Day 18 North Springfield, Pennsylvania to Painesville, Ohio 100km

Another day cycling along by Lake Erie. After a brief respite from the heat last night after the storm, it was around 30c again today. After talking to a few locals it seems that this heat is not normal for this area. There is a warning for severe thunderstorms tomorrow so we will have to keep an eye on that. We are on the outskirts of Cleveland tonight in a motel room with AC.

Ohio

Ohio

Lake Erie

Existential Brian

Some shade

Perry, Ohio

Day 17 Barcelona, New York to North Springfield, Pennsylvania 85km

Today was tough going as we battled a headwind, a puncture on Brian's bike and a thunderstorm. We finally left New York behind today after about 10 days cycling through it. We entered Pennsylvania and lots more orchards and winery's. We stopped at one of the fruit stalls on the side of the road and the fruit tasted amazing. With the stiff headwind and the puncture we decided to call it a day early. As I sit here writing this a huge thunderstorm is passing overhead while we are sheltered in a cabin keeping an eye on our tents.

Barcelona, New York

More vineyards with Lake Erie in the background

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

Erie, Pennsylvania

Erie, Pennsylvania

Erie, Pennsylvania

Erie, Pennsylvania

Buying fruit from a fresh fruit stand

Storm moving in off Lake Erie

Keeping an eye on our tents during the thunderstorm.

Another sunset on Lake Erie

Day 16 Buffalo, New York to Barcelona, New York 120km

We had a tricky start trying to navigate our way out of Buffalo this morning. Once 

we hit the lake shore the scenery improved. The roads were busy today with it being a Saturday. We met two guys about our age who had started in San Francisco and were headed to Boston. They shared some tips and said that when they were cycling through Nevada they cycled at night to avoid the heat. This is something we might have to consider for Kansas.

Lake Erie. If you look close enough you will see the silhouette of Buffalo

More vineyards and orchards

Barcelona pier

Brian's modified rig

Taking a nap

Sunset on Lake Erie

Day 15 Buffalo, New York (Rest day)

Not a lot to report for today. We pretty much just lay around all day and rested. I did a lot of planning for the days ahead and did a bit of research on the Katy trail. We went to a Buffalo Bisons baseball game this evening which was fun. There was a fireworks display after the game. Back on the road tomorrow.

The Coca-Cola stadium in Buffalo

Baseball

Fireworks after the game.

Day 14 Lewiston, New York to Buffalo, New York (via Canada) 60km

We crossed into Canada early this morning on the huge Queenston-Lewiston bridge. After having no problems at customs and border control we joined the Niagara recreational trail which is a dedicated bike path. This took us down the Niagara river where the views were stunning. We passed by the falls which were spectacular. It is hard to describe the power and noise they create.

We crossed back into the US over the peace bridge between Fort Erie and Buffalo. We had to walk our bikes over the bridge on a small path due to construction and then got an escort through the traffic to the customs booths. The border control people couldn't have been more helpful despite their reputation. 

Unfortunately we made a wrong turn as we were leaving the border control area and ended up on an interstate which was no fun. As we were getting off at the first exit we found Brian had gotten a puncture, so he had to walk his bike a couple of hundred meters to get off the interstate. It was not a fun experience but we got through it. We are in Buffalo now in a hostel and are taking a rest day here tomorrow.

Queuing for the Canadian customs

The Queenston-Lewiston bridge

A view of the rapids from the trail. This picture doesn't do it justice. Apparently they are the most dangerous in the world.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

The American falls

The view from the top of the Canadian falls

The mist

The View back to Niagara

Our walk over the peace bridge

Lake Erie from Buffalo

Downtown Buffalo

My first steak in weeks in TGI Fridays

Finished off with some sticky toffee pudding

Day 13 Brockport, New York to Lewiston, New York 105km

It was raining heavily as we set out this morning and it was a muggy 21c. This made the canal trail quite heavy and hard to cycle. We finished on the canal trail in Lockport and we are now just outside Lewiston in a campsite. We are going to the Niagara Falls tomorrow.

Erie Canal

Muggy day on the canal

Boat on the Erie Canal

Medina on the Erie Canal

Middleport on the Erie Canal

Day 12 Pultneyville, New York to Brockport, New York 105km

We decided to start a little earlier this morning and we were out of the campsite by 8am. We usually don't hit the road until around 9am. It takes at least an hour to break camp in the morning. We dropped south and joined up with the Erie Canal in Palmyra. Palmyra is the town where the Mormons were founded. We has a great breakfast in a Greek restaurant in Palmyra. The width of the canal and the size of the locks took us by surprise. It's definitely bigger than the grand canal. It was nice to get away from the traffic for a while and we had an enjoyable cycle alongside the canal. Thunderstorms are forecast for tonight so we made the decision to get a motel in Brockport. As I sit here and listen to the thunder and rain outside I think we made the right decision.

PS: There is a video of our Erie Canal cycle at this link  https://vimeo.com/99092944
This video is unedited so no fancy music or graphics. I have some videos from earlier in the trip but they are quite large and will take a while to upload.

Our last view of Lake Ontario in Pultneyville.

Huge lock

Erie Canal

Boat in Fairport

The Trail beside the Erie Canal

The Erie Canal

The Erie Canal Trail

Pizza for Dinner. I ate it all.