Found Highway

[Sidecar Bob]

Neil:

Lost Highway was a well written piece, but your Hwy. 7 experience is completely different than mine. You should try the part between Sunderland & Peterborough - thriving towns, well kept farms and enough traffic that I sometimes take the back roads to avoid it.

Why is the part of Hwy 7 that you travelled so desolate? Maybe no-one wants to go to Ottawa any more. The politicians & civil servants are all so wrapped up trying to ger their heads further up their butts these days... Well, you know what I mean.

I can tell you why that motel died: It's just not needed any more. When it was built, no-one drove from Toronto to Ottawa in one day. These days people will drive from Toronto to Ottawa and back the same day. Don't cry over it. Times change and so do people's needs.

Hell, my Mom used to tell of travelling from Leslie & Gerrard in Toronto to visit her older sister who lived way out at Kennedy & Eglinton in Scarborough before WWII. It was an all day trip because it was so far away.
We moved to a new subdivision a few blocks south of Ken & Eg in '58 and my Dad commuted to downtown Toronto every day. Times change.
I remember looking north from my Aunt's back yard after we moved to Scarberia and seeing nothing but fields of crops and the Drive-In. Times change - if you don't believe me go there now.

If the people who live on that part of 7 can't figure out how to bring in tourists that actually want to visit their area (as opposed to merely passing through it on their way to where they really want to go) it's their own fault that tourist revenues have fallen off. It's a lovely area, but people won't come unless there is something they want to see or do.

[Hayabusa]

When I lived in ON my riding buddies and I used Hwy 7 frequently. I recall it as being a great biking road although I don't remember now what sections we travelled.

I enjoyed the article. I don't think Neil was looking for an answer or solution as to why that area, or more specifically, the motel, has died. It just described its passing...

[Sidecar Bob]

True.

I always have the feeling that Hwy 7 between Lindsay & Peterborough would be a truly great bike road if it wasn't for the cars. Unfortunately, without the business the cars bring, it would soon become like the part Neil wrote about.

BTW: After picking up some parts (including a rear snow tire for the outfit) at Lindsay Cycle on Saturday morning, I went straight down Hwy 36 and east across Hwy 7 rather than go back through town. I managed to come off the ramp onto 7 just in time to be behind a couple of sportbikes and followed them all the way to 46 where I turned north towards THOTU.
They went a little bit slower (not much) than I would have by myself and their exhausts really droned (the two combined sounded sort of like a bagpipe's drones), but it was rather pleasant to experience that familiar road in the company of other bikers, even if we never had a chance to speak.

[Hayabusa]

Neat!

[Malks]

You should try the part between Sunderland & Peterborough - thriving towns, well kept farms and enough traffic that I sometimes take the back roads to avoid it.

Most of Hwy. 7 west of TO is similar to your Sunderland-Peterborough section. You do not get away from the traffic until you are well west of Kitchener-Waterloo. I usually avoid using Highway 7 through this area because of the auto and truck traffic, and because it goes right through some very heavily populated areas. There are other side-roads were you can avoid the traffic and delays.

The increase in population density along Hwy. 7, or most any highway in the southern Ontario area, is the result of the population boom in this region. The current name for it is urban sprawl, however, as you noted Kennedy and Eglinton was considered to be rural when your parents moved there. Now the subway ends there!

You mentioned that you could see the drive-in from your Aunt's back yard. Was that not the Scarboro Drive-in? I think that is the only drive-in located within what is now Toronto, where I did not see a movie. Back in the late 70's we used to go to drive-ins every weekend. I have seen movies at the North-East drive-in (now a corporate park), the Parkway drive-in (now an industrial area), the North-West drive-in (several hotels), the 400 drive-in (now a major shopping centre), the Dufferin drive-in (a residential sub-division) and 7 & 27 (also a residential sub-division).

[Sidecar Bob]

It was indeed the Scarborough Drive-in. I can't remember what's there now, but it hasn't been the Drive-in for a long time.

BTW: Even though urban real estate prices have eliminated the habitats of many drive in movies, they aren't extinct yet. In our area, Cinedrive 48 (north side of Hwy 48, between Pefferlaw & Port Bolster) is thriving. On summer Fridays & Saturdays when the weather is nice, going to the drive in becomes a social event - people from the nearby towns arrive early, park their vehicles and walk around visiting for an hour or so before the movies start.

The Lindsay Drive in is also doing well, but we haven't had a chance to go there ourselves.

[Malks]

It is now the Jack Goodlad Community Park with a couple of ball fields and open space. Not too much other use for the land as it is right next to a Hydro corridor. Up until some time in the mid-90' the old concession / projection building was still there.

[KZDon]

BTW: Even though urban real estate prices have eliminated the habitats of many drive in movies, they aren't extinct yet. In our area, Cinedrive 48 (north side of Hwy 48, between Pefferlaw & Port Bolster) is thriving. On summer Fridays & Saturdays when the weather is nice, going to the drive in becomes a social event - people from the nearby towns arrive early, park their vehicles and walk around visiting for an hour or so before the movies start.



I know the Cinedrive 48 - although wasn't it the Beaverton drive-in a number of years ago? I used to date a girl whose parents had a cottage on the lake there. We went to that drive in a few times and, uh, did some things. I'm sure they showed movies there too.

[Swervin]

I know the Cinedrive 48 - although wasn't it the Beaverton drive-in a number of years ago? I used to date a girl whose parents had a cottage on the lake there. We went to that drive in a few times and, uh, did some things. I'm sure they showed movies there too.

