Joe's Bike Ride Across America: Day 42 – Brantford, Ontario to Niagara Falls, NY

Today: 72 miles, 1645 feet of climb
Cumulative: 3140 miles, 101570 feet of climb
Remaining: Approx. 564 miles, 20410 feet of climb

Welcome to NY

Back in the USA. And another signature day with a visit to Niagara Falls.

Our Lady of Assumption Church, St. Mary's Parish Community, Brantford Ontario. On the right, ABB riders and Father Mariusz Durbajlo

Last night was pretty good too. I attended mass with several other riders at a beautiful church in Brantford. Our Lady of Assumption Church at St. Mary’s Parish Community. (Thanks for the photos, Nan.) Then, we had a great dinner at a nearby hotel. It was a buffet with really good food (prime rib and chicken), and we shared it with a wedding party sitting in an adjacent room. Of course we had to clink our glasses to get the bride and groom to kiss in the buffet line.

The Day 42 peleton. ABB's Jeff leads Jeff, Alex, and Don. Behind me are Toronto Mark, Baltimore Mark, and Dave

Was ABB's Jeff at work? He was riding with us. I'm just asking.

This morning our daily peloton was The Geldings, with honorary filly Alex, and Don. Baltimore Mark and Don stayed with us for about 17 miles until Don had a mechanical issue with his back cassette. The rest of us stayed together all the way to Niagara Falls. ABB’s Jeff also rode with us before the day’s only SAG stop at 36 miles.

Susan brought us more treats at the SAG stop. On the right, a scene about ten miles before Niagara Falls.

The route today was again through farm country until the outskirts of Niagara Falls where it quickly got suburban. We also crossed the Welland Canal on a drawbridge. The canal is 27 miles long, contains eight locks, drops 326 feet, and allows ships to traverse the Niagara Escarpment and avoid Niagara Falls. It connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.

The Welland Canal and drawbridge

We knew we were getting close when we started seeing many powerlines coming from where we were headed. The end of the days ride was through the town of Niagara Falls on the Canadian side where we stopped at the Canadian Horseshoe Falls before taking the Rainbow Bridge through customs and into New York State. Only three states and seven riding days now remain before we reach the Atlantic Ocean. I’m certain I can now finish what I started. It is still time to be careful and respect the remaining mileage. But worst case scenario, I could handle the remaining distance on my own if I had to.

The American Falls on the left and Canadian Falls with the Maid of the Mist on the right.

Tonight, most of the riders will be headed to the American Falls at 9PM for Sunday night fireworks. Then it is time for bed, with the alarm clock turned off. Tomorrow is our final rest day and my bike will not see the road for the first day since June 19.