2/14 – Niagara Falls Back to USA – 15/16 May 2024

Having made my conclusion regarding Belfast, ON, I set off in the direction of Niagara Falls, although the GPS did its level best to frustrate me again, by sending me west instead of east. Nonetheless less I arrived and was greeted by Annemarie, who, along with husband Randy, was hosting two other bikers, Stacey & Theresa, from the UK who were on a RTW trip aboard a heavily loaded BMW GS 1200 (I think). I have no idea how they got themselves aboard.

After some dinner, Randy and Annemarie took us on a ride to see Niagara Falls by night. They are lit up with. Changing colours of light and in site of a drizzle which kept things cool it was an interesting visit.

Because of the others staying, Randy and Annemarie had put up a tent for me in the garden. This was my first night camping, so I got to test out all my new kit – mat and pillow – in controlled circumstances; it worked well, though next time I revised that opinion a little.

After a good nights sleep and a filling breakfast, I headed off to see the Falls by day. I took a road along the river and was rewarded by a view of the Falls from a very different perspective. I also met Dina, who was quietly minding her own business when I intruded to ask if she would take a photo for me. Then I decided she would do much greater justice to the view that me, so I took one of her.

I offered to send her a copy and she was quite happy to give me her phone number. Not everyone would do this, especially attractive young women and Iater, I pondered over this; either I give an air of trustworthiness, or she is an extremely trusting sort. A combination of both, I’d like to think. Anyway, thank you Dina for gracing my little blog.

I didn’t spend a lot of time at the Falls itself, mainly because the flat rate parking fee was CAD 35. Apparently Niagara Falls is made up of 3 waterfalls – Horseshoe, American and Bridal – but to be honest, I only spotted two of them. Instead of tarrying, after consulting 2 young traffic control ladies, I parked behind something – a restaurant, or coffee place, or souvenir shop or whatever – nipped across the street, took my photos and left.

As I set off, the bike was making an awful noise, a bit like a bowl full of metal nuts in a kitchen mixer. I limped my way around the houses to find the road to the bridge across the border; it was a bit like finding the checkout in a supermarket, where they want you to pass through the whole shop before finding the exit.

I go there and at the US entry side – nowt at the Canada side – I had a very pleasant exchange with the official there. He was clearly much more switched on than the guy at the Calais crossing. We had a pleasant chat, he checked my passport and bike registration document and wished me a pleasant journey. I asked if I could park up to look at my engine problem and after calling someone, he pointed me to an empty parking spot.

There I listened for the source of the noise and confirmed my suspicion that it was the cam chain needing adjustment. This is a fairly straightforward procedure, and I managed it quickly. Not quickly enough, because before I had finished it was raining steadily.

I had decided that I was having coffee before setting off southwards, and having identified a likely spot on GM, I went looking. Although it was only about 2-3 kms away, it took me 23-25 minutes to find it, because the roads went every way and were poorly signed. I got there to find it was a coffee shop linked to a catering college which, of course, was closed because it was out term time. I finally found an alternative and decided I would sit out the rain which, the weather app assured me, would only last an hour.

60 Minutes later I set off in a light drizzle towards Cattaraugus about 100 kms away. The weather app, like most weather forecasters, lied! It rained; and boy did it rain! At one point I pulled over the rain was so heavy and sat under a tree for a while. Then I checked GN and saw a filling station a few kilometres along the road. I decided to head there as at least I would be under full cover.

Unfortunately, my route took a left turn before I reached the station! L I decided to continue. The next hour was certainly trying. The rain never let up; the only change was the intensity and at times it was stair-rod stuff. I ploughed on, thankful that my 40-year-old waterproofs still were.

Finally, as dusk was descending, I arrived at the home of Eve Kushner, and this experience deserves a post of its own!