Niagara Falls New York & Ontario, July 21st
Niagara Falls New York, wait, Ontario and tonight I’m on the Canada side. Ok, so I’ve been in cities that are in both states, but this is the first that jumps borders, US and Canada. Figured as long as going to spend some time in a place that feels like another country on my way home, might as well spend a night here…hold it, this is another country. Gonna have to get use to things around here quick and it took me part of the night to figure out the currency thanks to the cashier at the casino…a helluv a lot easier than Mexico though.
Didn’t get as early a start as should’ve, but had to finish up yesterdays blog and figured had plenty of time since don’t have to be to Wasaga Beach until Saturday. Took the quick route to the falls because according to the map that was going to be the closest to the water, ya know, the Great Lake and that’ll save me time to do everything I’d like to get done…nope, no plan, just going with the flow. There was one thing I wanted to make sure I did get done and that was stopping at the home of the Buffalo wings, the original place and since have no idea where that place is, other than Buffalo, figured a stop at an information stop would be the thing to do. Well, most if not all the information stops along the way are for Niagara Falls, but why not, most are traveling there instead of Buffalo for Buffalo wings like me. Well, Kathy was great help and told me Anchor bar on Main Street is the place to go, but that was after trying to sell me the Niagara Falls package…$70 for a four hour tour by trolley, boat and some other sites worth seeing, but not sure I’ll do a tour. Met a group of bikers heading the same way from Cleveland, Ohio that is and told them I was thru there a few weeks ago and stopped into the Rock and Roll Museum for a quick peak and of course had to tell them about Anchor bar, but from that point I was on my own.
Couldn’t find the exit that Kathy told me to take, but anyone downtown is going to eventually get me to where I want to and only stopped twice to ask how to get to the Anchor bar, the first was to find Main street which was straight in front of me and the reason for a second was because main street was a mall that you couldn’t drive on so I wasn’t going to park the bike and walk far if I didn’t have to. Well, it was a good thing I didn’t park cuz it was still a couple of miles down the road and once there, no mall that you can ride the road. You can see I made it ordered my usual drink, a root beer and asked for their original, wings that is. First thing was, they don’t have root beer, birch beer instead…what’s that, never heard of it, but it’s suppose to be sweeter and apparently around here more popular than root beer, that ok, I can try that and they were right, sweeter, but not sure about better cuz I like a little kick at the end…ya know the kind that quenches the thirst. The other thing was I could get an order of 10 or 20 wings; they don’t sell them by the dozen and thought I should ask, but never did. Man are these wings good, not necessarily the best I’ve ever had, but they make a difference at this place since their the original, they know what their doing.
On the road and next stop, Niagara Falls which is only 16 miles away, that’ll be easy to get to, the only thing, had to worry about when got into town was where to park. According to the guy parking vehicles in the visitors parking, no discount for motorcycles and like I told him, there’s always free motorcycle parking so just point me too it. He said there is free on the streets, so if you can find yourself a spot it’s yours and for me, that won’t be hard to find…right around the corner in fact because there was plenty of room behind a vehicle to the curb that the bike’ll just fit and right next to the visitors center saving me a walk, not that makes any difference, but need to find out where to go before moving the bike again. Got the same thing in the visitors center, a spiel on a package that I can buy to take me to all the sites, but I told them, I want to experience what one person should while here while saving something I can share on a return visit…yep, will definitely be back here to share. Well, according to them, still should do the package and can always do it again, but nope, I’ll see about doing some things and saving others, so I’m on my own. On the way to the falls there was another visitor center, this one the State Park center since this is a state park and Kimberly was great help. Told her the same thing, what should I do while I’m here on my own and what can I save where she said the boat tour is definitely worth saving, because it’s amazing…ok, that’ll be something worth sharing then and there’s still plenty of other to do. Walk along the falls, do the caves and the Whirlpool jet boats are a lot of fun…ok, I’ll do the wet thing today and save some for later.
Wow, these falls are something and still had to pay to get into some of the things, but it’s all worth checking out and for a buck to go onto the observation deck, the one that takes you to the boat tours, got some great pictures. That bird on the rock definitely has the best view of all of us, but can’t get out there, might fall in if I crawled over the fence or worse yet, arrested that don’t need to do that. From there, gotta head to the island and walk along the river to the falls as well as check out the cave tour and again, more great pictures, but most are being saved for the falls themselves. Well, the cave tour is $10, but hey check it out, get a pair of water socks since can’t wear your shoes in, so they give you the socks, a bag for your shoes, so you can carry them with and a plastic poncho to keep you from getting wet, well from getting too wet. That’s us in the yellow plastic and didn’t take many pictures cuz almost right under the falls and I still have a few days to get out of this camera that getting it wet won’t help and these ponchos don’t help keep you dry either…you’re definitely getting wet. Ok, it was a cool experience, but no caves since those caved in years ago so now they built these wood stairs to the bottom of the falls which by the way, they tear down and rebuild every year, the ice on the falls would rip them apart that it’s easier to rebuild and like the guide said, the water is then about 35 degrees, now that’s cool…I mean cold.
