Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Aug. 19, 2013

Playing in Water at Niagara Falls

The last few days we have been working our way west in northern Pennsylvania and then north to Niagara Falls.  Today we did three major tourist events. 

A note on tourists.  There are more here than we have seen in total in our trip so far.  There are tourists everywhere and we can see that there are many more at other times by the facilities layout.  The majority of the tourists here are either East Indian or Oriental, primarily Chinese.  You have 'heard the phrase ‘Ugly American’ – I have a counter – ‘Ugly Oriental’ – specifically ‘Ugly Chinaman’.  They are rude, they are loud, they are pushy, they act like they own the territory around them and will push their way through a crowd or walk a path like they are the only ones on it.  They do not acknowledge the existence of others.  If someone is taking a picture they jump in the way so they can get a picture of friend or family instead of waiting 5 seconds for others to clear.  They jump into the front of lines.  This was a unanimous observation of all Chinese we saw.  All other tourists we saw were friendly, courteous, and polite. 

Off the soapbox and on to the day.

We left early for the falls park so we could maybe get close parking and get early ride on our first attraction.  Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest State Park in the country by the way.  Got a close and free parking spot (Lots cost $10) and were near front of line for ‘Maid of the Mist’ boat trip.

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You have all seen pictures of this.  Boat takes you to the base of the falls so you can experience the might of all that water close up. 

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Everyone gets a poncho which is actually pretty sturdy.

As the boat leaves the dock and heads to the falls there is a canned narration that gives history and particulars about the falls. 

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Another Maid of the Mist Smile

Just as the boat reaches the falls the narration concludes with “Ladies and gentlemen, this is Niagara Falls”.

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We were closer than this but had to put camera away because of ‘mist’.

  We then spent about ten minutes less than 50 yards from the base of Horseshoe Falls with the boat held stationary pointing at the falls.  Heavy ‘mist’.  Smile  Tons of water per second landing right in front of you. The only sound the roar of the falls.  Awesome. 

The elevator that takes you to the boat landing descends from an observation deck built out from the bluff to give views of the falls.  Pretty impressive structure.

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Falls from tower

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Bridge to Canada (on left)

 

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Another view of boat

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At one point I saw a full 180 degree rainbow but light and mist changed before I could get picture.

The park has lots of green space, many walking paths, and an auto bridge and foot bridge to get to Goat Island.  Large island that separates American Falls from Horseshoe Falls.  Also location of our next water adventure.  The Cave of the Winds used to be an eroded area behind the falls where one could actually walk behind the falls.  Continued erosion and collapse have made that no longer possible but there are wooden catwalks that get you to the base of one side of American Falls.  One platform gets you within 15 feet of the base.  Lots of water spray.  Ponchos and water shoes provided here but extremities still get pretty damp.  Fun to do though.

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View from a lower deck.  No picture from upper deck.  Too much spray for camera.

After Cave of the Winds we drove through the park and strolled another walkway to some small islands on the other side of Goat Island.

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Niagara Falls from behind.

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Rapids a hundred yards above the falls.

Back to the carbus for lunch and then on to our third water adventure.  Best for last.

I have wanted to do this for years.  One of the first things I put on my map of do not miss if we went east.  The Whirlpool Jet boats run up the river below the falls through some class 5 rapids and alongside the Whirlpool which is a class 6 rapid.  Large boat specially designed for this spot. Three big engine/jet power trains pushing it.  Boat holds about 50 people.  Did I mention that the boat is open.  Yep, shooting Class 5 rapids (big, wide, Class 5 rapids) in an open boat.  When you sign in for the trip they point out some complementary lockers and tell you not to take anything with you that you would not jump in to a swimming pool with.  They also tell you ahead of time to bring a change of clothes which are stowed in another set of lockers at the landing.  Water shoes are provided if needed.  Ponchos are available.  Heavy duty rubberized.  Of course everyone wears a substantial life jacket.  The day was warm so we passed on the ponchos.  They call the first three rows on the boat the ‘Power Rows’.  We got seats in row two.  Don’t know why ’Power’ but wet is the name of the game.  All seats will get wet but when diving into a rapid water hits the front of the boat first and most.  A woman who had been on the boat before said she got wetter than she ever did in a shower.  Hard to see how that could happen but we found out.  We started out with a couple of 360 degree turns.  Brought back memories.  Felt exactly like those I did in our boat.  We were toward the front so did not get the full whip but fun to do.  Then up river.  Through some gentle rapids and past huge power plants on both sides of the river.  A pause for some instruction and then into the narrow canyon and the monster rapids.   Zigzaging  through the troughs going up stream, turning and diving into the troughs going down stream.  We spent half an hour doing that (probably eight trips) and then a trip further up stream to view the Whirlpool.  Combination of lots of water moving very fast (35 mph)through a narrow canyon and making a turn of more than 90 degrees makes some nasty looking rapids and a a large whirlpool that they have no idea how deep it is.  Something getting into it could stay under water for a long time.  Pretty awesome to view at eye level.  One final trip down through the rapids where the boat pilot made every effort to hit the deepest troughs and then a fast jet boat ride to the dock.  How to describe wetter than a shower – hard to do.  Think of the water in five or six 50 gallon drums.  Now think of all that water being thrown in your face all at once.  Not poured on you.  All of it thrown directly at you all at once.  The person next to you is getting the same amount of water at the same time.  Even the people in the back, wearing ponchos, were wet when they got off the boat.  Great adventure.  We bought the video because it is impossible to describe and their video shows pretty well what goes on.

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Our boat loading the tour before us.

Screen Shot 2013-08-19 at 3.06 Hi from Niagara Falls.  Smile



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