Day 27
Hamburg, NY to Niagara, ON!!!!!!! WHOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!

Today was set to be a short day! Rainy, windy but short! But compared to yesterday, anything would seem short at this point. I waited for commute traffic to die down before making my way to Buffalo. Along the way, I rolled up on a Panera and had to stop for yummy, hot, soup! So good! Reminded me of Sheila and Ron because they put my chocolate milk in a Panera cup! Good memories. It was pretty weird being back in complete civilization of a bigger city.

I pedaled through Buffalo making a stop at the Bison’s stadium. 

Near the New Era HQ I found this cool little sculpture. Let’s go Giants!!!

When I pedaled through downtown, there was only one block that was steep and it wasn’t even that steep compared to what I had been through over the last month. As I was steadily climbing the hill, a guy walking on his way to work yelled from across the street “I’M TIRED JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT CLIMB, YOU MADE MY MORNING WATCHING THAT, I’M GOING TO PULL MY BIKE OUT TONIGHT!!!!” This made me laugh so hard I almost took a spill. It made me smile and this certainly wasn’t the first person that had mentioned they were going to pull their bike out. No idea if anyone really will but it puts a bit of pep in my step to think even one person may pull out their bike, dust it off and go for a pedal!

It wasn’t long before I was on approach to the Canadian border! 

Was certainly a bit confusing as a bicycle to get on the peace bridge but eventually I made it on to the bridge. 

Bicycles end up being in the lane with cars to talk to the customs folks so I patiently waited squished in with the cars. When I got to the front, the guy asked me a bunch of questions. I told him I was going to Niagara and he then gave me this look like he didn’t believe me and asked if I knew how far it was. I replied I imagined it was about 25 miles. He then asked me if I really thought I would be able to make it there today? I had to refrain from saying what I was thinking which was “Hey Bub, how slow do you think I pedal!?!?!?” It was only 3 pm and wasn’t getting dark for at least 4 hours, sheesh! I told him I was going to make it today or die trying. He didn’t look like he believed me but told me I could go. I asked him where bicycles go from there to get off the freeway and then he tells me it’s his first day and he has no idea. I sarcastically chuckled in my head, thinking how unfair it would be if I made it within 25 miles from Niagara Falls then I get creamed by a car trying to get off the freeway because the customs guy was on his first day and had no idea where bikes exit. LMAO. Luckily, I didn’t meet that fate and crossed over a few lanes and rode until I could get off the freeway. I wish I had a picture of what I had to cross over but they didn’t allow pictures near the border so no dice.

Once on the Niagara Parkway the road was so pleasant, eventually splitting off into a dedicated bike/pedestrian lane which was EPIC. It was flat with mild wind and I just happily pedaled along knowing I was nearly at my success line! It was sprinkling on me but that was irrelevant since I was SO close to being done! A few miles out from Niagara I flew into a herd of gnat like bugs. It was disgusting. My mouth wasn’t fully closed when this happened and dozens of them flew in my mouth. A few lodged themselves in the back of my throat and I choked on them. I had to stop my bike I was coughing so hard. Much like the close call at the border, I thought, please don’t let me die choking on gnats when I can almost smell the breeze coming off the falls. It felt like an eternity till I caught my breath. This is what my jacket looked like! I was covered in these guys!

I then pulled my Buff up and over my mouth and nose and kept riding. These little guys were in crazy herds for miles. It sounded like rain hitting my jacket there were so many of them!!! So gross! They looked like a cloud at times there were so many of them!! Check them out, see them?!?:

Then all the sudden they disappeared. And just like that, around the bend a little further and the roar of Niagara made its first appearance. 

Just like that, I descended on my grand finale! 

I stopped just short of the Visitor Center / tourist trap and took a moment. It was still raining but the good part was that there weren’t many people there because of the weather. It was nice to take a quiet moment watching the falls and reflecting on my success. I honestly was never quite sure if I was going to be able to reach Niagara. I wasn’t positive if I had it in me to keep a sustained pace to make it here. There were two days I really wondered if I should give up but those moments were short and just when I thought I wanted to quit, I’d meet someone that would lift my spirits and remind me that I want this more than anything and I can and WILL finish!!! I pedaled on and found myself at the foot of the rainbow bridge. I took a moment there again reflecting on everything and everyone I was riding for. On my trip, Harriet Tubman was announced for the new $20 bill. What are the chances that happen on my trip?!? And then there’s a saying about pets and the rainbow bridge. If you aren’t familiar, look it up, I hadn’t heard it until everyone was saying that to me when I lost Fini last year. I didn’t even know this “Rainbow Bridge” was here until the guys from the Motel 6 last night mentioned I’d end my trip at the Rainbow Bridge. I made them repeat that about three times, somewhat in disbelief it was called that. I looked at that rainbow bridge and though it wasn’t time yet for me to cross, I let out the world’s biggest sigh. We were supposed to tour together but life passed by so fast and she crossed that rainbow bridge before I knew it. It was a bittersweet moment. I sat there with my rump resting against the top tube of my bike for about an hour, looking out onto Niagara, just reflecting on the last month, last year and entire life. Thinking about all the absolutely amazing people I had met this month. The conversations I had with people from these super small towns. Thinking about everything I have vs everything I don’t have. Thinking about how far outside my comfort zone I had been all month (and survived)! Thinking about how 9 months ago I hadn’t really ever pedaled more than two-ish days in a row, I hadn’t pedaled more than 16 miles in a day and here I stand almost 2,000 miles, 8 states and a different country from where I started 26 days ago…unreal! And the best part of that hour, is that at the end of it, I realized I don’t have any big do overs in life. I have been given so much, have so much, learned so much, love so much, am loved so much…life is pretty sweet!   

Amen!