Day 42 (Sun, July 31st) - Brantford to Niagara Falls (75 miles)

Today was an exciting day of anticipation as we departed Ontario and crossed back into the USA at Niagara Falls.   It was a perfect day for riding with a nice tailwind, rolling hills, and the pretty Ontario country side that we had been seeing for several days.   Then, what a sight biking down the Niagara Parkway and getting that first view of Niagara Falls.   You can hold a camera in almost any direction and take a great picture.   

Here are some great pics of this amazing day to Niagara Falls:

Our Route Map today takes us from Brantford, Ontario (just south of Lake Ontario and just north of Lake Erie) to Niagara Falls (see left center of map)

Getting ready for Niagara - Breakfast in ABB Blues!

Our first SAG stop enroute to Niagara Falls - we are all wearing our Bike America Jerseys today
From Left Barry, Barbara, Larry, Terry, Damien)

Riding across Ontario to Niagara - Mike and Barry

We are excited about Niagara - Look at those smiles!

One more hill to Niagara!  Who's that in front?

We ride across and old draw bridge as we approach Niagara

Here is one of the old pulley's from the Drawbridge (much bigger than Russell's bike wheel)

We enter the bridge over the Niagara Canal

Our first view of Niagara Falls is "hotel row" on the Canadian Side

We then rode down Niagara Parkway and got our first view of the Falls

Here is American Falls (from the Canadian side) - See Maid of the Mist in the foreground

It's been 25 years since my last visit).   How we have both changed!

Looking west, here is Horseshow Falls with Maid of the Mists pulling up close

Those folks on Maid of the Mists are definitely getting wet.   

Cyclists enjoying the falls (ME, Russell Goins, Barry Lucas)

We then head to Rainbow Bridge and US Customs

Here we are crossing Rainbow Bridge in the traffic

A view of Horseshoe Falls from Rainbow Bridge

It's a 20 minute wait to get thru customers.  We too are stuck in the traffic

The Canadian Skyline from Rainbow Bridge

Old Glory at the US border

Our Trip Leader (Mike Munk) is just ahead of us in the ABB Van

We make it thru customs and check into our lodging in time for a little sight seeing

We go for a trip on Maid of the Mists (a view of the Canadian skyline from the elevator)

On go the raincoats as the we board the boat

Here comes the mists "full force" as we approach Horseshoe Falls

 I manage to get a picture of Russell (it's definitely wet).   The roaring thunder of the fall is deafening.   You can feel the power of the falls.

We return to American Falls (Russell, ME, Dan)

Ann and Leslie (from Portello, CA) in the rainbow

Our cyclist group in the Mists (Dan, Anne, Leslie, Terry, Russell, Gary in front)

Maid of the Mists II returning to port

Barry and I at American Falls

We have lunch overlooking Horseshoe Falls (what a view)

Niagara Falls park was founded in 1885 (one of our oldest parks).  It's an amazing place, the falls are hypnotic, a little touristy, but then again it's one of the seven wonders.....and rightfully so.

Tomorrow we begin the final week of cycling enroute to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.   

This is the final push and includes some of our biggest days as we cross the Appalachian's in Vermont and New Hampshire.   We have travelled over 3,000 miles by bicycle.   We have a little over 500 miles remaining.   We are all looking forward to the Rye Beach on 8 August.

More later,

Love to All,

ME

"Wonderful, wonderful, and even more wonderful....and after that, beyond all whooping!"  (Shakespeare from As you Like It, after he had just seen his first bicycle)  :-)