Hello, Niagara! Tues/Wed, 6/28-29/16

So, with Jimmy at the wheel, as we're driving along Lake Ontario's shoreline toward Oswego, he asks me if we might just as well go to Niagara Falls for a few days.  I thought for a few seconds, and said, "sure."  We scrapped the planned bike ride along Oswego's canal trail and continued to far western New York and the Elks Lodge there (with welcome electric hookups!), arriving in late afternoon.  We even had someone from the lodge show us where to park and hook up.  The view from the lodge wasn't so great, but we knew where we could find spectacular scenery!

First order of business?  A visit to Michael's Restaurant in Little Italy Tuesday evening. We've eaten here before and know about the sizable proportions, but ...

... Jimmy's calzone was outlandishly huge!  I ordered a small pizza.  Now, I can eat a pizza down to the last slice, but I couldn't finish THIS pizza.  We took our leftover meals home to eat another day. 

Horseshoe Falls Overlook, looking toward Canada,
with the Maid of the Mist closing in on the falls. 

Wednesday was our day to experience the falls one more time.  The day was warm, not hot, and mostly sunny.  We had our walking shoes on and walk we did!  By bedtime, I had over six miles on my fitbit.  Six stellar miles.  

We parked Smartie at the Goat Island lot and walked to Terrapin Point and the Horseshoe Falls overlook.  A throng of tourists pressed up against the guard rail to see the same thing we wanted to see, but I wouldn't say the walking area was crowded.  It's all accessible.

At the Overlook.

From the Overlook, we walked toward the Three Sisters Islands.  Above you see the Niagara River Rapids, which I think are terrifying in their intensity.  Look at this wildness!  Raw power.

Picturesque, yes, as Jimmy stares the river.  It's easy to do; the river can hold you spellbound.  Its beauty is underscored by its potential peril ....

Here's looking at the beginning of those Class V+ rapids, sort of.  Finding rocks, a log, or "reefs" in this water, Canada geese, gulls, and cormorants rest and preen.  Personally, I'd find a better place to sit. Good thing they can fly.

Nothing spells Western New York's summer wildflowers better than sky-blue Chicory and Queen Anne's Lace, which grow along roadsides and ditches everywhere.  They're a happy combination, I think.  

Lunchtime found us at another famous Niagara eatery -- Como's Restaurant.  I've been there maybe once before, a very VERY long time ago.  The Italian bread was sooo yummy.  If we ate like this all the time, we'd weigh 300 pounds each!  Well, maybe not quite.

I ordered a Western New York legendary Roast Beef on kummelweck, aka "Beef on Wick." I'm not a big meat eater, but this was delicious. Even though I grew up in Niagara Falls, I didn't eat Beef on Wick except every now and then, so it's been a hundred years since I've had one.  I ate the fries, too.  Oink oink.

We needed to work off some of those lunch calories, so we drove Smartie to the American Falls pkg lot, to park and walk across Rainbow Bridge.  Both the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls are viewable from Canada.  Passports in our pockets, off we went; what a pleasant day to walk on the bridge.  New York is on the left; high rises in Ontario, Canada on the right.  Maid of the Mist boat, which takes people to the bottom of the Horseshoe Falls, is loading on the left. 

A few years ago, Jimmy and I, with my sister and BiL, experienced the Maid of the Mist, as well as the thrilling (and WET) Cave of the Winds walking tour (above), which carried us (in our souvenir blue ponchos and blue "sandals") into the deluge along slick wooden walkways. Woo-hoo, talk about a rush!

We walked and walked and walked, to the other end of the Horseshoe Falls; in effect, walking all the way around it, minus a portion. The flower gardens and grounds on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls are nicer, well-tended, and their walkways wide.  The view is outstanding because you can see both falls from the Canadian side.  And rainbows, ohmygosh, those rainbows are perfect.  Just perfect. That's where the bridge gets its name.  Imagine, the Canadians are making a Zip Line along the gorge!  But not for me.  We remembered to take four quarters with us -- 50 cents each to get back into the US.

The torrent at the edge.

On the other side!

Majestic.

It's been six years since Jimmy and I visited the falls area.  Loved stopping by again ... not sure if we'll ever be back, but we're all loaded up with nostalgia now.  Niagara Falls deserves to be designated one of world's great wonders.

Old Fort Niagara, 8/18 - 8/19

Jimmy and I followed the St. Lawrence Seaway from the Eisenhower Lock at the New York-Quebec border, downriver to our Grass Point C/G (1000 Islands area) at Alexandria Bay - and we saw lots of barge boat traffic, like trains on water. If you had a house facing the ship channel, and we saw plenty, you could wave to the captain while you were washing dishes in the kitchen! (uh-huh....)