Got my fill on the this side of things that have to cross the border to see the rest…well, that’s according to what I’ve heard, Rochelle told me, remember her from the Morgantown Harley dealer, the Canada side is the side to see. First things first, gotta get across the border and since spending more time in Canada this trip had to answer more questions, but the border patrol was great and although I wanted to get her picture to share, not luck, they can’t have their picture taken a probably should’ve told her I’d catch her later for pictures. Anyway, the next stop should be to get Canadian currency since I’ll need it in this country…remember, foreign country? Well, parked the bike, yep free parking on the street again behind a car and what’dya know, can get Canada money right there, but the exchange wasn’t very good, 8 cents on the dollar where as if I go to the bank can get 11 or more…ok, the banks just down the road that trip on the bike’ll be worth that little extra. Ok, the bank teller tells me, good one, that it’ll cost me $5 since I don’t have an account with them and 25 minutes to open one that my best bet is going to the casino cuz they’ll give me the same exchange if not even better and then I have a place to park my bike. Works for me and as soon as found the casino no free parking unless I have a players card, but that’s easy to get. Well, this is where the cashier at the casino comes in and was great help, and forgot one detail that I found out in the US before crossing the border. That is, called my credit card company cuz after my Mexico trip earlier this year had a $30 charge for currency exchange that needed to find out if have to worry about the same thing this time for every charge, but shouldn’t have to, they’ll just charge me an extra 3% on purchases since US retailers pay it for us, that is by marking up their merchandise. Ok, the cashier pulls out the money and tells me the only difference is the coins for a buck or 2 bucks, two colors, 2 bucks, one color, 1 buck…hey, that’ll be easy enough to remember. The other thing according to her is might as well get as much currency as you can cuz you won’t be losing anything when I leave the country, so ok, that’ll also work for me.
Ok, to the falls it is and everyone’s right, what an incredible view from the Canada side…makes me feel sorry for those who can’t cross the border…ya know the ones. Well, have plenty to see and met a couple from Connecticut, Terry and Patty, hey I was there a few weeks ago. Had fun talking with them and they were doing the tour thing since they got a great package deal which I’ll do some other day…you know the one. While walking along hit rain, that is rain from the falls themselves that tried to take pictures to give you a feel for just how much it rains by the falls. If you’ll notice the picture from the hill back to the falls, the one with the buses in it, it was raining that far away which was about 220 paces and my paces being 2 yards, put’s that quite a ways away…ok, maybe a yard, but hopefully you get the picture. Anyway, the road, grass, every thing that far from the falls for a ways is wet and it’s all from the mist down below, now that’s a lot of water. Check out how close you can get to the water along the way, signs warning about the water, oops, forgot a picture of that, cuz everyone knows how I heed the warning, but it’d be real easy for someone to fall in and get swept away, me though, I could use a dip for as hot as it is and have suit on bike so might just have to do that…check it out, ok, I’m not that stupid. Well, met a couple of hot little Russians on the walk so helped them out with a picture and gotta get one for myself…a picture that is. They didn’t speak any English, but that’s a whole other story.
Starting to get late that since my Toronto connection fell thru, forgot to mention that too, but called Maggie, remember her and Kristy from Boston, to see about making it up there for the night, but it’s doing nothing but raining in their area and they are busy and don’t really have a place for me to stay, that I might as well just chill in Niagara, Canada that is for the night. Called a few places on both sides, remember, US or Canada and the cheapest would’ve been $80, but decided to ask some cops if it was legal to setup a tent in the park and crash for the night. They didn’t know so called their supervisor to let me know no it’s not, but then went on to tell me about a park down the road that it’s wooded enough that could setup a tent that no one would notice. Thanks, I’ll have to check that out later, but first might as well scope out the casino, have something to eat and see if there’s anywhere there, the casino that is to take a little snooze. No luck and according to the waitress at the buffet, security would probably frown upon it. Ok, down the road it is and hey, did I time it well or what, but on Fridays and Saturdays, they have fire works over the falls. Ok, didn’t get any decent pictures, but the ones of the falls all lit up didn’t turn out either…what a great view though. Found the park and although I didn’t find a good spot to setup a tent, found a pavilion that can park the bike in, you know, hide it in the corner and hey, the kids slide’ll work as a place to layout my bed roll, yep, like a cowboy tonight. Tomorrow, Toronto and Wasaga Beach are the ticket. Incredible pics.
