Fwd: July 31 - To Niagara Falls, Canada

Our group started off late this morning with a destination of Niagara Falls only 40 miles away. Most of the route was on the Friendship Trail and after 24 miles we hungered for food. To our delight, we spotted an eye-appealing cafe and stopped for juice and crepes.

By mile 35 we had reached the falls and had to walk our bikes. The paths were full of tourists and difficult to maneuver around the groups. I think we spent at least an hour and a half at the falls just talking to people, taking photos and asking any passerby to take photos of us. One professional photographer from Italy took our picture with Minion and promised to email the image when he returns home next month.

A young man noticed our bicycles and all the commotion around us and asked if he could borrow my pump to inflate the tires on his stroller. Of course, I volunteered to do this for him. I've never completed this kind of roadside assistance before!

July 30 - Circling Lake Erie

Perfect weather in the mid-seventies made our 60- mile ride a pleasure. The color of Lake Erie was the most beautiful translucent blue as the sun sparkled upon the water. We stopped at Peacock Point for some time, enjoying the beach and the calming nature of the surroundings. Some of our riders needed a rest and took advantage of a sunny, grassy spot to close their eyes.

Two bridges were being repaired and detours were necessary. We played innocent and asked the construction worker if we could walk our bikes over the bridge. He broke the rules, lifted our bikes over the barrier, and we peddled on.

On the road it is sometimes difficult to find a restroom. Can you imagine my amazement when I found this porta potty decorated with baskets of flowers?

July 30 - Continuing onto Wainfleet, Ontario

A group of riders stopped at the Sunflower Cafe in Selkirk for coffee. On the outside wall of the cafe was a graphic of the history of the town.

Walking through the town of Dunnville after lunch, we noticed another mural titled "What Dunnville gives back to me". The mural was created by young people in the community. As a result of the art project, pride, self-esteem, and confidence of the youths grew and rippled into the community.

Yesterday I said I'd never take another photograph of the windmills, but I tried again anyway to capture this picturesque scene. I also cannot resist photographing unusual signs and the Dachshund Security is one of those.

July 29 - Continuing to Port Dover

We stopped along the road to purchase fresh picked blueberries from a local farm and I spotted this tractor nearby. How wonderful to have the pink ribbon symbol displayed to make such an important statement.

Our cyclists needed a rest stop at mile 25, since lunch was not until mile 40. A part of our group fueled up with ice cream before continuing. We knew that shortly we'd find the well known "wheel in the tree" before climbing up a very steep hill.

For dinner we walked into the town of Port Dover, dined, and had dessert at another place that served only crepes. What a delicious ending to an extraordinary special day!

July 29 - On the way to Port Dover

Driftwood Figures

Flowering Tobacco

Cycling in Canada with interesting sites, scenic byways, and excellent low trafficked roads, made the day special as we cycled toward our final destination.  Can you believe that we found these animals made of driftwood in a front yard? We passed orchards of cherry trees and fields of tobacco. I'd never seen a flowering tobacco plant before.

Our 68-mile route seemed to always keep Lake Erie on our right. As the day changed and became overcast, the color of the water changed from brown to deep blue to gray.

Port Burwell is surrounded by windmill farms. I stopped at least ten times to capture the magnificent stature of the twirling propellers.

July 28 - Port Stanley Activites

To our surprise, when we arrived in town, there was an art festival, tall ships were in the harbor, and kids were enjoying pony and carnival rides. Ziva purchased a butterfly art piece for her home, I indulged in ice cream, and Mark had his second pie and ice cream of the day.

One side of Port Stanley is a harbor and the other side borders the north side of Lake Erie. The winds were so strong that we couldn't stay at the beach for long but marveled at the sight of the crashing waves against the sandy beach.

On our way back to town we found this tree full of knitted art which I assume was created for the harbor festival.

July 28 - On the way to Port Stanley, Ontario

Our first chore after breakfast was to wash down our bikes and oil our bike chain after yesterday's muddy road day. I also had to convert our cue sheet from kilometers to miles to understand our cue sheet directions for today's 107 kilometer ride.

Along the way we passed small towns, farms, and fields of corn. I noticed art work on some barns and houses. After we stopped in Wardsville (population 500) for coffee, we learned that these barn quilt murals were part of a program developed for  their centennial celebration. The quilt murals are planned to be part of more towns in Canada in the future. My favorite quilt mural, pictured with my bike, is titled "Indian Paintbranch" and honors the Delaware Nation."

Winds on our backs were favorable for cycling and my odometer reached 20 mph on the flat road. However, after lunch the skies were threatening rain and the cross winds made it feel as if we were cycling uphill.

July 27 - to Dresden, Ontario

Today was our first rainy day on the trip. We were optimistic as we started riding the trail with only sprinkles. Later we faced two torrential downpours, one before the ferry to Canada, the other ten miles from Dresden.

On the way I had a flat tire. Ken came along to help and our Team Together (later named The Corner Gang) waited for me at the Algonac-Walpole Island ferry.

Following a cue sheet is sometimes challenging. Today google maps led us astray and we followed the road that became a mud packed mess and had to walk our bikes.

We were soaked and tired upon arrival at the Dresden Community Church. However, take a look at the place settings welcoming us. What a wonderful ending to our day.

July 26 - To Armada, MI

Seventy miles to Armada was smooth sailing with perfect weather and only ten miles of paved trails. The only problem in the morning was that I was stung by a yellow jacket. After two benadryl, the swelling subsided.

At lunch in LaPeer we double checked a real map to understand where we were going. For fun we also lined up on the curb for a photo of the "older generation of bikers". The average age of our group was 66, the oldest rider 76.

We arrived at the church in Armada after a harrowing experience. Highway 52 was under construction and we had no lane or shoulder to ride. Our solution was "to be a car" in this circumstance. Three of us cycled in front of a tractor trailer and the truck driver slowed down the traffic of cars behind him. We felt safe and thanked him when we finally turned off the road.

Dinner was catered by the church ladies. Just before dinner I found out that Minion had fallen off my bike a few miles before our final destination. Ken Hendricks, who rides a recumbent bike low to the ground, found Minion.

Congregants of the church had dinner with us and Trent asked if he could play with Monion. I saw how much he loved him and told Trent that I would send Minion back to him after I take him to my final destination, Cambridge.

July 25 - On the way to Frankenmuth, MI

Our 61 mile ride became 67 when we had a six mile detour. The weather was perfect but the roads had many bumps and ruts for endless miles. To try to avoid the ruts we traveled in the middle of the road. Of course, there were so few cars, this was possible.

Scenery along the way consisted mainly of farms. I'm a city gal but easily figured out that acres of sweet beets, corn and soybeans were cultivated in this part of Michigan.

The town of Frankenmuth is very touristy unlike other towns we've been to during this trip. Even the motel we are staying at tonight has a Bavarian theme.

I was very happy to revisit my favorite store near the motel, Zeilinger's Wool Company. I had purchased a light green winter hat that I wear all the time in 2010.  I spotted and purchased a handmade wool sweater, color orange to match.