Friday 10 August 2007

I love it when a plan doesn't come together...

Mm. Well that didn’t work! We made fantastic time heading to Toronto until we hit the half way mark… then a tractor trailer decided to fall over on the interstate blocking the whole thing ahead of us. In two hours we completed about 8km and decided that there was no way we were making it to Toronto for the evening, even if we were lucky we would have been pushing it to make it there for 9pm. The prospect of spending money on a hotel for a couple of hours in the evening didn’t really appeal, the only one we could find with a Charlie-sized car park was just over £100 a night, so with a sigh we decided to head to a campsite instead. As it turned out we got to drive down some of those amazing roads that just go on and on and on and …you get the idea, into the horizon and ended up at a campsite beside a river again. We had a peaceful night playing frizbee (aren’t we cultured!) and made plans to head into Toronto in the morning.


We got up bright and early and followed the interstate down to the edge of Lake Ontario. Toronto is a pretty amazing place, you think you’re in it and then you feel like you’re in the Countryside… then you think your in it again… then Countryside – in reality it’s the large parks and open spaces they’ve designed into the city. Combined with the glimpses of the Lake really seem to take away that suffocating city feeling. We didn’t really get a chance to stop (we are still aiming to make up time) but we saw the HUGE tower which I believe is the tallest free standing structure and I must say, it is pretty big. We were clear of Toronto by mid afternoon, so decided to push onto Niagara, it’s only about a 90minute drive around the edge of the lake… I’ve been thinking about this next bit for a while… how can I adequately describe Niagara to those that haven’t been? Well. It’s Big. Very Big. (those A’s at GCSE’s were fully deserved don’t you think?!).

Seriously, it’s not the biggest in the world, but it is pretty amazing. We approached from the Canadian side, the famed horseshoe falls being on their side of the river and I really annoyed Dan by going ‘Oooo! Look!’ ‘Wow, that’s amazing’ ‘Nooooooooo WAY (in my best American accent)’ as he was attempting to negotiate the traffic. We parked pretty easily in the Canadian state park and the best thing about the falls is both the American and Canadian sides are protected along the edge, so at least the hotels and tacky shops are kept back to a semi-respectable distance. I’m never going to be able to describe what they were like and as they say, a picture speaks a thousand words so:
'Disco Rob' @ Niagara:


We also went on the Maid-of-the-Mist tour in a boat to the bottom of the falls. Wow! Lol! Basically, you’re taken to the bottom past the American Falls being given a commentary about the more interesting aspects of the history and they they ‘park’ right in the middle of the horseshoe! Now, the boats pretty busy and we were on the top deck (it would have been rude not too!) with nothing to hold on too… Simon our sea-faring friend may have been right at home but that boat doesn’t half get buffeted! Still, it’s more than worth it and again, will have to go down as one of the most amazing experiences of my life. When you’re in the spray (which reaches up about 170m from the surface) looking up at the 52m high horseshoe it feels like the suns gone out and it’s *proper* raining, needless to say we both came out drenched but grinning like loons. It was the perfect solution to the 33 degree temps that day. Here are some pics from the boat, they may be rubbish but it’s a hard situation to take a photo in!


When we’d had our fill of making ‘Oo’ noises at the waterfall we decided to head off and find a campsite. We crossed back into America with no problems, the Customs & Immigration guy was quite fascinated by what we were up to, but let us in so that’s fine. The campsite we found was about 12m from the falls and a ‘KOA’ campsite, we’d seen quite a few of these already and decided we should check it out as it was already 6pm. It turns out they are a network of family campsites in America and Canada… think Butlins on a Campsite with yellow t-shirts instead of red coats! lol! Actually, that’s a bit unfair, it’s not that bad, but you get the idea. They worked out cheaper than the other private sites we’d stayed at and for $16 we joined up getting us a 10% discount each time we use a site. We’d both prefer to use the State Parks where possible, but it’s not always, so this will offer a cheap, clean, safe and modern alternative (and most have wireless internet ;) ).

The guy at the sign in desk was well up with his local knowledge as you would expect and told us about the free fireworks at the falls every Wednesday night… Me and free fireworks are a good combination! So we had a hasty dinner and headed back to the American side this time to see the show. The American side means you don’t get that picture postcard view of the horseshoe, but you can get very close to the edge of the American Falls. We watched the show from between the American Falls and the ‘Bridal Veil’ Falls, with the lights on the falls it was a whole alternative experience, and I’d certainly recommend going back at night if you ever visit. One more pic, I like this one:

4 comments:

Deano said...

hello chaps looks like you're both havin a cracking time.Can you bring back one of those nice bikes back for me.Stunning shot through Charlies screen ooooh so jealous take care love Deano xx

Nigel said...

Ok, I really am stuck for words - amazing will have to do.
Keep taking the pics Jen, ya can never have to many ;o)
Finally Dan rolls something, ok so it was a mountain bike - and I wasn't there to take pics :o(
lol
xxx
Nigel.

Nigel said...

Actually, I will add one thing...
More pics of Charlie :o)
x

Capt Beaver said...

I can't believe you didn't go to Niagra on the lake,a lovely little village just outside Niagra.There is a little Land Rover garage with some really old interesting l/r stuff around the back.The falls are great aren't they!We went in Feb 2004 and the spray from the falls had frozen and the view from behind the falls was frozen,scary!! Glad you're having a great time,let me know when you get to Alberqurque! Keep on trucking.Love Mr Rawlings x