07.03.13: Niagara Falls and the Whirlpools

Niagara Falls, New York

Wednesday, 3 July 2013
* Sherman, New York to Niagara Falls, Niagara, New York *

The adventurers were off to go see the sacred falls between Canada and America. They drove on past the Amish community, horse drawn carriages, and through Sherman, New York. Onwards through vine and wine country they were on their way through Mayville into Westfield, New York. They traveled across vineyard country through Westfield, New York and off the country Amish roads to the Interstate flying onwards towards Niagara Falls. Populated concrete jungles approached while passing through Buffalo and along the Great Lakes. 10 story plus tall mists hovered over the city skyline as they approached Niagara, New York with the waterfall spray blending in with the skyscrapers. They finally made it to Lake Ontario across the Niagara River which they could see Canada. They drove on into Niagara falls State Park, fought for parking, and wandered into the Made in America tower for some Indian cuisine for lunch. It was crap they thought – overpriced and unauthentic. They got lured into a deal for a tour of Niagara Falls hitting the hotspots and a ride on the Maid of the Mist – well fit they thought since they would be toting around the young prince Cian. Great views of the falls from atop within a crowded large glass windowed whereas Sir Thomas Leaf was second-thinking the tour choice. They wandered around the Power Portal and visited memorial tributes to Tesla. The tour included passage down into the Cave of the Winds where they were issued rain sandals and ponchos as they got very much drenched into the amazing majesty of Bridal Veil Falls. The number of seagulls covering the river walls was overwhelming, and young prince Cian seemed amazed eyes bouncing from every flying bird to another. After the Cave of the winds … the weary delvers had just enough time to grab an ice cream which young Cian was ever anxious to want to try only to be blocked by mom and dad’s words of “Not yet, you’re too young …” … words he just did not understand. They then boarded the bus to be shuttled to the Maid of the Mist for passage onto the ferry. They got great positions atop the ferry for picture taking, albeit drenching of their cameras were increased. Poor little Cian clung to daddy’s chest as he didn’t know what to think of the waterfall splatter drenching his poncho he hid under. Back to the bus they were shuttled out to the Niagara Gorge Trail system for an overview of the whirlpools. An overlook of the Devil’s hole where the giant serpent has taken many lives was very intriguing. Tired, weary, the travelers made their way back to their vardo for a long drive home back into Amish country and home to Brushwood Folklore Center well after 11 pm … night ending with a fun-filled day’s finale of a pass out and sleep from exhaustion evening.