500km solo trip in Muskoka this weekend - need advice

[MacDoc]

ah perfect - generally best escape route north is pick up Heritage Road asap and take it all the way to King

the stop light on Winston and the major cross street ( can't recall - ) does not trigger on bikes so Heritage avoids that and the downtown Terra Cotta as well.

Cool - I may get marginally lost ( bear of a tie finding Terra Nova ) but know the fence roads so won't be too bad

My phone is hooked to the Scala so 416-580-1456 will get me on the road.

[Salos Dafee]

... Are there back roads to bracebridge?

Your ride looks like a lot of fun. In July 2011 I rode much of it on my CBR-125R.
I also rode much of it in July 1961, on another low-powered machine.
So I know these roads quite well, and so will you when you are done.

To know Ontario's back roads, look in Canadian Tire for a bargain-priced book
of maps. The year is 2008, so the price is reduced from $20 to about $6.
The book is great value, and will show you lots of routes, for example the
Brackenrig Road north from 118, just east of Port Carling. Of course it will NOT
show you that the Brackenrig Road is under construction and has two miles
of gravel, which may not be to your liking.

Enjoy your ride. I wish I were coming with you, but I am now in Florida.

[mrefaat]

How long did it take you? how many stops?
thnx

[matthew]

I did a 600 km trip yesterday. I left my house near 401/400 around 10am. I went through the middle of Muskoka, had lunch in Parry Sound. Went east along 518 to Huntsville, then just took Hwy 11 home. I got back at 8pm

[Jayv]

The book is great value, and will show you lots of routes, for example the
Brackenrig Road north from 118, just east of Port Carling. Of course it will NOT
show you that the Brackenrig Road is under construction and has two miles
of gravel, which may not be to your liking.

Believe or not as rode Brackenrig last Saturday......two miles of it has been torn up for road construction.

[MacDoc]

Weeeelllllllllllll - gotta get by that first KM. OP is at a Esso station about a KM from home with a bike that won't start.

Better there than the middle of nowhere. - Oh well he still has time.

[mrefaat]

Battery was dead, so I put it in second gear and pushed the bike and started it, went it Canadian tire and got a battery starter in case it happens again during the trip. Will fix it when I get back. It started fine at the gas station and at the hotel.I left Mississauga at 3 and made it to bracebridge at 7, I'm having Muskoka ale right now

[MacDoc]

Oh good for you - have fun - lovely riding day

[Salos Dafee]

How long did it take you? how many stops?
thnx

Here is my approximate schedule for the one-day ride to Muskoka:
Leave Thornhill at 9, ride up Yonge Street
Reach Barrie at 10:30
Shop at flag store until 10:50
North on 11, reaching Bracebridge at 1:00
Lunch at Tim's then 118, Brackenrig Road, gravel and all
Reach Windermere at 2:00
Swim and loaf until 3:00, then ride to Huntsville
Beer (yes, only 12 oz. thereof) and billiards until 4:15
Ride south to Webber's in Ardtrea for burgers at 5:20
Leave for Toronto at 6:00, getting home about 8:00 PM

11 hours, 500 kilometers. Nice weather all the way.
I hope you have as much fun as I had. I rode with a fellow on an ST-1300.
He is one of the four guys I rode the same (approx.) route with in 1961.

I will be meeting him in Virginia next week, then accompanying him to Florida.

[MacDoc]

careful with the weather if you get this.....nasty heading your way

see that red arc - you do not want to be out riding anywhere near it

[mrefaat]

I got back yesterday afternoon, had awesome time, even though it was raining most of the time i still enjoyed it. the rain suit kept me dry, no mechanical hickups, everything went according to plan, the round trip was exactly 1,007 km.

Ravenscliffe/Stisted combination and the 518 were the highlight of the trip, what a ride.
I skipped the 118 west of bracebridge and Foreman (lake muskoka / lake joseph segment), cause i was too tired.

Thanks everyone for your help

[MacDoc]

well done.....see ya out there