Day 42

Location - Niagara Falls, New York Miles/Total Miles - 72/3,065 Climb - 1,400

Well, I'm back in the USA and what a dramatic entry . . . Niagara Falls. It's just something everybody has to see in their lifetime, I'm in awe. I had a good run in but the weather wasn't as cooperative as it could be and everyone got wet. Certainly not that much of a setback considering this is only the second rainy day so far. I followed the Niagara River for some time before the falls - quite and angry river with lots of rapids.

Kati comes tonight and I'm finally in a private room . . . being with two other guys in a small hotel room each night has the touch of old military service way back in my past but was worth the trouble considering the lasting friendships I've made.

Not much sunshine - hope that changes tomorrow.

Susan and Larry along with Paul and Maggie sent this beautiful basket with something other than buffet food in it - Thank you so much - I'm so lucky to have such good friends.

Day 41

Location - Brantford, Ontario Miles/Total Miles - 66/2,993 Climb - 1,250

Today was just a great day for riding - a short distance of only 66 miles, tail winds, sunshine all day, what more could you ask for? I was one of the first out of the hotel and the first to finish as well - some say that I'm racing to Niagara Falls, only it won't come any faster considering the distance we ride each day is the same for everyone. Well Kati, I guess I'll just have to wait until tomorrow.

As you can see from the photo, the corn is much different in Canada . . . It's green, grows to about seven feet and produces yellow ears of corn - that's certainly a lot different than it's counterpart in the USA. Yes, and don't forget the barns (much different) they're red in this country . . . very unique.

Kati, I just couldn't help myself, it's in escrow.

Day 40

Location - London, Ontario Miles/Total Miles - 81/2,927 Climb - 1,500

Today we crossed the Blue Water bridge into Canada, clearing customs and heading into a country side that looks much like what we've been through in the USA. I could only get a picture of the group queuing up and then we were told to put the cameras away while crossing over the bridge.

I've noticed that all across this northern tier of America people like to take care of their yards more than us city dwellers. This shot is a great example of what hard work and great results that are commonplace all the way across. I've seen perfectly mowed lawns that are three acres and nine times out of ten, the women of the house is out mowing them.

This is what I'm staring at most of the day, on the lower left part of my handle bars you'll see the top edge of my mirror (installed after a truck almost hit me). The paper with the clips is our route sheet the shows all the turns and mileage to them, my GPS which has mileage, speed, time of day, time on the bike and %of grade(how steep the hill is).

I'll bet you can't guess what I'm doing.

Day 39

Location - Port Huron, Michigan Miles/Total Miles - 87/2,846 Climb - 800

I'm beginning to think that Michigan is the flatest state in the union - not that I'm complaining but if it wasn't for the trees, you could see all the way to New York. The ride started out on the cool side and for the most part was in farmland. With the wind at our backs

we made good time over the 87 miles and arrived at noon. Next stop was the quay brewery in downtown Port Huron, an old town with many restored buildings.

This is the bridge we will be taking to get over the St Clair River to Canada. They are going to close the bridge to car traffic while we cross.

These are shots of houses along the lakefront. Although the area is beautiful with all the beautiful landscaping and green lawns, I wouldn't be caught dead anywhere near this place in January.

OK, I'm on for this but I don't see one person I know on the list of registrants. If you all go, I'll go.

Day 38

Location - Birch Run, Michigan Miles/Total Miles - 74/2,759 Climb - 625

Today was one of those days that you got on the road, put your head down and got it done. The terrain was virtually flat so I jumped into a pace line that was averaging 21 mph and that did the trick. We did have a bit of a scare when a cat ran out of a corn field and across our path narrowly missing the lead rider. I being second and anticipating the impending crash pulled wide just as a car was coming (which also saw the cat and pulled wide) - the cat missed the first bike by a fraction of an inch, mine by a foot and the car by a fraction of an inch on it's terrified sprint across the road. Our speed dropped considerably after this encounter.

Knowing that John (my room mate) stops at almost every bakery along the way, I stopped at one in a small town that I was sure he would try. I bought a Cinnamon roll, put it in a bag with his name on it, placed it on the counter for pick up and continued on. He was a bit surprised when he walked in a bit later and the lady knew his name and what he wanted.

Flowers are the theme of the day - If you look closely there is red sumac in this picture that Bill told me is blooming everywhere right now

Day 37

Location - Mount Pleasant, Michigan Miles/Total Miles - 113/2,685 Climb - 2,400

My Brother in Law, Bill Osborn, meet me at the hotel this morning and road 50 miles before he had to turn back to get his car and head home. He lives in Grand Rapids, about a 90 minute drive from Ludington. It was great to see him, for one thing, his map skills are better than mine and he got us through every turn headed in the right direction. My question to him when we first thought of riding together was why he didn't just ride with us the whole day. His answer was "Hey, I've got to go back and get my car". So because he had to retrace his steps, he also did a century today.

I saw this contraption on a corner in big falls . . . it's a drinking fountain.

An old school house just outside of Mount Pleasant

Day 36

Location - Ludington, Michigan Miles/Total Miles - 7/2,572

Today we took a ferry 60 miles across Lake Michigan into the state of Michigan (Where Kati's brother Bill lives). The ferry was coal fired (of all things - not what California would allow) built in 1952. It took us four hours and also put us into the eastern time zone which added another hour. The day, being dedicated to the transit, was about the most boring one we've had so far - not much to report other than I'm all caught up on the sports scene after watching four hours of ESPN.

There was a bunch of old Victorians like this on the way out of Ludington to the hotel.