Ontario’s Roads from Hell
This might sound like a joke to those who live in the US; likewise, this might sound like a joke to people used to driving in highways. But NOBODY can’t deny the signs in Ontario, in my case, in the area in Toronto/surrounding Toronto, were written by somebody akin to the Bastard Operator from Hell. Here is a list of things that happened to me while driving from Pearson International Airport to Hamilton:
- After leaving Pearson International, we followed the instructions from Google Maps. Suddenly, we stop on a light which forks 3 ways and we have absolutely no idea which way to take, as none of them have a sign telling us where it leads to (and Google Maps did not seem to make references to this location either). Anyway, we take the closest way which takes to the west and… We ended up halfway to Oshawa!!!
- When we thought we were doing something wrong (duh!), we stopped and asking somebody on the street for instructions to go back to Hamilton. He told us to turn around, and turn right on Gardiner Way. We did and… We almost ended up in the CNE!!!
- “Fortunately”, we finally managed to take a road that had a sign “This way to Hamilton”. FINALLY!!!! However, just when we almost arrive to Hamilton, we look for a specific exit. We keep seeing several exits to Hamilton and we feel we already passed it (we were right). At that point, we stop to have dinner (by now, for a trip that should have taken less than an hour has already taken us 3 hours). After dinner, we ask the waitress and, guess what? We were in the WRONG part of Hamilton and going the WRONG way!!!
- After we go around, we finally hit Downtown Hamilton. Yes, we are near!!! Errrrr… NOT! Just look at the following set of pictures and tell me if you see something particular about it. (The pictures, by the way, were not taken that night but a couple of days after.
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Anything in common? How about the one way signs?! Yes, when we finally near the hotel (we could see the sign), we could not get to the parking lot because all the streets where one way! We ended up going around 6 blocks down before we could turn around to the street of the parking lot.
Overall, left the airport around 5:30 p.m., arrived to the hotel around 9:45 p.m. (take an hour for dinner). But… There is more! The day after, we chose to drove to the place we will be working to avoid any surprises. Guess what? We were supposed to turn on #5 Road but after driving straight for over 3Km past the place we should have turned, we stop at a gas station and ask about it. The response? “Oh, we missed the turn. It is the light three turns ago!”. Just in case it was not me, I asked if it had any signs. The answer? Yup, you guess it: No!!!!
It was so frustrating. In an odd twist, on Wednesday, I checked with a friend who lives in Mississauga if we could meet for drinks and/or dinner. However, we ended up not meeting each other because she was afraid of driving in the highways! (She lives in Mississauga, around 40K from Downtown Hamilton). So, I guess, it is not only me…
So, question for everybody: Is it my imagination or the roads in Ontario really wacky? I know it might not compare to the US but, then again, the highways in Seattle were quite straight forward!
