Day 54/55 - London to Hamilton/Redeemer 121km and on to St Catherines 74km

The peloton meeting at Redeemer University.

Kobie had to be out real early today to continue marking the road, so I was on the road early too. pedalled quietly and joined up with Dale and Scott at the first snack stop, on a farm, where we were welcomed with great enthusiasm, and treated to nice coffee and donuts and other gebakjes. The ride was very enjoyable, with very pretty farmscapes. We encountered groups of people cheering us on along the side of the road many times, and all this support for us is immensely appreciated!!!! We enjoyed about 4 snack stops and a nice lunch stop. Everywhere people were just marvellous and we were blown away by their love, hospitality and generosity! The route was quite undulating and we enjoyed rushing down the hills in order to get up the next hill with the momentum gained with the previous one. At some stage we noticed some loose dogs but were too fast for them. At the next stop Rick Ritters on the very low recumbent and Joy and Doug Lutke following behind us shared that those critters chased them and caused Doug to fall hard when they ran in front of him. We doctored his bleeding elbow and knee, speculating how fortunate Rick was that the dogs did not manage to bite him in the face, as he is so low on the recumbent! I met so many people at the stops who mentioned reading my blog and others'. Also good friends I haven't seen in a while. After savouring the nice fruit at the snack stops, we arrived at Redeemer University around 2, where we were treated to more good stuff and ice cream at Meadowlands CRC church, Ed Witvoet's home church with it's beautiful modern buildings! We camped at Redeemer and had the privilege to use their fabulous computer lab and the wireless internet, where I could catch up on blogs as we had lots of internet problems again this week. At 6pm we were treated to a great dinner of brats and salads in their admin building, and we felt spoiled and blessed indeed. For the whole 5 days in Canada the kitchen truck never had to prepare a single meal for us, as the Canadian churches rose to the occasion in an amazing way, hosting us with the greatest generosity. Many of us were being billeted every night as well.

Kobie and I camped at Redeemer as he had to be out early again. Redeemer treated us generously to the best catered breakfast we had on the whole tour...totally scrumptious! Each of us received a light material carrying bag with their logo on it as well. Claire Elgersma suggested that we ride together today. It was a perfect cycling day, cool and very pleasant. The route went along Ridge road where we had the nicest view over Hamilton and lake Ontario, but it was too hazy to see the skyline of Toronto in the distance. It was great to meet ralph Fledderus' son Bill, family and grandsons waiting with posters and freezies to cheer on their hero grandpa!

We enjoyed cycling along this picturesque route, and again enjoyed many snack stops, treated to lots of fruit, peaches and cream and donuts. We went down the escarpment at a 12% grade into Grimsby which was a great thrill, but there was a dangerous stop right at the bottom of the hill. we went by the Dutch store where Eritia works and were treated to cake and coffee. Before stopping at the Grimsby CRC for goodl Dutch coffee, boterkoek and donuts, we went by the senior's residence to chat the to residents. Not too far from there at Providence CRC in Beamsville we had a real nice lunch and drinks of various kinds.

Continuing on, at one stage I was photographing the lovely vines along the road, when a passing truck and landscape trailer promptly stopped dead in front of us, causing Doug and Joy Lutke to collide with it and Claire to hit Joy's bike from behind with such force that the derailler was bent 45 degrees up, rendering it useless, and Claire to fall of hard into the path of oncoming traffic which fortunately managed to stop in time! Claire was OK but shaken up, scraped and bruised. There was no road shoulder so I had nowhere to go but to choose the ditch expecting to fly over the handlebars. Wonder above wonder I somehow managed to stay upright!Rick managed to get the derailleur working somewhat by bending the hanger back cautiously. We were so happy to discover that the route later went by a bike shop where Joy could get the hanger replaced. At the Christian school in St. Catherines we were treated to huge fresh peaches....delicious! We could sign up for footspa, 20 minute massages and haircuts (not for me this time, as my hair's never been this short in my whole half a century of life!). The foot and body massage was fabulous, as the lady has 19 years of sport massage experience. My quads were immensely sore when she massaged it deep and I felt like climbing up the wall of pain, which I tried to endure as best I could as it is vital to do a good job on those big muscles. Again, lovely fresh huge peaches for us to enjoy....fruit of this fertile soil in the land of vines and orchards!

Saturday afternoon, shuttles transported the cyclists to Niagara falls to experience the wonder of it. The Maid of the Mist could be boarded to go up the river to the foot of these immense falls. This is quite an experience, as the boat is kept at full power, straining and shuddering against the breathtaking, thundering power of the water falls, while the spray rains all over the deck. The legend of the Maid of the Mist was shared with me by Magda Wills, a friend from my church who faithfully interceded for the whole tour and sent me daily devotionals and thoughts to share, like the following:

"Today you will cycle through the beautiful countryside of the Niagara Escarpment which leads to one of the wonders of the world - Niagara Falls. At the bottom of the falls tourists can take a ride in The Maid of the Mist. There is an Indian legend behind the name of the boat and my aunt Lini Grol, who lived in the area for much of her life here in Canada, has recorded this legend in a book Lelawala, a Legend of the Maid of the Mist.

Long ago, a peaceful tribe of Indians lived beside the Niagara River. For an unknown reason, Indians were dying, and it was believed that the tribe must appease the Thunder God Hinum, who lived in a cave behind the Falls. A beautiful maid, Lelawala, daughter of Chief Eagle Eye, sacrifices her life in order to save the people of her tribe. On the appointed day, Lelawala, wearing a white doeskin robe with a wreath of woodland flowers in her hair, stepped into a white birch bark canoe and plunged over the falls to her death. By her spirit, Lelawala told her people the cause of death. Lelawala returned to the cave of the God Hinum, where she reigns as the Maid of the Midst.

As you stand before the falls and see the Maid of the Mist in the water at the foot of the Falls, may you be mindful of the One who made the ultimate sacrifice for our lives.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 "

Thank you Magda!!!