A couple of hardy types paddle boarding on the lake.

http://i49.tinypic.com/152bybs.jpg

One of the numerous quaint cottages on the Grimsby Beach strip. This one is a designated heritage house dating from 1879.

http://i49.tinypic.com/25ev3gm.jpg

I started the ride on a comfortable enough saddle.

http://i49.tinypic.com/e7jgh3.jpg

But the evil gremlins caught up to me at about the 50km mark and turned it to stone.

http://i45.tinypic.com/5jxzis.jpg

But I outwitted those nasty gremlins. I brought my sheepskin saddle cover in anticipation of this.

http://i47.tinypic.com/hsub91.jpg

The Niagara region is wine country. Most of the grapes have been harvested, but the regular boom of the air cannon can still be heard, chasing the birds away from the grapes still on the vine awaiting harvest for the precious ice wines the area is famed for.

http://i45.tinypic.com/34fnt5e.jpg

I hit town about 7 hours after leaving home. Total distance, 101km,or a little over 62 miles.
So how does this work, can I bank the extra 3 miles against next year?

http://i49.tinypic.com/5by2k4.jpg

More pictures later from Niagara on the Lake

Good job,nice pics,happy belated birthday and no banking miles.imho.

Very nice pictures taken during a great ride! Next Monday I've got to ride 67 miles. Will need to do this early am as my #2 son, CIL, grandson are in town for the week. I hope the weather is as nice as you experienced.

:bday::beer:

Looks like you had a fun Birthday ride! That poor sheepskin was in a quandary, being between a rock and your hard place! ;)

A few shots from Niagara on the Lake. Unfortunately, I forgot to grab my camera on the way out of our room last night, so I didn't get any night shots. Too bad, the place really looks grand after dark.

http://i47.tinypic.com/1imzoh.jpg

The place has a real charm. It's home to the Shaw Festival Theatre. Unfortunately, nothing is playing there just now.

http://i47.tinypic.com/161di13.jpg

Looking across the mouth of the Niagara River at Old Fort Niagara in New York State.

http://i50.tinypic.com/2nbummv.jpg

At the local shops, you can buy Asian Art.

http://i47.tinypic.com/344dpwg.jpg

or a new fedora

http://i50.tinypic.com/n55sv5.jpg

Or anything in between

Hi Dan, glad to see you got that ride in! Happy 59th belated birthday. I had my 59th in Sept so I know you're a sharp guy :thumb:

That fedora proves it! Enjoyed the pics.

Richard

Thanks for the pictures, Dan. Looks like there are a lot of interesting sights on your ride.

Love that new hat, Dan, it makes you look sharp. Great pictures and what beautiful country and towns you rode through. Glad you had a great birthday ride.

Bill

Thanks. I think fedoras should have never gone out of style. I see lots of younger guys wearing them now, and I think it's great.

Dan,
In my opinion they have not gone out, I have mine and keep it nice. I have the original box for dust free storage and learned how to brush it back up when needed. it was a Christmas gift in the 80's from my wife and children who grew tired of my old straw Panama and snap brim cap at church and it will never leave my possession. Our son had a few nice hats he inherited from his grandfather and learned how to wear them properly. He looks nice in them as he has recently learned that some nice clothes for the right use and time are good to have and has passed out of the teenage baggy pants and t-shirts phase during his senior year at college. More hats for men!

Bill

[QUOTE=David Bierbaum;14941155]:bday::beer:

Looks like you had a fun Birthday ride! QUOTE]

Yes indeed, I enjoyed reading it and looking at the pictures. Looked like a great thing to do. Congratulations, and many (50+) happy repeats.

2 Kit questions, if I may

What was up with that saddle? It looked ruined - was it that way before you started, or what?

Your bike looks very comfortable. I ride often with a guy on a bike (apparently) like yours. On a long ride (60 miles plus) I'm 'why can't he keep up?' for the first 40 - then guess what happens!

Congratulations

If you're referring to the second saddle picture, I posted that as a joke. It's Sheldon's Real Man Saddle, as described here.
http://sheldonbrown.com/real-man.html

I'm slowly becoming more accustomed to a more forward riding position, but I still can't do it all day. Riding upright may be more physically taxing, but I can do it all day long.
Also, there was a significant temperature change throughout the day, so I had to be able to carry the excess clothing I was going to shed along the way, and I did not feel like wearing my big backpack. So, that's why I chose that bike among the 8 or 9 I have to chose from.

Happy Belated Birthday. You're much more creative than I am, for my birthday in May I rode 70 miles with 3 of my friends, one of whom claims at my age we should be subtracting miles rather than adding them:D

Dan,
I'm concerned about the bar you've set for birthday ride pictures. Would you mind editing your posts and deleting them. Thanks.