Hamilton

Given my upcoming ride to Ithaca and back, I wanted to get out on my bike and keep up my riding fitness. I decided a 4hour/100km afternoon ride would be good — and the weather obliged: i ended up doing 120km in 4hrs 45 minutes.
I rode up the Niagara escarpment via the short Cheridoke rail trail from Dundurn (Hamilton). From there I made it onto Highcrest Rd and followed it to it to its end. I then ended up on Mud Road/Fly road, which I followed all the way to Mountain road. Nearing 50km I decided to head down the mountain and turn back. I had made it to Lincoln.
The riding, especially the last half, was mice, being on low-traffic roads. The only off-putting aspects (understatement) was the smell of death trucks and the occasional 'broiler' hen farm.

I arose early, packed and was on my bike around 7:15. With no one in the office at the camp ground (Durham Conservation area) it was a free nights stay. I could already feel that today was going to be very very warm (this was in fact quite an understatement).
With little real choice of route, I headed south on Highway 6. The flattening out of the route and quick shift, whilst still undulating (not a great deal), to predominately downhill came quick. This was very welcome given the rising heat. I had plans to meet up with a friend in Guelph, so I pushed on most of the morning, stopping only for refills my water bottles.

We set off before 7:30am for the last 20km into the ferry terminal at Tobermory. We rode the predominately downhill run in well under an hour, with the arrival at our destination being both sweet and sobering. After having a chat with one of the workers at the ferry — a retiree from Hamilton — we had about 10 minutes before Gwen had to board. I managed to get one last shot of Gwen and I together. It was perhaps fitting the camera lens was fogged!
After a big hug and some parting thanks — I clearly had not given anywhere near enough thought to this moment — Gwen had board. I indicated for her to head up onto the deck for a last shot or two... as I was waiting for her I could feel tears well in my eyes!

We sat around, having the luxury of a cooked breakfast, whilst waiting for our gear to dry (dew and the impacts of the previous night/early morning rain) — starting off again at 11am. At the other side of Clifford we had our water bottles filled with water and ice at a local store (thankyou!). In the car park we had a conversation with a life-long local who knew someone who had moved from Clifford to Australia (via Japan) — he mentioned this on the off chance I might know them!
We headed North on Road 10 and deviated onto an unmarked (on our maps) side road which another local pointed out would takes us into downtown Chesley. It was a great road for riding — no centre line and minimal vehicle use. On the other side of Chesly(?), we stopped for a photo with a not-so-big (by Australian standards) cow!