May 29 – The weather prediction was 60% chance of rain at 11 then decreasing to 20% for the rest of the day.  It looked pretty nice out so we decided to head to Niagara Falls. 

Maid of the Mist

We left about 9:30 and made our way through Buffalo and on to Goat Island where all the things we wanted to see and do were.  It’s a small island in the middle of the Niagara River between the US and Canada.  There were not many cars in the lot when we arrived as it wasn’t a really pretty day but that was fine with us.  No waiting in line.  We got our tickets for Cave of the Winds.  First they give you a plastic bag to put your shoes and socks in, and then they give you a pair of plastic sandals to change in to.  We had our photo taken with a Niagara backdrop but it was $30 for the package and was not worth it to us.  Then after changing shoes they take you 

Kelly on the Hurricane Deck

down an elevator and you’re on the edge of the island.  Here they give you a yellow thin rain poncho and then you’re on your own.  You walk along the edge where there are hundreds of seagulls nesting.  I got some nice photos of baby seagulls and one of a mother with her eggs.  I could not believe how many seagulls there were.  They were flying overhead with straw and twigs in their beaks to make their nests.  This was excellent timing.  Bill was rushing me along as there was a bus load of school kids coming and he didn’t want to get behind them.  You maneuver a



Baby seagull

series of stairs and platforms with the intention of getting as close to the American Falls as possible, which is 10 feet.  It was one most of the most exhilarating experiences I’ve ever had.  You’re right there at the falls and the noise is tremendous and the force of the water is pounding on the rocks with such power that you can’t possibly avoid getting wet.  It’s called the Hurricane Deck, and I can understand the name for sure.  I went up first and Bill took my picture and then I came down and he went up and then I joined him at the top to take an alternate route down to get photos of the section of the falls that we were in front of.  Wow, it was awesome!

 

 

High dollar sandals



The drawback was my feet were freezing and my hair was soaked in addition to my capris up to my knees.  We took the elevator back to the top and pitched the ponchos and put our sandals in the appropriate bins.  Then as we were walking away I noticed several groups walking around in the sandals.  Bill had commented on how he liked them so I asked if we were allowed to keep them and was told yes.  I explained that we didn’t know that and we put them in the bin, so the girl told me to take my tickets to the front and they’d get me new one.  So Bill was pleased to see me with 2 pair of cheap sandals but they do say Niagara Falls on them.  He was lucky I was not too wimpy to go and ask.

We attempted to get on teeny tiny Luna Island for a view of both Horseshoe and



Deck where we were on the far right of the American
Falls.  This is only about 1/3 of the falls width

American  Falls,

but alas, it was closed for repairs.  We did manage to take a look from Goat Island and could see the bridge from the US to Canada and the Maid of the Mist boats carrying loads of passengers.  We did that once years ago and both agreed the Cave was way more exciting.  On the other side of the island was Terrapin Point where there’s an excellent view of Horseshoe Falls and the rapids leading up to the falls.  We made a quick stop at the gift shop and on the way out I was accosted by a black squirrel begging for food.  I felt so bad that I didn’t have anything for him but I did try to take a video of him and some photos.  Will see how that worked out.

The French Castle

Further north of the city of Niagara Falls is Ft. Niagara.  It’s a state park that houses a fort first built by the French in 1726.  We stopped in the town neighboring the fort, Youngstown, and had lunch at a small place along the Niagara River.  From there we could see the fort jutting out and also Ft George on the Canadian side.  They had a good movie before heading out to see the fort and we were fortunate to have a volunteer accompany us and explain a lot more about the fort and the happenings there.  Basically the French established the first fort (Ft Conti) in 1679, followed by Ft Denonville in 1689 and in 1726 was the first permanent building which is and was called the French Castle.  Britain took control in 1759 and continued to make changes and additions to the fort until the American Revolution when the United States took control by treaty in 1796.  But that didn’t last, as the British recaptured the fort in 1812 and it was ceded to the US a second time in 1815.  The War of 1812 was the last conflict at the fort but it was used until 1963 as a training station thru both World Wars.  Currently there is a Coast Guard station below the walls of the Fort along the Niagara River.  It’s been really well restored and while we were there a group of archeology students were conducting a dig and found old coins, a musket ball and a bone.

 

Part of the original lock

We pretty much thought our day of touring was over when we left the fort and were heading   back but the route we chose took us through Lockport.  Lockport is on the Erie Canal and home to the first and only set of 5 ladder locks ever built.  At first we were just going to stop at the Visitor Center to get info for our next trip, but after picking up information and chatting with one of the ladies there, we took in the movie they had and it was excellent.  It was about the reason and who developed the idea of the canal and thru the building of it.  The distinctive part of the movie was that in the middle of it the screen moves to the side and you are asked to come on board and you end up on the other side of the screen on the deck of a boat going thru the canal.  The screen closes and the narration continues. 

 

One of the 7 Sunderland sisters

The building also houses an exhibit of interesting people and things in the area but I was most intrigued by an old ad poster for hair growth tonic that showed pictures of the 7 Sutherland Sisters.  I found them fascinating.  Combined their hair totaled 37 feet long.  They were born in Lockport and were all singers.  It’s really a very interesting story, but the hair thing is a bit strange.

 http://www.rapunzelsdelight.com/sutherland/sisters_old_page.html

Then we took a short walk to locks 74 & 75.  On one side the lock is new and on the other is the original 5 step lock.  We just took a couple of photos as it was late and nothing was going one.  Currently the canal is used primarily for pleasure boats.

 

We stopped at the Indian reservation and refilled our tank.  It was still .40 less per gallon than the Flying J.  After dinner the other host couple stopped by and visited for quite a long time. They gave us some driving directions and offered more info on places to see.  We have more on our list than we are going to be able to see.  Oh well, a reason to come back!