Conference kaosws::canada

Most of the folks that come up to visit us here in Regional OPS/IS staff use 
the following route (approx 450 miles):

-get over to the I93 northbound
-pay your money at the piggy-bank and keep going till you come to the I89 
 (make sure u stop at the liquor store as this route has no duty free on the 
 US side of the border).
-go I89 northbound.  You will pass through White River junction. Stop at HOJO 
 for coffee. Then get back on the I89 northbound.  Go through Burlington and 
 dont stop till you get to the border. Its a mess there as CDN customs is 
 under contructions.
-now keep going north (its a 3lane road), go through St.Jean and keep going 
 till you get to the expressway that takes you into Montreal.
-Just go straight through to Montreal. Have you 25c ready for the Champlain
 bridge. Keep on going/follow the road.  Make sure you do not getside tracked.
 This route will logically take you onto Decarie northbound. Its a ditch type
 road. You want to go as far as highway 40 (Metrepolitain), and make a left 
 onto it.  You will be going west-bound on the 40. 
-Just follow the 40 till you see the signs for Ottawa.  These will be outside 
 of the built-up parts of Montreal. Do not be discouraged, they will show up.
 If you miss this you will end up in Toronto eventually.
-You cannot miss Ottawa if you have followed these directions.

notes on speeds: 
-the part from the border to the montreal connecting highway, follw the 
 speedlimits, especially in the small towns.
-the part between there and the Ottawa turnoff on the 40, drive 70-80MPH.
 Especially the highway 40 from decarie to the ottawa turnoff. 150-160 are 
 common speeds. 
-the rest of the Quebec part, follow the speedlimit.
-the ontario portion maybe drive 130+ but becareful of blind curves.

If you do this you should be able to do Acton area to Ottawa in 6 1/2 hours.

Fred

     In response to the last noter.
    
     I am appalled. Appalled that anyone, would condone driving in Canada,
    anywhere in Canada at speeds of 150 to 160 kph. Those speeds are
    not tolerated very well by our law enforcement agencies here in
    Canada, and in some parts of the country could land you in jail,
    suspesion of your license for a year (reciprocal aggreements exist
    between many states and provinces) charges of reckless driving,
    and the death of yourself and/or others on the road.
    
     As a visitor to our country, I would admonish you to respect our
    laws, be they crimminal or motor vehicle, just as I respect the
    laws when I visit your country.
    
     To Mr. Fred (Rocketship To Death) Rodermond, I would caution you
    to, "GET REAL". Life is to precious to throw it away so foolishly
    for the sake of a few minutes gained. When you kill someone on the
    road and then you slow down, you will probably say "I really learned
    my lesson", yet the dead person, their family and friends, what
    would they have learned?
    
     I could belabour the point here for hours, but I won't. You know
    what I think of your speeding in my unspoken words.
    
    Regards, R. Tomkins

    Here's another route which I've been using the last few times I've
    travelled to Ottawa.
    
    o Get on I93 north and stay on it until it joins I91 in Vermont
      (I93 lasts about 160 miles from I495 in MA to I91 in VT).
    
    o Take I91 north to the border (there is a duty free shop here).
      (about 60 miles from I93/I91 interchange to border)
    
    o After going through customs, you will be on autoroute 55.
    
    o Take autoroute 55 north to autoroute 10 west.
    
    o Take autoroute 10 west to Montreal (about 80 miles).
    
    o Proceed over the Champlain bridge (25� toll).
    
    o Proceed on same road which takes you to Decarie (autoroute 15).
    
    o Take Decarie for about 5 miles.
    
    o Take the autoroute 40 west exit (exit left off of Decarie).
    
    o Stay on autoroute 40 west to the Ontario border.  Route becomes
      Highway 417.
    
    o Stay on Highway 417 which takes you to Ottawa (about 120 miles from
      Montreal).
    
    This route is about 430 miles from Maynard MA to Ottawa.  I usually
    take about 7� hours using this route (and not speeding).
    
     - Serge

    Get off the soapbox.  Everyone in here is tired of this sermon.
    Send the guy a VAXmail if his comments disturb you so much.
    
    Glenn

    Don't worry, when they pull you over, just claim that you understood
    417 to be the speed limit. 8^)
    
        
    	I saw Richard the other day in his backyard with a shovel and
    part of his dashboard. It finally "clicked" later that he was trying
    to bury his speedometer........ 2 meters under, as it were.
    
