Cross Country Day 62: Niagara Falls to Buffalo

Today I got wet.

Just because today was short doesn't mean it didn't have adventure. We started the day with breakfast and a tour of Niagara Falls. I mean like I said yesterday just its not a trip to Niagara without seeing the falls. We booked a ticket on the Hornblower which operates river cruises from the Canadian side. We were a little late for our cruise time so we really hustled from breakfast down. I know I'm tall but I am not a fast walker. So when Alex and Jeff go into fast walk mode I'm practically having to jog to keep up.

It's a very smooth setup. You get to your ticket scanner and they direct you towards one of four elevators that take you down closer to the river's edge. You're then given a rain poncho and you wait for your turn to board. We just missed the first boat but that meant we were pretty close to the front to get on the next one.

We went straight to the top and then soon headed out. Our first stop was the American Falls. A recorded track gave us some general facts including that how over time it's believed the American Falls will slowly erode into a series of large rapids. We then went down to the end of the canyon and saw the Horseshoe Falls. These falls are what people tend to think of when you think of Niagara Falls. The loudspeaker said that the flow rate is estimated at 750,000 gallons/second. The roar was amazing and the mist rose high into the air. We got close enough to truly feel the power and be completely doused by the spray. Even with the rain poncho I was pretty wet. A cheer of excitement went up from the crowd on the boat. We sat in this moment for a few minutes. At times you couldn't see anything past the boat. The water was everywhere and everything and I was giddy with awe and excitement.

We then turned around and headed back to the dock. Efficiency was once again on display as we were directed back to various elevators. When the elevator came down it opened with one door to let people out while the other door opened to let people on.

We then went back to the bikes and headed out. The Canadian side has bike trail that runs all the way to Buffalo. It zig zags on and off residential service roads that run parallel to the main road. 20 miles of river is all that separates the falls from Buffalo and it was lined with some very very nice houses and estates. Next destination the Peace Bridge.

The Peace Bridge serves as a major border crossing between the US and Canada. It was full of trucks and cars waiting in various lines to cross. Our main pedestrian gate on the Canadian side was closed but we were able to find a way through the automotive entrance back to the walkway.

We climbed over the bridge and waited to be readmitted to the US. We waited for a bit and by the time the border agent got there he seemed a little annoyed to have 10 cyclists. (Our 7 + 3 others) we all crammed into his little office at once because if he were to open the gate with someone outside the border would technically be unsecured. I'm not about to cause international uproar so I willingly obliged. The process of getting checked in was very smooth and we were quickly on our way.

Hello New York!

Alex wanted to stop by a shop quickly to get a new helmet. He had a crash 2 days ago coming into Brantford and slightly cracked it. He's fine and with a little bandaging from our resident medic Jeff he's well on the mend. Outside the shop a gal stopped to ask us about our journey and said there was going to be a naked bike ride in town that afternoon if we cared to join. I think we all were like NOOOOOOOOO in our heads.

Alex found a helmet and we found a great burger in the Allentown neighborhood. The house made tater tots were awesome and I had a Rangoon burger with cream cheese and sweet and sour sauce on it.

Stopped by the Spotted Octopus quick and then to the hotel for the evening. We're staying at an Embassy Suites and one of the things they do is a social hour. Remember that naked bike ride I mentioned earlier? We thought we successfully missed it, but down street it rolled. It seemed to be a protest ride as they chanted "Less Gas! More Ass!"

I go back and forth between congrats on being an empowered individual and surely this counts as disturbing the peace. Either way you will probably never find me in that situation. I struggle enough with body dysmorphia in public clothed let alone disrobed.

It's the weekend and Alex and I wandered a bit for the evening. People are out and things are happening. Buffalo is an old manufacturing town but doesn't seem to have suffered as much of a collapse as other places.

Now we get a rest day before our final push Eastward. The end is in sight and we can do it!

'til next time

-Matt