Halfway there

Original blog posted to Facebook on Aug 2, 2025.

"Oh, we're halfway there, oh oh livin' on a prayer, take my hand and we'll make it I swear, oh oho livin' on a prayer..." (Bon Jovi 1986)

Hey friends, halfway around the Great Lakes, checking in from Southampton ON, with 3,693 miles in the rearview mirror. Boy did I underestimate the halfway mileage, like 150% more. My gut says I’ll finish close to 6,500 miles. Still on schedule to return to Peoria by the 17th or 18th.

Today I took a short, rest day ride, a 100-mile loop around the Bruce Peninsula. Much to my surprise, an ad-lib parking lot foam party and food truck welcomed me back to my hotel.

Early tomorrow, I head to northwest Ontario via the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry departing Tobermory at 8:20 am. A two-hour crossing the Georgian Bay sound terminating at South Baymouth, ON, then two more hours to Espanola ON.

"O Canada! Our home and native land!" … From the border crossing at Thousand Islands, onward to Trenton/Quinte West then Niagara Falls, followed by Windsor and now Southampton, the experiences along the way echoed the sentiments of this country's national anthem.

Mostly riding back roads, hugging the coastlines of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, the Detroit and St Clair Rivers, Lake St Claire and Lake Huron. Expressways were limited. And TORONTO TRAFFIC…rush hour or not, rivals every major U.S. city from LA to NYC to ATL, to SEATAC and CHITOWN. Thank goodness Toronto is behind me.

Some of the special highlights of this leg include Niagara Falls, Lake on the Mountain in Prince Edward County, the Welland Canal that connects Lake Erie with Lake Ontario. Lakeside vacation cottages, monster mansions, small port villages and vast farmland made every turn in the road an inspiring scene. Here are some of the pics & videos from the first leg of Canada.

Niagara Falls Fireworks

Stay tuned for the next blog from Sault (soo) Ste Marie next Tuesday, Aug 5…