MOArally
Natural beauty only moments away By Douglas A. Waines #116758
HAMBURG, NEW YORK, AND THE Greater Buffalo/Niagara area wel- comes all riders this summer to an area rich in history, water frontage, tourism, architecture and friendly neighbors. As part of the Rally expe- rience we also want to welcome you to Canada. Be sure to dedicate some rally time
to explore the many day-ride options radiating from the rally site. This arti- cle is dedicated to a 105-mile (168 km) day trip from the rally grounds in Hamburg and will give you a wonder- ful mix of scenery and points of inter- est. The ride will take about three hours, but with stops it can easily push past four. Don’t forget your passport and camera. Did you know the Canadian bor-
der is only 20 minutes from the Rally site? Explore the entire length of the mighty Niagara River from its begin- ning at Lake Erie to its end at Lake Ontario. Experience the majesty of Niagara Falls and gain an apprecia- tion for the Great Lakes, the world’s largest body of fresh water. Now that you have distance and time figured out, here we go.
Peace Bridge into Canada Upon clearing Canada Customs and Immigration at the Peace Bridge (from Buffalo, New York to Fort Erie, Canada), all vehicles including cars and trucks will merge to the toll- booths. The tollbooths entering Can- ada are well marked for “EZ-Pass Only” or “EZ-Pass/Cash.” Cash prices are $3 US or $4 CDN. (There is no toll if you decide to return to the US via the Peace Bridge). Note: I highly recommend taking
the tollbooth furthest on your RIGHT because you will be exiting on your
108 BMW OWNERS NEWS March 2016 An aerial view of Niagara Falls.
RIGHT immediately after paying your toll. If you miss this exit, don’t panic. You can take the next exit and double back east- wardly on secondary roads that end at the Niagara Parkway. The Niagara Parkway follows the entire
length of the Niagara River from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario on the Canadian side. This is protected green space, professionally groomed and landscaped, and it is your main road all the way. The 55 km or 34-mile winding, paved course ends at the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, a pleasant destina- tion in its own right. This will be the most leisure-riding seg-
ment of the day, with plenty of pullover rest areas and viewpoints. The majority of the Parkway is posted at 60 km/h (38 mph) for a reason. Your head will be bobbing back and forth between the changing views of the Niagara River on your right, and the
gorgeous homes on your left. Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain, was quoted as saying “The Niagara Park- way was the prettiest drive in the world.” The Parkway is a tourist and motorcycle attraction where traffic volume increases throughout the day. You can also expect heaviest congestion right at the Falls. Best to do a morning run if possible, and watch out for the Canada geese! Old Fort Erie was built by the British in
1764 as a military fortification that spanned the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Although the “Old Fort” is worthy of a tour, this waypoint delivers a great view of Lake Erie, the city skyline of Buffalo, New York, and the true beginning of the Niagara River and Parkway. It’s a very short detour with the iconic Peace Bridge border in view. Depart Old Fort Erie grounds and proceed north along the Niagara Parkway.
events
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124