1. Ready to tour the Greater Niagara Circle Route.

Vicki Barron, Kate Harries, Suzi Barron, Nikki Rendle, Anna Biro (Marlaine photographer)—reunite to tour the Greater Niagara Circle Route. The Trail system takes in four trails: the Waterfront Trail, the Niagara River Recreation Trail, The Friendship Trail and the Welland Canal Recreation Trail and connects two Great Lakes-Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

2. Waiting to Cross the Lift Bridge at Charles Ansell Park

Ken Forgeron and Nikki Rendle watch the Ship Flinternoord from Gibraltar pass through the Canal. Once across the lift bridge, we pick up the Waterfront Trail and travel west to Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Charles Ansell Park is a great place to watch the comings and goings of international shipping. The Rotary Club is leading work to create a living museum to honour and describe the area’s shipping heritage. It’s already a popular gateway to the Waterfront Trail and the Welland Canal Recreation Parkway. We park our vehicles here for the weekend.

3. Time to Re-group

West of Happy Rolf Bird Sanctuary, the Waterfront Trail is routed along bike lanes on Lakeshore Blvd. Along the way we pass orchards and vineyards.

4. Niagara River Recreation Trail in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Travelling through the Commons in Niagara-on-the-Lake on our way to the Niagara River Recreation Trail.

5. The Winery Experience (the whining will come later)

Although it’s early in the day we enjoy a drink at one of the many wineries in Niagara. You’ll find more than wine on sale at these enterprising establishments, which have expanded into foods and even soaps.

6. Niagara Falls

Cycling through Niagara Falls is busy, and by this time we are feeling tired. We just push through making our way past pedestrians and cars stopping once we pass the bustle to appreciate the magnificence of Niagara Falls.

7. Beautiful Scenery

We stopped in Chippawa for lunch and probably should have ended Day One here having completed 47 kilometres. If we had spotted a hotel or B&B, I am sure we would have done exactly that.

8. The Riverwalk Trail in Fort Erie

Day One ends a few kilometres from here at the Holiday Inn in Fort Erie. We have cycled a blistering 89.5 km and we feel every km! Thank goodness the Holiday Inn has a pool and sauna.

9. Ready to Start Day Two

Regional Councillor Bruce Timms leads the charge for Day Two at Old Fort Erie. Bruce has been a tireless leader in the effort to create the Greater Niagara Circle Route, and like all great leaders, he has attracted a number of dedicated and talented people like Ken Forgeron and George Nicholson to name but two to the cause.

10. The Entrance to Old Fort Erie

The Trail offers great opportunities to learn about our heritage from informative guides dressed in period costumes.

11.Cycling Along the Friendship Trail Along Lake Erie

The Friendship Trail along Edgemere Road in Fort Erie. To accomodate the Trail along this stretch of road, trail designers changed the two-way road to a one-way street. The community strongly supported the changes. The Trust contributed to this project through its COIP contribution.

12.The Friendship Trail in Fort Erie Along the Old Railway Line

Landscaping and park furniture make this a very attractive part of the Trail. During our short ride, we saw lots of people and many young families enjoying the path. The surrounding greenspace also functions as great habitat for small mammals, birds and insects..

13. Time for a Well Deserved Coffee Break

Our troupe descended on Doreen's for a short coffee break in Ridgeway. The coffee and pastries were wonderful.

14. Detour onto Erie Road

The paved rail trail ends here but will be completed by the end of the summer. We detour on to Erie Road travelling through a community of attractive cottages under the canopy of mature trees. The Friendship Trail resumes at Michener Road in Fort Erie.

15. Lunchtime at the Sugar Loaf Marina

There is no shortage of food and drink on this trip. Perched on the deck of the Marina’s restaurant, we could enjoy the cooling breeze off Lake Erie.

16. The West Promenade in Port Colborne

Port Colborne uses its waterfront as a key venue for major festivals. The Trust helped to finish improvements to the west promenade through its COIP grant program.

