Toronto, 30th August

We left New York on Tuesday, 27th. Picked up a rental car on 52nd Street, and John drove out of Manhatten with the navigational help of Liz and our new friend Pam (the TomTom). 

Drove all day on 4 lane highway, around 500ks, to Rochester in upstate New York. Stayed the night at a lovely hotel. 

On Wednesday we drove to Niagara Falls, on the American side. Spent a few hours walking around there, then across the border to Canada and down through very pretty countryside to Niagara on the Lake, where we walked around the lovely tourist town for an hour.

We have stayed two nights with Brian Doan, one of John's new cycling friends. Went to the Art Gallery of Ontario yesterday by tram, and spent about 2.5 hours there. Brian lives in a semi-detached in Little Portugal, an area about 4ks from the centre of Toronto.

There are many commuting cyclists in this part of Toronto. Good tram services to the centre of town. Last night we went to the movies to see The Butler. It was lovely to be in the cool air-conditioned theatre. It has been around 27/28 degrees with high humidity. 

We are about to head out to Aurora, an hour out of Toronto, to stay with the Broads. It is 10.30am, and we want to avoid travelling in the early afternoon as it is a long weekend here and will be very busy on the highways.

Leaving New York

Here's Liz with our Chrysler. Left New York this morning en route to Rochester where we have s hotel booked for the night. Tomorrow we go to Toronto.

No cycling involved!

Signal Hill -St John's NFLD

Mission accomplished. I arrived at Signal Hill in St Johns at 6pm this evening to a glass Moët.

Have successfully completed my cycle ride across Canada.

Thanks to family and friends who have supported the venture, even if some of you did think I was mad......

2 days relaxing here then off to the Big Apple for some shows and relaxation.

 

Englishtown

Now camped here after a 130km day. Tomorrow we ride 40km to the North Sydney ferry on Cape Breton and catch the overnight ferry to Agentia on NF.

The ferry takes 14 hours. Then we ride to St Johns to end the trip on Thursday - a full days ride of 144km.

Still great weather but we had a head wind today.

The tour owner Bud Jorgensen has joined us today for the last couple of days riding.

Baddeck

Me on the road this morning beside lake Bras d'or. Means Golden Arm. Doing 130 km today from Linwood campground to Englishtown campground 

Currently having lunch with Brian at a restaurant in Baddeck. Only 27 km to go but the day is windy and in our faces so we are a bit slow.

Pictou

Me at the wharf at Pictou

Charlottetown to Lower Barney's River

Today we left Prince Edward Island, riding first to the ferry terminal at Wood Islands 66km away. We had to wait over a hour for the ferry. The ride across the Northumberland Strait took just over an hour.

We arrived in Pictou where Brian and I stopped for fish and chips. We wiled away an hour looking at the sea and talking. Then it was on through the town of New Glasgow to Lower Barney's River where we are camped. Should've a good sunset as we are beside the sea.

The weather is perfect and the terrain easy so it was a good days ride.

The ship behind me is a replica of one that brought the first Scottish settlers to the area in the 1770's.

Tomorrow is an easy ride of 90km to Linwood. Everyone is in a good mood with fine weather and rides end in sight!