Day 18 Grimsby to Toronto

Sunday 6th June
Daily mileage 21miles Average Speed 9.59mph Ride Time 2hr09min
We experienced more rain and strong winds last night, the tent floor seeped a little and the tent was swaying back and forth but overall it withstood the elements well. We had set the alarm for 6am with the intention of setting off early to beat the winds but it was raining and there were stronger winds than yesterday so we stayed in bed!
We eventually ventured from the tent at 9am where the rain had stopped and the wind had eased a little. The weather report said 40-60kmh winds from the NE which by the way had turned to be yet again straight in our faces… not impressed.
We covered up and cycled 5 miles along the north service road to a coffee breakfast in a convenience store then a further 5 miles until the beach boulevard took us over a bridge past Hamilton and into Burlington. We stopped at a few stands that were on the lake side where a cycle race was being promoted and had taken place that morning. Only 5 riders turned up due to the strong winds and showers which we knew about all too well.
We had already been told about the Go Train which allows cycles and just so happened to be going our way into Toronto. We contemplated whether this was cheating but came to the conclusion that as Toronto is back in an easterly direction we were not gaining any distance or making any progress on our East to West coast adventure. Technically Toronto is out of our way and in the wrong direction but we did not want to miss it and we wanted to catch up with our friends Kevin and Brenda and meet our warm shower hosts Hannah and David.
So we cycled a further 5 miles to the train station and took the 50 min train ride while chatting to a nice interesting bloke on the train who was into photography. As we arrived in Toronto a bit early to meet our hosts we stopped for lunch at the market then cycled a further 5 miles to their apartment by High Park on the outskirts of the city. The roads were terrible to ride on although the weather had perked up, including the wind dying down and the sun coming out, it feels like a different day.
Hannah and David made us welcome in their lovely new place that they only moved into 2 weeks ago and are busy assembling Ikea flat packs, doesn’t everybody love that job! Rockwood the house rabbit is loving the excitement of it all! We pretty much relaxed and made ourselves at home with a home cooked curry for dinner, thanks to you both for putting us up! Our hosts have a great cycle tour company www.biciklo.com.

Day 17 Niagara Falls to Grimsby

Saturday 5th June
Daily mileage 36miles Average Speed 10.05mph Ride Time 3hr37min
Last night there was an almighty thunder and lightening storm and it felt like we were in the middle of it being 6 stories high, although glad not to be in a tent. We made it to breakfast and retrieved our bikes from the meeting room, they were still there. We made our way out of Niagara Falls and am pleased to say it was lovely and sunny but there was a headwind that grew stronger as we left the built up area and the roads were still dodgy.
As we were busy reading the road signs for directions we did not notice the miles clocking up. We briefly stopped for a cold drink after 15miles through St Catherine’s before jumping on the service road which ran right the way alongside the motorway. We followed it pretty much all day and on our right the shore of lake Ontario kept us going.
We made it to a campsite at Fifth Point which is a conservation park. This should have cost us $33 but some how we managed to get stuck in a corner of the campground for free! We are on lovely grass, near to the clean shower block and a short walk away from the private beach and marina! Not bad at all. We threw up the tent and set off for the beach but the water was freezing so we sunbathed on the highest point looking out over the lake to the skyline of Toronto, our destination for tomorrow and it looks miles away.
We ate a fresh fish dinner at the restaurant on the marina then back to the tent for movie night as the rain just started to fall again, good timing. I just want to point out the distance for today does not represent the effort required as the head wind was relentless and despite sun cream our left side of our bodies are a lot redder than our right.
　
　

Day 16 Niagara Falls, Canada

Friday 4th June
Our first day off… and really not a great deal to tell. We slept in, enjoyed breakfast and did not see a great deal other than the 4 walls of our hotel room. We slept lots, watched a movie with the exception of a quick trip out for dinner.
Unfortunately, we did have to get on the bikes to take a ride to CAA which is where we hoped to pick up some maps of Canada as currently we are without map. The trip there was on busy roads with nasty tarmac although we did manage to get maps they are not overly detailed so our route to Toronto took some additional planning on Google maps.
It was nice to rest our legs today but we have itchy feet to get back on the road. Also we are slightly concerned that it was nice weather today and its meant to rain all weekend. We understand its lovely weather back at home! Typical!

Day 15 Lockport to Niagara Falls

Thursday 3rd June
Daily mileage 31miles Average Speed 10.9 mph Ride Time 2hr50min
Despite mossie attacks and a storm we managed near on 12 hours in the tent 8pm until 8am. We were up and packed and on the bikes within half an hour desperate to get to the market 3miles at the end of the road for the loo! We had a coffee in the car park then on the bikes with destination… Canada!
We basically cycled about 27miles without stopping. We only paused a couple of times to get directions as our map stopped at Niagara and the roads got busier and tougher nearer the town. We eventually made it to Rainbow Bridge which is no mans land between America and Canada and stood in the queue for customs with the falls just over to our left. Showed our passport with no problems we navigated our way along the main tourist stretch to find a hotel. We had researched a good one on trip advisor where we have a whirlpool bath in our room!
We checked in and were blown away with the clean, big, comfy, king size bed and bath and shower and tv and aircon and endless supply of free coffee and cookies. Yes, we have made it to checkpoint one in our heads. We bathed and went sightseeing over to the maid of the mist boat tour to the America and Canada Horseshoe falls. Wow, we got soaked and it was simply an amazing experience. Some 7 year old boy got washed over the 176ft high falls in 1960 and survived with no injuries, incredible.
We then walked to the behind the falls tour where we walked through tunnels that run behind the falls and just to the side. Again we got soaked but the experience was awesome. As we left, a huge storm came over again and we got even more soaked than before. We headed straight for the Casino to an all you can eat buffet and tucked in. We had a great view over the falls. Back to the hotel to chill for a while then we walked back out to photograph the falls by night with the light display. Today was a good day.
　
　