17. Lock 8 Obervation Park

The Welland Canal Recreation Trail is very diverse. Pictured here is a park we pass. Notice the berm that gives visitors a scenic view overlooking the canal. There are washrooms and an info centre located here.

18. Robin Hood Plant

The Welland Canal Recreation Trail is a study in mixed use. You'll find massive industries such as this Robin Hood Plant set within wonderful natural areas. You may see ships from around the world or rowers trainng for competition.

19. Taking a Break

Toronto Star reporter Kate Harries and friend Anna Biro relax at Dain City in Welland. Once again Kate amazes the tour group. In addition to researching her article, she has also assumed the role of photographer.

20. Welland Recreation Canal

A scull passes by on the Canal at the Dain City Pub. The third Welland Canal has been turned over to recreational uses—the fourth canal carries today’s ships between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

21. Memorial Garden

This garden features a fountain and bronze statues that capture a sense of the people and times during which the Canal was created.

22. A Maze of Informal Paths Provide Access to and from the Recreation Trail

The Welland Canal Recreation Trail is located in a valley. You appreciate how low a valley when leaving the Trail. We took an informal path up this steep bank across a wild field before hitting the residential streets leading to the Ramada Inn. Efforts are underway to convince the Town of Welland to make these paths safer and better marked for users.

23. Ready to Start Day Three

George Nicholson leads the group on day three of our tour.

24. Lost Without a Guide

In order to get back on the Trail from the Ramada Inn, we need to take Regional Road 50 south to Woodlawn. At Woodlawn we followed a well-worn informal path, over a small creek and back on the Trail. Without a local guide we might have had difficulty finding our way.

25. Eco-Challenge

It seems all our adventures offer us a modest taste of the X-treme cycling. For most of us, these are the best parts.

26. The Proposed Trail Section Begins

The paved section of the Welland Canal Recreation Trail ends just south of Port Robinson. However you can continue once you cross the railway line.

27. George Wants a Bridge

Future plans for this section of trail involve a bridge crossing just north of Allanburg. The thinking is to create a more formal trail experience for users who prefer that to the rough and remote terrain we have enjoyed this morning.

28. Rough Terrain, Beautful Scenery

The ten or so kilometres will take us along rough dirt and stone paths. These paths are often deeply rutted with tire marks from ATV and other motorized vehicles that enjoy muddy conditions. While the road conditions are not ideal, the surrounding natural area is lovely.

29. The Kissing Rock

At Lock 7, the site of the new Information Centre, Terry tells about the legend of the Kissing Rock (sorry you'll have to go there yourself to learn more). The new centre has excellent heritage displays and knowledgeable staff to direct you to all the great area highlights.

30. Its All Downhill From Here

Kate taking a shot of a tower connected to the St. Lawrence Seaway Plant. Our guide uses the height between lakes Ontario and Erie. Lake Erie is about as high as the Tower.

Its all downhill from here back to St.Catharines and Lake Ontario.

31. Interesting Displays at Lock 3

Everything you wanted to know about the locks system and more is available at the Interpretation Centre at Lock 3. There's great icecream as well. Here Nikki stands in front of a Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) display.

32. Thank you Suzi!

Organizing a trip like this requires lots of help, and Suzi has always stepped up to the plate to offer hers even when the rewards may have been dubious. We’ll never have a dull moment as long as we have you with us. Thank you again for being such a great help on these trips.

We were lucky to have guides like Ken Forgeron, Peter Warwick, Bruce Timms and George Nicholson. They know the history, the politics and the best places to stop. They also know how to get a job done—and this Trail is fantastic!

Great company along the way is critical—Alex and Peter Reimer were patient and fun. As experienced cyclists they gave us an objective and fresh perspective of this experience as compared to many other trips they have taken.

Anna Biro—one of the strongest cyclists in our group and always manages to look fabulous—no matter how hard the rest of us are trying.

Of course all of this would just be fun if it wasn’t for Kate Harries who ignored the scorn of her physiotherapist, the tenderness of a healing broken wrist to take on the Greater Niagara Circle Route. Thank you for sharing these terrific trail systems with Toronto Star readers.