We started from Fort Erie, heading west on the Friendship Trail
toward Port Colbourne. We stopped a cafe/greasy spoon for lunch.
When we made it to Port Colbourne, we turned north and began
heading up the Welland Canal.
Moving onto "The Island", we stopped to rest at the Lock 8
Gateway Park.
A hillock on The Island provides a good place for
pretty flowers, and acts as a viewing area to watch lock
activity.A fountain decorating Lock 8.The north end of Lock 8. The picture doesn't do justice
to the scale; it shows perhaps 1/3 or 1/2 the lock. They are
huge.My mom Pat, sitting by one of the fountains at Lock
8.
After our break, we continued on as far as Welland. When we got
there, the Best Western was full but the awesome staff called
around and found us another hotel that had space. If I ever pass
through again, I'll make a reservation, and it'll be at the BW
because they were so helpful.
A lift bridge on the Welland CanalThe Kissing Rock on the Welland Canal.Zig-zag rail crossing on the Welland Canal Rail
Trail.
When we got to the escarpment, the trail began to descend along
a rail line. Half-way down, the trail zig-zagged to cross it, and
mom got fouled up and crashed, getting bruised up and cutting hand.
But that wasn't going to stop her! After checking her and the bike
out, we continued on our way toward Lake Ontario.
At the lake, we transferred onto roads to make our way to the
old town section of Niagara-on-the-Lake. We grabbed lunch at a
diner, then explored the town.
Mom in Simcoe Park, Niagara-on-the-Lake.Perette and Pat visit the flower gardens in Simcoe
Park, Niagara-on-the-Lake.Daisies and other flowers in Simcoe Park.Perette resting in Simcoe Park.Fort Niagara, as seen from Queens Park in
Niagara-on-the-Lake.Toronto's silhouette is is barely visible across Lake
Ontario.The Niagara River and Lake Ontario, as seen from Queens
Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
When we'd finished with the village, we headed south on a bike
trail that follow the Niagara River. Tonight's goal was Queenston,
where our hotel (with a reservation!) awaited us.
Enjoying ice cream at a farm stand.Our bikes, locked to the railing at our
hotel.
There wasn't much for food in Queenston, so we biked the 4km
into St. David and ate at the Old Firehall. They had a nice patio
and good food.
Mom at the Old Firehall.Perette at the Old Firehall.
We wanted to stretch our legs after riding back from dinner, so
we walked down to Queenston docks.
The Niagara River, looking downstream from the
Queenston docks.
2016-07-20 Wednesday On Wednesday we
rode the short but uphill section to Queenston Heights Park, where
we stopped to visit the Brock monument.
Perette taking a picture of......mom taking a picture of the Brock
monument.The Brock Monument in Queenston Heights
Park.The Niagara River, seen through the trees from
Queenston Heights Park.
From there, we continued along the river to Niagara Falls.
Looking down into the Niagara Gorge near the
electricity generating stations. The combined power generated here,
at full capacity, is 4.9GW---about 5 moderate nuke plants, or 8
average coal plants.The Niagara Whirlpool.Fountains in the park overlooking Niagara Falls. If
you're looking for the Wonderfalls shop, you won't find it here:
it's at Exhibition Place in Toronto, and only looked here through
the magic of computer graphics. No smush-faced lion for
you!Pat Barella at Niagara Falls.Perette and Pat Barella and the US portion of Niagara
Falls.
After visiting the falls and getting lunch, we finished the last
section of the route.
The upper portion of the Niagara River is peaceful
compared to the falls and gorge sections.Perette rests on her recumbent while we take a break
along the Niagara River Recreation Trail, which runs from Niagara
Falls to Fort Erie.Perette and mom stop to hydrate and snack along the
Niagara River.In a few places, the separate right-of-way for the
recreation trail disappears and we had to ride the roads. But
traffic wasn't bad and the speed limit was low (60km/hour), so we
didn't mind.Perette and mom cycle along the Niagara
Parkway.
Arriving in Fort Erie, we stopped for our daily ice cream, then
went to the hotel where we had stowed the car. We stayed the night,
for there were more adventures on the morrow.