    
    Glenn (Rocketship to Home/Work) Richardson   8^)

	Since the 'base' noter is probably already here in Ottawa,
any further discussion on directions (and how slowly) to get here are
probably a waste of time.  But for others who may wish to avoid
a boring trip through the most poorly laid-out city in Canada, Montreal,
here is a more direct and less stressful route:

	o take the Mass. Pike (I90) west to New York state and then onto
	  the New York State Thruway (again, I90) to Syracuse via Albany.

	o in Syracuse, get on I81 north to Watertown and Canada.

	o pay $2 bridge toll on the US side, cross over the bridge and
	  wait ten days while the Canadian Gestapo go over you, your
	  car and your possessions.

	o having escaped, proceed to drive towards Ontario's Hwy 401,
	  taking the east-bound 401 towards Prescott.

	o exit the 401 at Prescott where the sign indicates 'Ottawa...
	  do ya really wanna come here?'.  Say 'yes' and proceed north
	  on Hwy. 16.

	o after 54 Km you will smuck right into Ottawa...pick yourself
	  up and go home, Ottawa's closed for the winter.

Pat

    Montr�al, for a city that is almost 350 years old, and on an island is
    laid out as best as it could be!  now go to Boronto and park your car
    on the 401, it's free.
    
    Jean
    

    In any case bring a book along when you get to Ottawa .... it's
    such an exciting :-) city at night!
    
    Martin

I prefer to take I-69 north from Indianapolis to Port Huron.  I enter Canada 
through

		           -----------
		* * * *    S A R N I A    * * * *
		           -----------

and then proceed east on 401.

Yours, THE HANDY HOOSIER,

Russ Schwartz.

    WATCH IT RUSHTON,
        
    " But for others who may wish to avoid a boring trip through the most
    poorly laid-out city in Canada, Montreal, here is a more direct and
    less stressful route:   "

                             
    ALL THE BEST,
    
    TED.
    

    
      I hope this notice is recieved to you in time for your trip to
    Ottawa.
    
      The best way to Ottawa is to take the Interstate 87 to the
    Thousand Island Bridge. Then take the 401 east to Hwy 16. Signs
    along the road will then direct you to Ottawa. By the way, Hwy 16 will
    lead you right to the big city.
    
    I hope your trip is a safe and fun one.
    
    Mark/Kanata/Canada

    
    
    
    That should read interstate 81 not 87 to the Thousand Island Bridge
    
    Mark/Kanata/Canada
    

    Well I want everyone to know I made it safely to Ottawa and back. I
    went up 91 to 89 then 133 into Montreal and then onto 40 (passing the
    Digital building-I honked on the way by) to 17 into Ottawa. It was one
    helluva long ride from my house in Sturbridge (about 8 1/2 hours).
    Anyhow we had a good time spending thanksgiving with part of my wife's
    family. Here's some highlights
    
    -Went to my first ever French speaking Dunkin Donuts in Montreal
    -I thought beer was very expensive at the beer store 13.80 for a 12
    pack of Molson Bradore. I know it's 6% alchohol and all but it's still
    expensive. I love it though.
    -I thought Ottawa was a beautiful city. Modern, Clean and very pretty
    -My wife's sister and husband live in Glouster which was really
    different-beautiful house and all except only about 10 feet away
    from houses on both sides. And these houses went for as far as the eye
    can see. No trees no hills no nothing just houses. I did'nt really like
    it.
    -Read about the notorious Legare fellow. How about that guy-bad or
    what?
    -Read about the Grey Cup. Wanted to listen on the way home but could
    only find a french speaking station. Heard it was an excellent game
    -Went to the Talisman in Ottawa for a Christmas party
    
    Now for the real Highlights
    
    Went to the Lido in Hull-I guess this is the place that the government
    is lending money too. Is this true? Anyhow I don't want to start any
    political conversation here cause I really don't care about that.
    Was'nt all that impressed with the Lido except for the table dancing
    which I had never seen before. Kinda thought that was neat. From there 
    onto the Pink Panther which I thought was excellent. Clean place,
    Beautiful women, Well run and good shows. Had a real good time there.
    Say no more Say no more nudge nudge wink wink
    
    We also went bowling
    
    Well that's about it 
    Thanks to everyone for making the trip a little bit easier
    
    Kevin
    
    
    

    Hey Kevy Baby!
    
    	How fast did you drive, that's all we want to know...
    
    	Did you do 150-160 Km per hour like Richard Tomkins suggested?
    
    
    Glad you had a great time,
    
    Al
    

    
    
    
        The Lido in Hull is where they "strip" the government of money.
    
    I am glad you had a good time and hope to see you back here soon!!!!
    
    
    Mark/Kanata/Canada

Now that the highway through the notch is finished, any driver can make it from
the north side of Boston to Montreal in just a bit over five hours.

This weekend I used the route through the notch and was able to easily make it
to Montr�al from the ZKO parking lot in 4.5 hours plus stops.

Starting from ZK (NH/Mass line), I used the route up the F.E. Everett turnpike
to 93 to 91 to 55 to 10.  I do not own a radar detector, and I used my cruise
control to keep my speed less than five miles above the speed limits.

/john