Day 78: Port Colborne, ON to Niagara on the Lake, ON

Aug 22 blog

54 miles

3,331 miles so far

Today’s ride was really three rides in one - first, east along Lake Erie to Fort Erie where we could see Buffalo across the Niagara River, then north along the river to Niagara Falls, and finally further north to Niagara on the Lake, a beautiful town on Lake Ontario.

In studying the map, we had contemplated shortening our route by turning north well short of Fort Erie off the bike trail onto a highway that would take us almost directly to Niagara Falls. This would have shortened our ride by about an hour or so.

Just before we needed to make a decision I saw a couple getting onto the bike trail and asked them about the alternative routes. He was very helpful and told us that the bike trail we were on would take us all the way to Niagara Falls. We decided to take his advice and continue on the trail which was the right decision - what a beautiful and peaceful ride.

In talking with them, we learned that they were avid cyclists and rode on the trail frequently. We also learned that he owned a “high wheeler” or “penny farthing” bicycle and had just returned from Frederick, MD where he attended a clinic on how to ride it. Evidently, Frederick is an epicenter for the “high wheeler” and holds an annual “high wheeler” race,” the only one of its kind in America that draws competitors from all over the world.

This was the first visit to Niagara Falls for both of us. It was spectacular. It was also very crowded. I can’t imagine how crowded it is on a weekend.

While we were walking our bikes through the crowds, we saw another cyclist pushing his fully loaded touring bike with a huge smile on his face! He was French and spoke very little English, so we conducted our conversation with the assistance of Google Translate. He was so happy, as Niagara Falls was the final stop of his 5,000 km bike tour which had begun in Miami, FL. He was so excited to share some of the details of his trip and to hear about our own adventures.

As we left the viewing area along the falls, we had to turn up a very steep hill through downtown Niagara Falls which was very hectic and very honky-tonk. We couldn’t get through it fast enough.

We eventually made our way back onto the bike trail which we followed along the river to Niagara on the Lake where we were staying at a nice hotel. We planned a rest day for tomorrow, but no massages this time!

The bike trail all the way to Niagara Falls