Didn’t get as early a start as should’ve, but had to finish up yesterdays blog and figured had plenty of time since don’t have to be to Wasaga Beach until Saturday. Took the quick route to the falls because according to the map that was going to be the closest to the water, ya know, the Great Lake and that’ll save me time to do everything I’d like to get done…nope, no plan, just going with the flow. There was one thing I wanted to make sure I did get done and that was stopping at the home of the Buffalo wings, the original place and since have no idea where that place is, other than Buffalo, figured a stop at an information stop would be the thing to do. Well, most if not all the information stops along the way are for Niagara Falls, but why not, most are traveling there instead of Buffalo for Buffalo wings like me. Well, Kathy was great help and told me Anchor bar on Main Street is the place to go, but that was after trying to sell me the Niagara Falls package…$70 for a four hour tour by trolley, boat and some other sites worth seeing, but not sure I’ll do a tour. Met a group of bikers heading the same way from Cleveland, Ohio that is and told them I was thru there a few weeks ago and stopped into the Rock and Roll Museum for a quick peak and of course had to tell them about Anchor bar, but from that point I was on my own.
Couldn’t find the exit that Kathy told me to take, but anyone downtown is going to eventually get me to where I want to and only stopped twice to ask how to get to the Anchor bar, the first was to find Main street which was straight in front of me and the reason for a second was because main street was a mall that you couldn’t drive on so I wasn’t going to park the bike and walk far if I didn’t have to. Well, it was a good thing I didn’t park cuz it was still a couple of miles down the road and once there, no mall that you can ride the road. You can see I made it ordered my usual drink, a root beer and asked for their original, wings that is. First thing was, they don’t have root beer, birch beer instead…what’s that, never heard of it, but it’s suppose to be sweeter and apparently around here more popular than root beer, that ok, I can try that and they were right, sweeter, but not sure about better cuz I like a little kick at the end…ya know the kind that quenches the thirst. The other thing was I could get an order of 10 or 20 wings; they don’t sell them by the dozen and thought I should ask, but never did. Man are these wings good, not necessarily the best I’ve ever had, but they make a difference at this place since their the original, they know what their doing.
On the road and next stop, Niagara Falls which is only 16 miles away, that’ll be easy to get to, the only thing, had to worry about when got into town was where to park. According to the guy parking vehicles in the visitors parking, no discount for motorcycles and like I told him, there’s always free motorcycle parking so just point me too it. He said there is free on the streets, so if you can find yourself a spot it’s yours and for me, that won’t be hard to find…right around the corner in fact because there was plenty of room behind a vehicle to the curb that the bike’ll just fit and right next to the visitors center saving me a walk, not that makes any difference, but need to find out where to go before moving the bike again. Got the same thing in the visitors center, a spiel on a package that I can buy to take me to all the sites, but I told them, I want to experience what one person should while here while saving something I can share on a return visit…yep, will definitely be back here to share. Well, according to them, still should do the package and can always do it again, but nope, I’ll see about doing some things and saving others, so I’m on my own. On the way to the falls there was another visitor center, this one the State Park center since this is a state park and Kimberly was great help. Told her the same thing, what should I do while I’m here on my own and what can I save where she said the boat tour is definitely worth saving, because it’s amazing…ok, that’ll be something worth sharing then and there’s still plenty of other to do. Walk along the falls, do the caves and the Whirlpool jet boats are a lot of fun…ok, I’ll do the wet thing today and save some for later.
Wow, these falls are something and still had to pay to get into some of the things, but it’s all worth checking out and for a buck to go onto the observation deck, the one that takes you to the boat tours, got some great pictures. That bird on the rock definitely has the best view of all of us, but can’t get out there, might fall in if I crawled over the fence or worse yet, arrested that don’t need to do that. From there, gotta head to the island and walk along the river to the falls as well as check out the cave tour and again, more great pictures, but most are being saved for the falls themselves. Well, the cave tour is $10, but hey check it out, get a pair of water socks since can’t wear your shoes in, so they give you the socks, a bag for your shoes, so you can carry them with and a plastic poncho to keep you from getting wet, well from getting too wet. That’s us in the yellow plastic and didn’t take many pictures cuz almost right under the falls and I still have a few days to get out of this camera that getting it wet won’t help and these ponchos don’t help keep you dry either…you’re definitely getting wet. Ok, it was a cool experience, but no caves since those caved in years ago so now they built these wood stairs to the bottom of the falls which by the way, they tear down and rebuild every year, the ice on the falls would rip them apart that it’s easier to rebuild and like the guide said, the water is then about 35 degrees, now that’s cool…I mean cold.