Day 14 Greece to Lockport

Wednesday 2nd June
Daily mileage 63miles Average Speed 11 .2mph Ride Time 5hr36min
A wake up call at 5.30am and breakfast at 6am. We were spoilt by any choice of breakfast we requested! We said our farewells and were on the road at 7am. Thanks so much for making our evening so comfortable and enjoyable… you are both too kind.
We followed the canal path intermittently while swapping the gravel path in some places for the faster road option. After 12miles we stopped in Brockport for a restroom break only then back on the road until we had clocked up 25 miles and had well earned a subway stop at Walmart.
At which point the wind came out of nowhere and hit us straight in the face! This made our lives hell for the remainder of the day and became almost more of a relentless challenge than the never ending hills. Heads down, music on and when we had covered 40 miles we parked up on the side of the canal in Medina and slept like babies for an hour.
The sun had started to go in and the clouds had started to cover as we climbed gingerly back on the bike and covered another 5 miles to Middleport, 5miles more to Gasport then finally another 5 miles into Lockport. By which point it had started to spit. We had began asking for directions to campgrounds, knocking on the doors of B&B’s and even calling hotels but they were either to expensive or closed.
Finally the lady at the tourist info pointed us in the direction of a campground and told us about the storm expected for tonight so a quick supermarket sweep and 5 miles later in the wrong direction… we had finished for the day. Set up camp, attempted a mossie ridden shower and settled for a splash under the cold water tap outside then bed… hurting. Sorry for the lack of photo but we its been hard work today and we are too tired to snap away!
　
　

Day 13 Lyons to Greece

Tuesday 1st June
Daily mileage 54miles Average Speed 11 mph Ride Time 4hr53min
Last night we had all sorts of noises from the Fire station Siren, traffic noise to a thunder and lightening storm. I slept through petty much all of it but Kris was up half the night. We made it out the tent by 7am for breakfast and wifi then on the road by 8am which is much better for us. However, it was still raining and seemed to be getting harder.
We only made it 5miles up the road when we had to pull into a Walmart to buy a high visibility jacket just so that we could be seen better. Unfortunately they only had and XL and it come down to my knees but at least I was safer. The rain started to ease as we came across roots hair and nail salon where I decided to stop and get warm, dry, free coffee and a hair cut! It was so nice to be pampered for 5mins as I had 4inches cut off! That should make things a little easier!
We carried on through Egypt on route 31 west to Rochester where we jumped on the Eerie canal path as was suggested by Paul and Jane many moons ago. This was a great decision as the path was smooth and traffic free. The sun came out and it seemed like a different day. The path did turn to fine gravel after a while but it was still preferable to the road. We stopped to rest at the side of the canal and had lunch while airing all our wet clothes and tent across the grass.
We stopped again to rest and refill the water at Spencerport when we met Dan and Cindy who were also cycling along the canal who invited us back to their house for the night. This was overwhelmingly generous and despite being 4miles back in the direction we have just cycled we jumped at the chance. With the wind behind us we all cycled back to their amazing A frame house set in the woods which is so quirky and filled with antique treasures and Indian Heritage based collectables.
Kris had chance to ice his hurting Achilles and we did some laundry. We had a lovely home cooked roast dinner with apple pie for pudding. We enjoyed their comfy sofa and interesting conversation. Thanks so much for everything and we shall also never give up.
　
　
　
　
　

Day 12 Senaca Falls to Lyons

Monday 31st May
Daily mileage 27miles Average Speed 12.7mph Ride Time 2hr8min
Today we had an extremely lazy morning which set the pace for the rest of the day! We really took our time to get up and pack up as the tent and picnic bench were positioned in the shade and so it was tough to get going. We sat and enjoyed nutella bagels for breakfast with orange juice and grapes.
We finally got on the road about 11am and made it 5miles up the road into Seneca town where we came across the Women’s Rights Natural History Museum. This is where women set up the first Women’s convention to gain the right to vote and be seen as equal to men and was very interesting.
Outside we met a couple who were out on their recumbent cycles and after a short chat and a quick spin on their bikes we bumped into another couple Jessica and Pat who were also touring across the states and were keeping a similar route and timescale so we may bump into them again some time.
We cycled round the corner to Walmart to grab a cool drink then on the 414 north we set off until we had covered 20miles and arrived in Clyde. We stopped under a tree in the park as it was very hot for another cool drink. There was a power socket in the middle of the grass on a pole so we charged away.
The weather seemed to turn as we sat so we hopped back on and got 8 more miles west on route 31 which follows the eerie canal into Lyons. The rain started to fall as we cycled through a lightening storm when a man in a truck pulled over and opened his window to say that we could camp behind the fire station on the canal. I hope our luck doesn’t run out! We put the tent up as the rained stopped. Bob the fireman invited us in for a roast chicken dinner and chocolate pie.
As we sat watching tv in the fire house, charging everything up he bought us some hot fudge sundaes! We really need to put the foot to the metal tomorrow not only to get closer to Niagara but also to burn some calories!