Erie Canalway- Day 1 – Brampton to Niagara Falls

David and Dayle, Cindy and I started planning this trip back in February. Because we have cycled much of Waterfront Trail between Toronto and Niagara Falls we decided to shorten the trip by a day by taking the GO train between Port Credit and Niagara Falls. Originally we had planned to leave tomorrow, but on Tuesday this week, we learned that track repairs would mean we would have to bus part of the route, so we scrambled and found a hotel for tonight, while the train was still running. It made for an easier time getting going because our departure was early afternoon for a train at 5:33 PM, rather than 7:00 AM in the morning to get to a 9:30 AM train in Port Credit.

This will be my longest self-supported bike trip. My previous longest one was four days. I’ve never travelled for such a long period of time with so few clothes. Handwashing will definitely be required many evenings. 

Here I am setting out.

I left a little early so I could stop by Decathlon to pick up a packable rain jacket as it seems likely that in 13 days away we will probably have a rainy one. Cindy was itching to get going so she met me with her husband, Mark, who rode with us along Brampton’s new protected east-west cycling corridor, to our meet up with  David and Dayle to see us off.

We rode down McLaughlin, which was quite busy with the cars slowing us down in sections. We had a lovely tailwind. I love the views of Mississauga’s downtown as you cross the 403.

South of the Queensway, we saw this permeable filter which allows pedestrians and cyclist through, but not cars, on this lovely tree lined street.

Hurontario is a mess with the LRT construction around the GO station.

Here we are on the platform waiting for the train to come in. We had to ride just one stop to Clarkson, and then transfer onto the Niagara bound train for the rest of the trip. There were no bike coaches, but not many cyclists, so getting a spot wasn’t a problem at either station.

Fortunately, both the train station and our hotel were up on the hill in Niagara Falls.

About half of the distance from the station was on a nice trail called the Olympic Torch Run Legacy Trail.

It felt cool when we got off the train so I put on my new rain jacket, but I was shortly too warm.

We are staying at the Falls Lodge and suites – unassuming, but clean room with fridge and microwave, and comfortable beds.

Tomorrow we ride to Fort Erie  to cross The Peace Bridge. The Erie Canalway starts in Buffalo. 

Here’s our ride. The straight line is when the ride was paused while we were on the GO train.