 

A Seaway barge heading downriver @ Alexandria Bay.

 

The North Redoubt at Fort Niagara, and ...

... the Castle @ Fort Niagara.

 

Three flags @ the Castle and its defenses.

 

Cool bike rider @ the entrance!

The history of Old Fort Niagara spans more than 300 years, and it was occupied by three nations: France, Great Britain, and the United States. Old Fort Niagara, located at the mouth of the Niagara River, controlled access to the Great Lakes and the westward route to the heartland of the continent.  In 1960 the fort was designated a National Historic Landmark, and in 1966 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Cousins in Lewiston!

Then, heading west along Lake Erie, we drove to the Niagara area and set up camp at Four Mile Creek State C/G. Jimmy and I rode our bikes the next day from our campsite to Old Fort Niagara, a fine 11-mile, R/T ride. To learn more about the fort's fascinating 300+ year history, go to http://www.oldfortniagara.org/. Our stay in Niagara was brief, but we made time for dinner with my cousin, Pat, and we three passed a good time together! Thanx, Pat!

Niagara Falls - Week Eight - Sunday, Oct 14

Jimmy and I drove to my old stompin’ grounds – in fact, we’re camped on Niagara Falls Blvd about a quarter of a mile from my Cayuga Dr Ext childhood home! Ye olde homestead looks good, except most of the trees have been cut down. Today's big adventure was a visit to and lunch with Aunt Ange and cousin, Pat, and we had a wonderful time! Aunt Ange is as sharp and lively as ever, albeit slower and tinier. She can pack away a hamburger, too! After lunch, Jimmy and I spent the rest of the afternoon at the falls, American and Canadian sides – including a nice walk across the Rainbow Bridge. We worked up an appetite for pizza at Michael’s on Pine Avenue. Though we were dismayed at the blighted conditions we saw in the city, ‘twas a wonderful day. Goodness gracious, we're in week eight of our retirement trip - has it really been that long?

Retirement is Great!

Jimmy saw this guy in a Canadian men's room. Obviously they'll let anybody in these places!

Week 7, Thurs - Sat, Oct 13, 2007

Thursday -- Oh, geez, last nite we caught another big-eared deer mouse – this one was sashaying across our small carpeted area on its way toward the kitchen. Ah well.... Our day began with those lovely raspberries for breakfast before we drove to the Von Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe. What an excellent setting they have - a little piece of Austria in Vermont. Watched a 1983 video of Maria Von Trapp (the real one) that was very moving. She passed away in 1987. Then we hit the road. Ferried across Lake Champlain, bypassed Plattsburg NY (cloudy, brisk day) and continued on into the Adirondack Mountains – again, such a gorgeous drive! Didn’t stop in Lake Placid or Saranac Lake, just admired the scenery. Arrived at Forestport CG (one of the few still open) near dark in misty rain – and discovered it too had closed for the season! A handyman okayed our one-nite stay at the forested campground, for which we were grateful. Imagine, being the only folks there. Fixed breakfast for dinner. Soft rain fell most of the night.

Friday -- 40° again this morning and cloudy, but the rain’s stopped. Our RV is plastered with wet leaves. We drove to Utica and stopped at a Wal-Mart for sweats and thermal clothes, plus a few groceries. Continuing along, we jumped off the Thruway to drive the scenic Lake Ontario route. This whole area is planted in apple orchards – we had no idea apples were the main crop here. Roadside stands with apples and pumpkins abound. We bought more apples and a NEW 20-pounder “everlasting” cabbage! This is such a lovely route to drive with farms and fields, orchards and stately trees, tho not as much autumn color. A powerful headwind worked against the RV all day. We lucked up on a CG with one “loop” still open: Hamlin Beach St Park, with acres of trees and manicured grass, and it’s right on the lake. We walked a bit after setting up, but the chilly wind cut right thru us. We aren’t far from Niagara Falls….

Saturday -- White caps on Lake Ontario! Nevertheless, the sun was shining brightly, so we hiked along the lakeshore, admiring the tailored grounds in this huge park and picking windfall apples. We even spied a beaver slinking along in the grass before it disappeared in a hedgerow! 

We enjoyed a nice drive to Lockport alongside the lake; bought more apples at a roadside stand! (going to have to make applesauce again....) After setting-up, we donned lots of clothes for a short (chilly) bike ride on the Erie Canal towpath trail, and a visit to the museum. Digging the Erie Barge Canal began in 1817 and it was completed in 1825, and, by gum, the locks are still working! Our Lockport CG closes for the season this coming Monday. Wow, we made it in under the wire. 

Scenes along the canal.  Of course, Canada Geese are everywhere!

Windy!!

At one of the canal locks.

We didn't last too long on our bikes, the wind simply made it too chilly to be Out and About.