Touring - Southern Ontario: Recommended shakedown tour

My panniers are packed, I'm ready to go...
This is my first unsupported European tour. I've done the tour before, but this time it is without the credit card.

I've done two mini shakedown tours from Toronto. One to Port Hope and the other to Paris (Ontario). I think I'm ready but the October 02 flight date is weighing on me heavy.

I'm thinking of doing one more two day shakedown from Toronto.

Any ideas? I like trails rather than roads, but am confident enough to do the busy roads when I have to. I stealth camp so there are bonus points for suggestions around alternative camp sites. I don't own a car, so I must be able to bike the whole distance or take public transit where bikes are allowed.

This could be a challenge!

Why don't you head North West and take in some of the hilly country towards Georgian Bay. I am thinking in the direction of Collingwood but up on the Escarpment.

Alternatively what about getting a ride/driving a car to Tobermory and then riding on Manitoulin Island. I'd recommend three or four days for that ride through.

~Jamie N
www.bicycletouring101.com

Just reread your original post and noticied the comment about the car. Rental car possible to get you there too?

When I was in the backpacking business, I was taken with how many people had to go on a trail/route. Why not just start wandering in some direction, and see where you get. If you crisscross major rivers, the river valleys are often a good stealth location. Going out of town on the 5 west, you cross a lot of rivers. If you make better time you can head off in the elora direction. Anyplace with a golf course sign, might as well be listed as a hotel with the AAA.

Much the same kind of topography exists to the east, now that I think about it. A lot of the valleys have hiking trails, and most have been closed to bikes, but then again I have seen 4 wheelers on them. Go east on a road, and when night comes take off up a trail.

My panniers are packed, I'm ready to go...
This is my first unsupported European tour. I've done the tour before, but this time it is without the credit card.

I've done two mini shakedown tours from Toronto. One to Port Hope and the other to Paris (Ontario). I think I'm ready but the October 02 flight date is weighing on me heavy.

I'm thinking of doing one more two day shakedown from Toronto.

Any ideas? I like trails rather than roads, but am confident enough to do the busy roads when I have to. I stealth camp so there are bonus points for suggestions around alternative camp sites. I don't own a car, so I must be able to bike the whole distance or take public transit where bikes are allowed.

This could be a challenge!
Pick up a copy of AdverMap's Golden Horseshoe Recreation Map. It has all the rail trails marked on it as well as major roads and suggested on-road bike routes. If you don't want to overlap with your last trips, north or north west seem like your best bets - perhaps head up to Lake Simcoe and back? (starting from Finch station) Some good challenging hills if you head northwest to the Caledon Hills/Hockley Valley area, and you could just try knocking on the door at a farmhouse there to see if they mind if you camp out in their field.

I'll second some suggestions that others made. I rode to Elora several years ago. High Park to Elora is 135 km. I don't remember the exact route now, but it was on quiet country roads (once you get out of the city (which will take even longer now than when I did it)).

The Lake Simcoe suggestion is also good. Tomorrow I'm heading to Beaverton. The Danforth to Beaverton is 102 km. You can take quiet roads that parallel Highways 404, 48 and 12.

There's a poll on Bicycle Touring 101 right now called Planning your route ( http://www.bicycletouring101.com/PollsRoutePlanning.php ).

I created the poll because I am quickly realizing that the way I route my tour is not necessarily the way other people do. I tend to take along some backroad level maps along with a good compass and plan the route as I ride.

I have a general impression that more people plan heavily in advance and then stick to their route once touring.

It will be interesting to see how the survey works out once more replies are in.

~JamieN

If I was starting out from London, I would do as you suggest, and just wander off, with or without maps. The only time I think precision is required in planing, is when you are going through a lot of expensive, heavily built up, areas. Then if you don't hit your marks you may not have a comfortable night.

Of course for some people the planing is a lot of the fun.

You raise some good points but I route this way pretty well consistantly including when I passed through Cleveland, Sandusky, Toledo, Detroit, Bay City, Sault Ste Marie, Gary and Chicago to name a few cities during my Great Lake tours for example.

I guess I'm just comfortable doing it this way. I'll have to try it the other way sometime too.

~Jamie N

I agree with that also. I was in town yesterday, and there were several parties of bike tourist on Queen st west. It was about ten pm, and they were riding around fully ladden. It's all your attitude about what makes you comfortable. I have no idea where they were stayin but they didn't seem in a hurry either.

There's a poll on Bicycle Touring 101 right now called Planning your route ( http://www.bicycletouring101.com/PollsRoutePlanning.php ).

I created the poll because I am quickly realizing that the way I route my tour is not necessarily the way other people do. I tend to take along some backroad level maps along with a good compass and plan the route as I ride.

I have a general impression that more people plan heavily in advance and then stick to their route once touring.

It will be interesting to see how the survey works out once more replies are in.

~JamieN

Thanks Jamie, and thanks to the other forum members who had a significant contribution to make to this thread.

I couldn't imagine starting out without a map. I guess that just shows how diverse a group there is in this forum. I also dislike biking on the side of roads where there is little or no space for me and motorists are travelling at a high rate of speed. Studies show that cyclist fatality rates are much higher in those situations.

I prefer to take bike paths, trail trails and bike routes rather than fight it out with the big trucks.

This is why I purchase specialty maps

Hi Stokell.

I do tend to purchase maps and like you my favourite kind of cycling is not on the busy highways especially those with no shoulders. I far prefer to ride on quiet country roads instead whenever possible. These are the farm roads, generally paved, that see less then five cars an hour.

The maps I purchase are backroad level maps. They don't always show if the road is paved or gravel but they are pretty effective at showing bridges across rivers etc.

I ride on bike trails as I encounter them during my tour. Often it makes for a nice break from the riding I've been doing earlier in the day. Perhaps I've been out in the sun on a moderately busy road when I discover a quiet trail. Riding through the woods on gravel can make for a nice change for a little while.

The more I think about your tour the more I think about the area south of Collingwood. Lots of rolling hills (Niagara Escarpment) with crown land and old, closed down campgrounds. Look up Ravena and Kalapore. Kalapore has a crown land forest that includes my favourite mountain biking of all time.

~Jamie N