Beaverton

Sounds like a town a guy could live in or drive in (nudge nudge, wink, wink say no more):)

[Ivor biggin]

When I lived in ON my riding buddies and I used Hwy 7 frequently. I recall it as being a great biking road although I don't remember now what sections we travelled.

Over the Weekend, on a ride to Shannonville, I crossed Hwy7 at Madoc Twice and both times I thought about Neil`s article. I have traveled on 7 and 7A, around the Port Perry area but always find the route to be quite boring compared to other East/West routes that I have used. Although further North than some might like Hwys 141/60 or 118 are far more entertaining rides and for Northern riders heading to Southeast Ontario they don`t add on too much mileage. Even if they did who cares, great roads are always too short. I`ve only mentioned two East/West routes but there are lots more through Ontario from Timmins all the way down to Orillia but I`ve never found a really good North/South route.

[TimP]

I was on Hwy 7 this weekend, too, but in a cage, unfortunately.

My wife wanted blueberries, before they're gone for the season, and Hwy 7 has traditionally had several vendors clustered around the edge of the Shield (starting at Maberly, I've never had to go farther than Kaladar, with a number of vendors just west of Sharbot Lake). This year - late season - several aren't selling blueberries this year. Either sold out or not bothering, although the prices seem to indicate there's some coin to be made. We got a basket for half price (priced to move) and gorged all weekend.

We stopped for a milkshake at the fall River Pub and saw lots of bikes heading back down #36 from Maberly to Westport, our drive back to the cottage. That's a good road, even in a car.

If the Fall River Pub and the berry lady in Sharbot Lake (who also makes jams, sells corn and other fresh veges) are any indication, the locals just need to find ways to sell things people actually want nowadays. Good food (fresh in season or prepared), fair prices, and a hell of a fine road to get there sells all year 'round. What's not to like?

[Ivor biggin]

I was on Hwy 7 this weekend, too, but in a cage, unfortunately. What's not to like?

Sorry TimP but that makes me cringe just to think about it.
I.B.

[Sidecar Bob]

Me too. Whenever I have to sit in a car on a sunny day I feel like an ant under a magnifying glass.

[TimP]

I.B.! There's that selective editing again!

I plead guilty to driving a car for a couple of hours and you people immediately start wailing and cringing! Cripes! Like you've never had to drive to please the missus! Like you go everywhere and do everything on your bike! Who do you think you are? Sidecar Bob? Don't you be giving me a hard time 'cause I admit to holding a steering wheel for a few minutes over a long weekend! I'll have you know that while you were on your little pansy jaunt to Shannonville I had already passed that burg the Thursday afternoon prior and continued on a further 350 km to Hudson, then purred back 300 km to the cottage, and completed the trip Sunday evening coming back home with over 1200 km on the bike thank you very much, so don't be feeling sorry for my lack of seat time! And Bob, "ant under a magnifying glass"??? Give me a break! No-one needs to chastise me with their snide comments about car driving, nosiree! No shortage of miles under my ass, you betcha! Why, I bet...


Damn. It woulda been so sweet to have been on the bike on #36.


*Sigh...*


So, how was Shannonville?

[Ivor biggin]

So, how was Shannonville?

This was my third trip to a Canadian Superbike round this season and apart from Calabogie I`ve left, as I did at Shannonville, after the racing on Saturday. I know it would make more sense to make the trip one day later and then take in the racing on Sunday but to be quite honest I enjoy the ride to the track more than the racing itself. The three rounds I`ve been to this year gave me an excuse to put on nearly 4000km.
The thing is I`ve always liked Shannonvile as there seems to be a relaxed atmosphere about the place and it`s nice to be able to see the whole racetrack, except for one corner, from the stands.
Best part about the racing on Saturday? undoubtedly superpole qualifying and Steve Crevier showboating for the fans on the Buelle. There is a speed bump at the entrance to pit lane and all the riders would slow and then ride over the bump like normal people but not Crevier. First time,coming into the staging area, he wheelied over it then next time, for an encore, did a stoppie with his front wheel on the bump. What a guy and the biggest cheer of the day. Oh, by the way, it was good to see Mike Taylor back on a superbike again and mixing it with the young bucks.
On the way home I stopped in at the 141 Cafe for a chat with Toz and his charming wife and they were telling me that they are off to Indianapolis for the GP. I still haven`t made my mind up about that one yet but I still might take a ride down. Hell, even if I get there late I`ll still be in time to see the second place guy cross the line.:D
I.B.

[Sidecar Bob]

There's that selective editing again!
Right. It's what we do best. Besides bashing Harleys, that is ;-}


I plead guilty to driving a car for a couple of hours
So you admit it, eh? Well, niow we will proceed with the sentancing....


Don't you be giving me a hard time 'cause I admit to holding a steering wheel for a few minutes over a long weekend!
But that was the sentance: You shall be given a hard time until such time as it stops feeling like a hard time and you realize that it's just friendly teasing.


And Bob, "ant under a magnifying glass"??? Give me a break! No-one needs to chastise me with their snide comments about car driving, nosiree!
Umm, that was not intended as a snide comment. I meant the sun shining through the windshield. It makes me feel like I'm the ant and a little boy is holding the magnifying glass over me.

At one time I thought that I would probably want to get a car before I got to the age I am because biking in bad weather would loose it's appeal and I would want the comfort of an enclosed vehicle. So far it has gone the other way - as time progresses I feel less comfortable in cars, even for short trips. We'll see how it goes in another 10 years.