Day 8 Friday 1st May 2009 Niagara Falls

Day 8. Friday 1st May 2009. Our trip to Niagara Falls.
We were off for a two train ride to Niagara Falls. We left Toronto at 8:30am. The day was fine but overcast which made the colours of the grass, fruit tree blossoms and the many flowers in bloom more intense. After passing through the suburbs of Toronto with its high rise apartments then houses and industrial areas we passed through fruit growing areas. The plums with white blossom and peaches with pink blossom were in full bloom. We arrived at 10:24am. A local municipal Transit bus and driver was waiting to show us the sights. We were told that the bus was new. The bus did look and smell new. I read the odometer; it read 167,000. The driver said it had been in service for about six weeks. I reckon he meant to say six months! After travelling on first class roads past orchards in bloom, amongst many vineyards and winery’s we arrived at lock 3 on the St. Lawrence Seaway which extends from Montreal to Lake Erie; the seaway includes the Welland Canal. There are 15 locks on the total system. Each lock has a usable length of 233.5m nd width of 24.4m. the water depth is 24.4m. There was a bulk liquid tanker in the lock when we arrived; we watched it sail out and downstream. Soon after it sailed towards a large bridge which lifted, so it and another larger ship coming upstream could pass. We waited for this ship to enter the lock and be lifted, surprisingly quickly up to the next seaway level. We were viewing the process from an elevated platform. We were photographing the ship and the crew were waving to and photographing us as well. The ship was high in the water; obviously going up to the one of the cities on the five lakes for cargo. After the locks we called at a dining complex for lunch. I had chips, Fay had thick ice cream smoothie. Next stop was the Fort George shopping centre. There was an old historic fort nearby which I was unable to see although the shops occupied most of the hour we had to spend. The shops were all old style and colourful. The tulips in the gardens along the street were beautiful. Some of the tulip flowers were doubles; something I have not seen before. Suddenly as I walked past one shop the sweet smell of Maple syrup mixed with other sweet smells wafted past my nostrils. I went back twice for the experience. I did not buy any because I was able to feed off the heavy bouquet. The next big item on the agenda was the falls. On the way we called at a large floral clock and a site overlooking the Niagara escarpment; which is a narrow river gauge with the out flows from the falls area and two large hydro power stations. Very soon we sighted the falls that for many years I have wanted to see. To read about them, to see pictures and films about them are nothing compared with their awesome presence. Most of us went on the “Maid of the Mist” trip and I got wet even though I was wearing the blue poncho supplied. The falls made a great noise as massive amounts of water tumbled down creating lots of foam and mist. The boat went in close enough to be in the outer edge of the falling water. Hundreds of seagulls flew around. The experience was well worth the $12. Our next stop was the Niagara rail Station for the two hour trip back to Toronto.

Supply Niagara website.