Got my fill on the this side of things that have to cross the border to see the rest…well, that’s according to what I’ve heard, Rochelle told me, remember her from the Morgantown Harley dealer, the Canada side is the side to see. First things first, gotta get across the border and since spending more time in Canada this trip had to answer more questions, but the border patrol was great and although I wanted to get her picture to share, not luck, they can’t have their picture taken a probably should’ve told her I’d catch her later for pictures. Anyway, the next stop should be to get Canadian currency since I’ll need it in this country…remember, foreign country? Well, parked the bike, yep free parking on the street again behind a car and what’dya know, can get Canada money right there, but the exchange wasn’t very good, 8 cents on the dollar where as if I go to the bank can get 11 or more…ok, the banks just down the road that trip on the bike’ll be worth that little extra. Ok, the bank teller tells me, good one, that it’ll cost me $5 since I don’t have an account with them and 25 minutes to open one that my best bet is going to the casino cuz they’ll give me the same exchange if not even better and then I have a place to park my bike. Works for me and as soon as found the casino no free parking unless I have a players card, but that’s easy to get. Well, this is where the cashier at the casino comes in and was great help, and forgot one detail that I found out in the US before crossing the border. That is, called my credit card company cuz after my Mexico trip earlier this year had a $30 charge for currency exchange that needed to find out if have to worry about the same thing this time for every charge, but shouldn’t have to, they’ll just charge me an extra 3% on purchases since US retailers pay it for us, that is by marking up their merchandise. Ok, the cashier pulls out the money and tells me the only difference is the coins for a buck or 2 bucks, two colors, 2 bucks, one color, 1 buck…hey, that’ll be easy enough to remember. The other thing according to her is might as well get as much currency as you can cuz you won’t be losing anything when I leave the country, so ok, that’ll also work for me.
Ok, to the falls it is and everyone’s right, what an incredible view from the Canada side…makes me feel sorry for those who can’t cross the border…ya know the ones. Well, have plenty to see and met a couple from Connecticut, Terry and Patty, hey I was there a few weeks ago. Had fun talking with them and they were doing the tour thing since they got a great package deal which I’ll do some other day…you know the one. While walking along hit rain, that is rain from the falls themselves that tried to take pictures to give you a feel for just how much it rains by the falls. If you’ll notice the picture from the hill back to the falls, the one with the buses in it, it was raining that far away which was about 220 paces and my paces being 2 yards, put’s that quite a ways away…ok, maybe a yard, but hopefully you get the picture. Anyway, the road, grass, every thing that far from the falls for a ways is wet and it’s all from the mist down below, now that’s a lot of water. Check out how close you can get to the water along the way, signs warning about the water, oops, forgot a picture of that, cuz everyone knows how I heed the warning, but it’d be real easy for someone to fall in and get swept away, me though, I could use a dip for as hot as it is and have suit on bike so might just have to do that…check it out, ok, I’m not that stupid. Well, met a couple of hot little Russians on the walk so helped them out with a picture and gotta get one for myself…a picture that is. They didn’t speak any English, but that’s a whole other story.
Starting to get late that since my Toronto connection fell thru, forgot to mention that too, but called Maggie, remember her and Kristy from Boston, to see about making it up there for the night, but it’s doing nothing but raining in their area and they are busy and don’t really have a place for me to stay, that I might as well just chill in Niagara, Canada that is for the night. Called a few places on both sides, remember, US or Canada and the cheapest would’ve been $80, but decided to ask some cops if it was legal to setup a tent in the park and crash for the night. They didn’t know so called their supervisor to let me know no it’s not, but then went on to tell me about a park down the road that it’s wooded enough that could setup a tent that no one would notice. Thanks, I’ll have to check that out later, but first might as well scope out the casino, have something to eat and see if there’s anywhere there, the casino that is to take a little snooze. No luck and according to the waitress at the buffet, security would probably frown upon it. Ok, down the road it is and hey, did I time it well or what, but on Fridays and Saturdays, they have fire works over the falls. Ok, didn’t get any decent pictures, but the ones of the falls all lit up didn’t turn out either…what a great view though. Found the park and although I didn’t find a good spot to setup a tent, found a pavilion that can park the bike in, you know, hide it in the corner and hey, the kids slide’ll work as a place to layout my bed roll, yep, like a cowboy tonight. Tomorrow, Toronto and Wasaga Beach are the ticket. Incredible pics.
posted by Dalej Webb at 11:32 PM
3 Comments:
No pics, so I'll spend my time commenting instead.....Missed you at Hermie's summer party, but you've got a better excuse than Dennis.
I'm getting a bit lost regarding all this talk about a return trip to the Falls. Why don't you let us in on the secret?
Yeh No pics?? I wanted to see those hottie Russians!! I've been there and I know they are hot! Yeh missed Herm's party. Good time and Dennis had the lowest excuse being only 45 minutes away. When are you going to get some action being that "travelin man" ?? Keep her outta the pickers. Carbo.
You're gonna hurt someone, with that Ole shotgun..... HEY what's up WEBB !!
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