oh god, it shows him stopped at Jane and Finch. I literally grew up about a mile from there (I wonder who he knows!).. man, thats not the place to be after dark! One of the worst neighbourhoods in all of Canada.

You might want to talk to TriggerT, he did a GLC-Gold just a little while ago.

 

[rickcorwn]

Toronto it is? Was wondering...... the routes I have checked out for the Great Lakes usually show

that at Sudbury, you can continue EAST on #17. The southern route must be an option? What are

the advantages/ disadvantages to the options? Is this ride generally full of speed zones?

I want to start planning this ride. I want to do it similar to the 1 week / all 5 rides that have

been done in the past. Looks like the "gold" will be a tough ride?

I was surprised to see him in Toronto too. When I did it I noodled south from Pembrook through a lot of small towns a real time burner. The 401 on the other hand looks to be somewhat longer but it's freeway, this could be a good option. From Eau Claire where he left I-94 he's been on roads with 55 mph and 90 or 100kph speed limits. Once he picks up the freeway in Toronto the speed limits pick up to 120kph and around 70 mph once he's back in the states. The good news is in my experience the Ontario Provincial Police aren't real aggressive in speed enforcement. They're out there but seems like they just want you to see them and slow down not hand out tickets. That's not to say you won't get tickets from the OPP. The Gold is a tough ride but it'd be a lot easier if you started near the great lakes rather than St Louis :huh: I made a ton of mistakes when I did mine, learning experiences, and did it in 52 hours.

 

[Bungie]

Who knows, if he clears the Greater Toronto Area well before the morning rush hour, he can make up some serious time on the 401 heading east. Typically, 401 speeds are in the 130kmh area - About 70 to 75 mph.

Lets see, Sudbury to Toronto is usually 4hrs, and Toronto to Watertown (according to Google) is another 4 (at google speeds) give or take = 8 hours..

Sudbury to Watertown via Ottawa = 8 hrs.. but you could short cut that one a bit.

I thin the deciding factor for him was a place to conk for the night.

 

[fjrob1300]

JANE and FINCH!!!!! The toughest and most dangerous 'Hood in Canada. Get up early and get out!! Good Luck.