So the great thing about my trips is that I sort of throw a dart at a map and figure it out when I get there. Unlike those organized sorts who know all the attractions that they plan to see and have their itinerary all laid out ... there's me, deciding moment to moment what I might do. So this a.m., after a lovely breakfast (this B&B has both B's ... :D), I packed my rain shell, some cash, some cheese & crackers, my phone and not much else and headed for the river. This time, I walked away from the Falls - deciding to let the weekend dissipate some of the tourist traffic - and I walked along the Niagara Parkway towards Niagara-on-the-Lake. Which, it turns out, is a town separate from Niagara Falls. I am not at all familiar with the local geography.
The weather was just perfect without a jacket, overcast but nice. Humid, definitely. Great day for a walk.
From Niagara Falls Info: "On July 30th 1949, Major Lloyd Hill, using a 650 pound barrel, successfully navigated the Whirlpool Rapids. Hill became stranded in the Whirlpool and had to be rescued by the City of Niagara Falls Fire Department."
My trip comes too early in the season for much red colour on the trees - but it does show up here and there. Here is a wee touch of red maple leaves.
After a couple of kilometers you can sort of have some sympathy for Mr. Hill in his little barrel. I am VERY high above this water - a perspective that's difficult to determine in the photo.
I wanted to find a way down to the edge of the river - and there aren't too many of them. I think the USA might be concerned about illegal aliens trying to swim across. However, there is this place called the 'Whirlpool'. You can ride a gondola car over it, or find the stairs down to the edge of it. Which some tourists and several fishermen do.
It's quite a long way down - I didn't photograph all of the stairs, and I didn't photograph any section more than once. On the return trip up - I paused every 30 steps or so. Just to appreciate the view, of course.
I met some fishermen coming up while I was going down and exchanged the appropriate fishermen greeting "Catch anything?" No, they did not. My fishing luck must have moved into their Niagara zone.
The sun was out at the river's edge - and it was a nice place to have a lunch.
The "Whirlpool Aero Car"
Some more fishermen at the edge of the whirlpool. You can't really see any whirlpool action from the shore, but I take their word for it. It is a 'blip' in the river so it makes sense that it would eddy up in this area.
Saw this tasty guy as I was cleaning up my lunch. I guess I had better luck than the fishermen. Certainly better than this fish. He was about 3" long ...
The weather was starting to get a bit overcast so I bought a "WeGo" day pass which is a hop on-off bus pass up the parkway. And then you can buy another one that takes you into NOTL (that's local speak for Niagara-on-the-Lake). I was glad I changed to motorized transport as it did begin to bucket down. (Chatted with a couple from Ireland at one of the bus stops in case you're wondering about my idioms.)
NOTL is a very pretty town (they say the prettiest in Canada) - I would want to go back with the sun out to verify that.
The bus lets you out at Fort George - one of the bastions of the Niagara. Not very welcoming looking from this angle ...
Once in the town proper, it redeems itself. VERY touristy, at least along this main street. Beautiful and touristy.
Quite dangerous navigating the sidewalks filled with umbrella wielding tourists.
The brilliant thing about this part of the country is that they love, exalt and brag about their butter tarts. It's my job as a tourist to test them out. So far, none so good as my mother's. I'll keep up the lab work.
Back on the WeGo to Niagara Falls (I haven't heard it called NF ... but maybe I haven't been paying attention. Could be it sounds too much like 'enough' ...)
