MAPS and DIRECTIONS to : CanIRON VIII - Fergus Ontario - July 28 to August 1, 2011. The Canadian National Artisan Blacksmith's Conference, hosted by the Ontario Artist Blacksmith Association

CanIRON VII - FErgus

Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex
Fergus, Ontario
Thursday July 28 - Monday August 1, 2011

Getting to Fergus

General Regional Map

Traveling from :
EAST - 401 through Toronto to Highway 6 (includes Eastern Canada)
SOUTH - QEW to Hamilton, on to 403 west to Highway 6 , see detail below
WEST - 402 / 401 to Highway 6
NORTH WEST - your best method to Highway 6
NORTH - see detail below (includes Western Canada)

Area Map:
For an easy to print version of just this map - go on here
Now, depending on which direction you are coming from, there are some more complicated parts.

From West / East / South Getting through Guelph * Highway 6 runs straight up the west side of the small city of Guelph. This leg is high speed 4 lanes, but does have ocassional street lights at intersections. * At the top end, Highway 6 hits a T junction. Here you turn RIGHT (east) on to Woodlawn Road. This is also 4 lanes, but now is town traffic, speeds, many street lights. * Watch for the signs showing Highway 6 continuing North up Woolwich. This is a LEFT turn (north). There is a Canadian Tire just PAST this intersection, also on your left side. * Highway 6 then leads straight into Fergus (refer back to Site / Direction page for a local map).
From the NORTH Avoiding Toronto! * Recommend that you turn off Highway 400 on to Highway 9 and head WEST. The interchange is just after you start to climb out of the flatlands of the Holland Marsh. * There is a slight jog in Highway 9 at Orangeville. The road ends in a T intersetion, you take a ramp off to your RIGHT (North). You then make the next LEFT, about 500 m. The trick here is that the road is 4 lanes at this point and you have to merge and cut to the inside turn lane. The bad news is that Highway 9 becomes the main downtown section for Orangeville, always slow. Good news is that Orangeville is not that big, so its less than a kilometer of that traffic. * Highway 9 crosses Highway 6 on the south edge of the town of Aurthur. Here make a LEFT (South). * Once you reach Fergus itself refer to the detailed map. Highway 6 goes straight to the town core, crossing a bridge over the Grand River (as St. David Street). Just over this bridge, the main flow of traffic shifts to your RIGHT (as Bridge Street). It quickly shifts again to the LEFT to become Tower Street. Stay with the main flow as you work up the hill. * Near the top of the hill are streetlights for the intersection of Blesyide. You will turn LEFT (east) and follow to the CanIRON site.
From Western Canada See the detailed description on avoiding Toronto above! If you are coming over the top of Lake Superior, you might consider taking the ferry across from Manitoulin Island to Tobermory. The cost of the ferry is certainly offest by the major saving in gas and time used to go around through Sudbury / Parry Sound. Details on the Chi-Cheemoun Ferry Service are available on their web site. After two days of rocks and trees and trees and rocks through Northern Ontario, the boat ride is a nice break. Highway 6 starts in Tobermory, just keep straight down till you hit Authur, then refer to the instructions above.
From the South Getting around Hamilton Travel from the South is likely up the Qeen Elizabeth Way (QEW). This is a major expressway, expanding to 8 lanes as it lifts up the Burlington Skyway across Hamilton Harbour. * After you come down off the Skyway, you need to position yourself to merge on to Higway 403 West. This is a RIGHT hand peel off. * After about 5 - 6 kilometers, you will merge to the right on to Highway 6 North. From here refer to the 'Getting through Guelph' instructions above.
From the USA Refer to the Regional Map above WEST Depending on your start point, suggest that Port Huron / Sarnia is your best choice of crossing point. This crossing is less busy at customs and generally has less traffic delay than at Detroit / Windsor. (In any case, at Detroit / Windsor, definately avoid using the Tunnel!) SOUTH / EAST If you are coming straight north up I90 E, your crossing point wil be Buffalo / Fort Erie. If you are coming more from the east along I90 W you might consider taking the 290 loop over the top edge of Buffalo, then diverting NORTH to cross at Lewiston / Queenston. There is considerably less traffic along that route.	Crossing into Canada An overview of the requirements for entry to Canada were prepared and are available as a PDF HERE (Remember this is not an OFFICIAL source!) Remember! Although you do not require a passport to enter Canada, you definately need one to re-enter the USA.

Find out how things are progressing by visiting the CANIRON 8 Blog ( http://caniron8.blogspot.com )

Maps altered from MapQuest or Ontario Official Road Map
Contents © individual Artists or Authors Web Design - Darrell Markewitz