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| BOARDING THE MAID OF THE MIST |
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| ENJOYING THE SHOWER |
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| AMERICAN FALLS |
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| THE OTHER PART OF NIAGARA FALLS |
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| FORT MISSISSAUGA |
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| INNISKILLIN WINERY |
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| FIREWORKS AND ILLUMINATED FALLS |
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| AMERICAN FALLS FROM US SIDE |
Megabus had advertised tickets for this one and a half hour journey for as little as one dollar, which is exactly what I paid for mine.
The bus dropped me off by Niagara Railway Station (on the Canadian side) so I had a good two miles to walk to the Hostel in sweltering heat. My room was up two flights of stairs and my shoulder ached, so I was delighted to find that my luggage had been carried up to the dorm whilst another staff member showed me around.
After a change of clothes I headed down to the River to take the Maid of the Mist boat tour which passes close to the American, the Bridal Veil and the Horseshoe Falls, the three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. Unlike most of the passengers, I chose not to wear the plastic poncho they gave me. Given how hot it was, the cool mist produced by the Falls was most welcome and I soon dried off. I was more impressed by the Falls than I thought I would be. The mist combined with the bright sun ensured that there was a good permanent rainbow. A secondary rainbow was also visible which made it a double rainbow. There is no doubt about it. Niagara Falls is amazing. It seems that Takakkaw Falls in Yoho must now take second place in my ratings, although the setting of the latter is better, for reasons which become apparent below.
I continued exploring the Canadian side of the River, taking a close look at the Skylon Tower (not worth going up as only a mere 520 ft high) before returning to the Hostel through Niagara Falls town centre - if this is a fair description. The town centre is actually more like an amusement arcade, with all the flashing lights, gambling machines, burger bars and a funfair. I went back to have a look at it lit up in the late evening, but it wasn't up to Times Square or Las Vegas standards. There was a Harley Davidson shop open, however, and the shop assistant kindly took a picture of me on a Harley. So I got to sit on one after all, even though I didn't go anywhere.
The following day I hired a bicycle and rode roughly 17 miles north alongside the river to Niagara-on-the-Lake. This was a much more pleasant place than the town of Niagara Falls. There are two forts here: Fort George which fell to the Americans in the war of 1812 and was subsequently recaptured by the British, and Fort Mississauga which was built by the British as a stronger replacement.
I hadn't realised this was a major wine growing region until I got here, so on my return journey I stopped by the Jackson-Triggs and the Inniskillin Wineries. I received tasters from both, including some very sweet Icewine served by Sue at the latter. I didn't drink enough to make me wobble on the bike though.
The roads in this area were laid out on a grid system, as I had seen many times in North America. What was unusual were the road names. East to west roads are called Line 1 Road, Line 2 Road, Line 3 Road, etc. and the north to south roads Concession 1 Road, Concession 2 Road, Concession 3 Road, etc. I understand that the terms arise from when land was conceded to farmers by the Crown.
Back in Niagara Falls I had planned to see the waterfalls at night when they are illuminated with coloured lights. On this particular night there was also a firework display. I wasn't sure what the special event was. Perhaps it was for me? As it happens, the display turned out to be a regular thing on Fridays and Sundays.
I was up early on the Saturday as I wanted to depart the Hostel before 8.00am and walk back to the USA across the Rainbow Bridge before a queue built up at the border crossing. I needn't have worried as I went almost straight through, leaving me with lots of time to explore the US side of the Falls. The Tourist Information Center let me leave my luggage with them as I walked all the way around Goat Island. This gave me a different perspective of the three waterfalls. Whereas from the Canadian side you can appreciate the beauty of them, from the US side it is the power of the water that is apparent. The water flow and the noise, even well back from the Falls, are incredible and I doubt that anyone falling in could avoid going over.
I picked up my luggage and walked with it to the Niagara Amtrak Station on the US side. It was a long walk, made longer because of my supermarket detour to buy food for the nearly nine and a half hour rail journey ahead. My shoulder ached from carrying my bag but the train to New York City was waiting for me when I got there. I would be back at Tam's place again that evening.
