Days 53 and 54: Rochester to St Catharine's.

Day 53: Rochester to Buffalo
115km/71m, 6hrs 52mins, 16.5kph/10.25mph, 412m/1340ft of climbing.

Very nice day today, headwinds still present so a bit slow but basically a nice ride all the way to downtown Buffalo. And downtown Buffalo was a bit of a surprise, because there seemed to be hardly anyone around. Thursday afternoon, hotel near the convention centre so in an area one might have expected to be busy, but streets largely deserted. Most odd. I did eventually find where everyone was, by going to the Pearl Street Grill and Brewery. It was heaving. Understandably so. I can't vouch for the food, but their beer is excellent.

Day 54: Buffalo to St Catharines
96km/60m, 5hrs 15mins, 18.3kph/11.5mph, 209m/679ft of climbing.

Across the Peace Bridge first thing this morning, back to Canada. Absolutely glorious day for cycling, clear blue sky, virtually no wind, warm rather than hot, lovely. And a nice ride along the Niagara Parkway, past the Falls. The Falls themselves are magnificent, the town best viewed from a distance. Pictures. Niagara on the Lake, however, is really nice, and the generosity of the climate here is attested by the numerous fruit stalls at the roadside.