July 2, 2005

A Day to be Tourists

It was quite cool last night with heavy winds coming off the Lake Erie. It’s the first time I have slept in the sleeping bag since Minnesota.

Our goal for the day is Niagara Falls, Ontario to spend some time at the falls. The morning is crisp and cool and we all wear arm warmers. Nothing eventful happened in the morning. Just the usual breakfast, and ride to second breakfast. After that we had to navigate through Buffalo, NY to get to the Peace Bridge. At one point we had to take a detour as a bridge was just closed for reconstruction on June 29. The ride through Buffalo was on roads not very well traveled but they were through tired sections of the city. As we neared the bridge it was mostly bike trails.

Riding into Canada

There was no problem going through Canadian customs. Just a couple of questions and we were on our way. On the Canadian side the route is on well paved roads along the Niagara River. Most times we are within a hundred feet from the river. There is a bike trail but we don’t use it as it is very curvy and at times has some gravel and debris on it. The road is just fine. At one point an older woman slowed down and pointed to the bike trail. We stayed on the road.

Youth Cycle Touring Group

We saw a group of bikes loaded for touring parked at a picnic table near a bakery and decided it was time for a snack break. It is an international hostelling group of young boys with a male and a female counselor. They are from Buffalo and riding for a week in Ontario. We talked with them a bit and gave the boys some tips on riding. They are doing 30 to 40 miles a day. It looked like it is a first big ride for most of them. I hope they have fun and learn a lot from the trip.

Niagra Falls

Niagara Falls is, well, The Falls. It is packed as this is 4th of July Weekend. Nick and Tim go on the Maid of the Mist boat ride under the falls while I watch the bikes and take a nap under a tree. After recalibrating the mileage to my daughter Anne and her husband Tim’s place in Rochester, we decide to ride a bit to shorten tomorrow’s ride so we can get in earlier.

Niagra River after the falls

It’s back through customs on the American side after riding north by the Niagara River. American customs was no problem either. What was a problem was finding lodging not too far off the route. Everything was full in Lewiston, NY so we had to ride to a KOA campground about five miles off the route. The place is full but we called ahead and they said they would find a piece of grass for us to camp on which is about what it is like. We got in later than I would have liked but that’s the way it goes. Tomorrow it’s off to Rochester.