Jewells On Tour

The campsite had a pizza restaurant and American themed 50’s diner on site. We opted for the pizza as the diner was just burgers and chips. Mike and I shared the pizza but it was huge so we took out a doggy bag. We drifted off to sleep listening to the waves gently lapping and both slept well.

Breakfast, leftover pizza and take away coffee from the diner that’ll keep the cost down today. We had a late start as we had some phone calls home to make. and my saddle had moved causing pain and discomfort in my lady bits! So that needed attention!

Off we set we have a warm showers host tonight so 50 miles to do. The wind had subsided and the sun was out. We had good cloud cover so a lovely day for a cycle ride.

It was good going and the countryside is pretty, passing through vineyards, orchards and open fields. Always with Lake Erie on our right. We met a fellow cycle tourer going the opposite way. Funny everyone tells us we’re going the wrong way! Her name was Linda, she was from Canada and cycling Chicago to Niagara then on to Quebec. She was also struggling to find decent accommodation and has had to stay in hotels in places. Extra expensive for her because of the exchange rate. A quick coke break in a McDonald’s to check google maps. Then off again

We also had another state crossing we are now in Ohio. They have major road works going on so rough surfaces

We make it to our overnight stop. We are staying on someone’s deck we have a Lake view and running water. There’s a park close with a loo for the morning and bars and restaurants near for food tonight. Not much is open it’s a real seasonal town apparently everything opens tomorrow. It’s a long weekend this week end Memorial Day celebrations. That seems to be the start of the summer over here.

Had the best nights sleep so far in a really comfortable bed. They have a lovely house right on the side of Lake Erie, we had use of the garage for our bikes as well as our own room.Amy and Mike made us a tasty omelette with onion, tomatoes and spinach just right for the day ahead.

We thanked them and said our goodbyes and set off again against the wind. There is a choice of two campsites for tonight. The 1st one is 31 miles away and the 2nd is 42 miles. The wind is strong against us so the 1st one it is.In just 5miles we cross the border into a new state, welcome to Pennsylvania.

There’s nothing on route for the 1st 20 miles until we find a petrol station for cake and coffee. It took us three hours to do the 20 it was hard work.

Refreshed we pushed on to do the last bit and arrived at the site 3:30 pm. Not a bad site with a pizza place so pizza for dinner.

Camp site left nice and early we found a diner 5 miles away for our usual breakfast.

We have another campsite ear marked 45 miles away the weather is hot. Lots of factor 50 today.

A day of heat, hills and headwind. What a day, both Mike and I were suffering. We followed the coast of Lake Erie. Nothing really on the road, we grabbed a snack bar from the one and only petrol station and was getting concerned that we were running out of drinking water and had nothing for food tonight. We were 10 miles away from the campsite but it had taken a hour to do the previous 5 miles against the wind. A couple of times the wind was so strong I just couldn’t cycle against it and come to a complete standstill. It was also over 88 degrees. Hard work.

A car in the opposite direction gave us a friendly beep we both waved back. A few seconds later the same car had turned around and came back to us. He pulled next to us and asked us where are we headed, we told him we were going to the next campsite 5 miles up the road. He introduced him self another Mike and said he was a warm showers host. We could stay with him if we want it’s just 100 yards back. We would love to we have definitely had enough for the day.

Mike introduces us to his wife Amy and son Jacob. They make us very welcome, we have a comfortable bed for the night. A en-suite and have had a lovely meal cooked for us. We can stay as long as we like and breakfast has been promised.

Sorry no photos today, to busy fighting with the sun and wind.

Back on the road. We left the hotel early and was over rainbow bridge before 7:30 am . We weren’t looking forward to today’s ride as we had to go through 2 cities, would of been so much nicer in Canada. Oh well just have to get on with it. It was a long day following the bike route. It was full of dead ends and detours, or in some places dug up with no alternative route suggestions. It manly followed the river Erie and was quite industrial.

We did 55 miles and rode into the campground at 4pm. There was no one in the office and the notice on the door stated that office open times were 8-3. Ridiculous who pulls into a camp site before 3pm! Anyway people were camping so the showers and toilets were all open we found a dryish pitch and set up camp. It’s not are fault there’s no one to pay.

We sat eating dinner, just cheese sandwiches and a bag of crisps, when a man come over for a chat. He’s name was Norman and was interested in our cycle ride so invited us over to his pitch later for some beer and sit around the fire. We thanked him and explained that we would have to come empty handed, not a problem see you in a hour.

Showered and a short walk to stretch our legs we end up at norms. He’s already drunk and his mrs has gone to bed, they’ve been drinking all day. He wakes up Mary and lights the fire, we fill awkward but he hands us a beer each and insists that we sit down. He carries on drinking heavily and Mary finally comes out of their camper. She starts to drink again. They were friendly enough and fire was good, Mike and I had 2 beers each but the conversation was getting repetitive. They were drinking heavily and kept forgetting what was said. At this point Norm couldn’t stand up. He told us about his life, it’s not been easy for him. His 1st wife died of cancer after 31 years of marriage. He’s family don’t approve of Mary his 2nd wife because it’s to soon. His 27 year old daughter is a heroine addict that still lives with them but is always in trouble stealing.

Mary’s life wasn’t that much happier. 2 failed marriages and 3 kids. We thanked them for the beer wished them all the best and left. I truly do hope that their life turns around for them.

In the morning packed up early and left without paying.

Not a very good nights sleep. It’s funny how things play on your mind. So with the thought of if I move I’ll set of alarms and be surrounded by armed police in the middle of the night, or mr jobs worth decided to come back with reinforcements and move us. I ignored the need to pee and led as still as I could till morning.

True to our word we were all packed up and ready to go at 6am, he arrived just as we were cycling away so we waved him goodbye and he reluctantly wished us a good day.

We had at least 60 miles to do 1st stop breakfast. It was to early for the nearest diner so we ended up in a McDonald’s 14 miles up the road. Not ideal but it would have to do. Not knocking McDonald’s but you get more for your money at a diner.Eggmcmuffin and coffee later we get down to some serious miles. The weather is good.

It’s early so roads are empty there’s a slight incline but not too bad. But we have a head wind making going slower. We just keep pushing on it’s funny what rubbish goes through your mind when you’re cycling for over 8 hours, you drive yourself mad with that inner monologue!

Small things that keep us amused along the way. Keep going on. Ignore the discomfort there’s a shower and bed waiting for you. Tomorrow a day off and clean clothes. Onwards push push push shower and clean clothes push push push.

So with a couple of bum breaks and coffee stops along the way 70 miles in total we cross rainbow bridge into Canada. Bliss a couple of days off here to explore niagara and rest.