Carp, ON (Alice's for breakfast)
Alice's doesn't open until 7am but if you're in downtown Ottawa or the east side, it's a 30-40 minute ride to get here, so why not start with a hearty breakfast?
A 30ish km rip down Hwy 7 four laner to Carleton Place
at 33kmThere are gas stations strung out along this route, but this might be a good spot to fill up.
Smiths Falls
at 56kmcoffee, restaurants, huge medicinal MJ plant ...
at 62km... Smiths Falls is a good spot for a stretch near the locks.
Foxy's Restaurant!
at 160kmhttp://www.foxys1000islands.com. Great spot to stop for a meal and a stretch.
ferry to Kingston
at 192km... via Wolfe Island ... if you're sick of the ride already mate!
Dexter, NY
at 223kmNeed a break from riding? You've only done 222km but, if you need a break: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g47598-d4553376-Reviews-Whitewater_Challengers_Black_River-Dexter_New_York.html
Sackett's Harbour
at 231kmHistorical village: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sackets_Harbor,_New_York
Mexico
at 299km"You boys like Mexico?!?!" https://youtu.be/51w_cCVk1gY
Fulton (motorcycle dealers)
at 325km- Honda: http://teamthunderalley.hondamcdealers.com
- KTM/Yamaha/Suzuki: https://www.wheelawaymotorsports.com
-
Sodus Point
at 387kmStretch time? Need a B&B yet? https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Tourism-g48633-Sodus_Point_Finger_Lakes_New_York-Vacations.html
Entering New York, United States
Rochester
at 436kmFort Niagara State Park
at 579kmhttps://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/31/details.aspx
Niagara-on-the-Lake
at 624kmThis is a great spot to hunker down for 24 hours after a 624km run. Book ahead for a B&B (https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotels-g154999-Niagara_on_the_Lake_Ontario-Hotels.html), and tickets to a Shaw Festival show (https://www.shawfest.com). There are wineries and a main street full of shops. Rest up; we've got more riding ahead.
why not?
at 641kmYou might see some big laker ships entering or exiting the locks. I sailed through here on Her Majesty's Canadian Ship VILLE DE QUEBEC in 2011 (?) and the wind at the top of Lock 1 whipped us around till our bow was in the trees (and mud). The skipper didn't get fired for grounding his frigate because his jolly tars saved the day by running out a zodiac and bringing a hawser from the forward capstan to a bollard along the canal. Good times.
Entering Ontario, Canada
St. Catharines
at 647kmLegends Estates Winery
at 674kmPourquoi pas?
Hamilton
at 703kmBurlington
at 711kmOakville
at 732kmMississauga
at 742kmskip Toronto?
at 754kmThere's a ton to see and do in Toronto but I hate riding in the big smoke and I'm not a fan of parking my bike (especially with luggage). Let's skip Toronto by zipping up 427 to 27 to 9 and then skip across the top of the 905 to Newmarket. Back roads win!
Etobicoke
at 756kmVaughan
at 795kmRichmond Hill
at 805kmMarkham
at 825kmScarborough
at 832kmDecision time ...
at 838kmI'm not interested in four lane freeway riding and there are no super convenient and picturesque routes along the north shore of Lake Ontario (that I know of). Once you get to Brighton things are pretty awesome (especially if you loop through Prince Edward County and take the Glenora Ferry and on to Kingston) but I'll make a separate route map for that bit. For now, I propose we take highway 7 back to the NCR.
Pickering
at 842kmOshawa
at 869kmGas?
at 1042kmKaladar is a good quick pitstop.
Almonte
at 1251kmEnd (1275km loop)
at 1275kmYou deserve a beer (or two) at The Cat. Good run amigo. Stay thirsty.