Days Like This

Days Like This

In “Days Like This,” Van Morrison sings of times “when everything seems to fall in place like a flick of a switch;” that is how today felt.

My route from Guelph to Port Erie was largely on paved biked trails, starting with Burlington to Grimsby, along the lakeshore. Once I got to Grimsby, I rode up the escarpment (with a nice little section of 10% grade), and then zigzagged along quiet roads past beautiful farms and orchards. I took a rail trail into Welland, and then took the cycleway along the canal to Port Colborne. From Port Colborne to Fort Erie, I rode the friendship trail, which was pretty and peaceful—a great way to end the day.

Coming into Fort Erie, I only had to contend with the main road for a matter of blocks before turning up a back street to the Comfort Inn. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and they put me on the first floor to save me hiking my bike up the stairs since there is no elevator.

There is a Sobeys a few blocks away, offering not only great produce but a full selection of cider and wine. Got myself a nice cold cider to go with a salad and a great burrito from a Burrito place next store.

On most trips I have found the first day to be daunting, but perhaps because I started at my own doorstep, today felt easy. I also gained a great boost of confidence from the half marathon on Sunday, where I exceeded my goal by several minutes, and ran a steady pace from start to finish. That gave me a huge lift, as did the road trip with four great runners from Guelph.

As soon as it is light tomorrow, I will head for the Peace Bridge. The web site for the bridge offers very helpful instructions on how to navigate the bridge as a pedestrian or a cyclist, and there is a pedestrian walkway, which I plan to use. Of course I have gone over the instructions several times.

It is good to be a traveller once again; it feels familiar in a lovely way.