We arrived at the KOA in Niagara on September 24th after a short drive from London so we had to go down and see the falls. They were simply amazing. We drove around the town for a while and saw some of the sights we had read about in our brochures and wanted to visit then headed home in lots of time for dinner.
Monday was a day to check out the border crossing to make sure of where we were going at the end of the week. This also gave us an opportunity to visit Fort Erie.
The war of 1812 between Britain and the US was mostly fought within the Niagara Region. There were three major Forts in the area, Fort Erie and Fort George on the British (Canadian side) and Fort Niagara on the US side. We found some very interesting facts about Fort Erie including Fort Erie was the site of ancient flint quarries making it invaluable for resources for their rifles, it was the first fort built in Ontario by the British (1764 during Pontiac’s Rebellion) and was a base for British troops, Loyalist Rangers and Iroquois Warriors during the American Revolution (1775 – 1783). But it is mostly remembered as being Canada’s bloodiest field of battle with over 3000 troops killed and wounded during the Siege of Fort Erie, which was from August 3 to September 21, 1814. Later on it was the major crossing point into Canada of the Underground Railroad (1793 – 1865) and was once occupied by the Fenians (Irish Republican Army) during their largest raid in 1866. These pictures are of the Fort Commanders private room, the trading post and the officer's kitchen.
We were fortunate to be the only ones at the Fort that afternoon and as such had the place to ourselves to explore but also had the two tour guides with us the whole time, pointing out the story of the Fort, its history, grandeur and tragedy. One of the guides was dressed as a British soldier, the other as an American sniper. After the tour we had a demonstration of the musket and the rifled bore sniper rifle.
We spent some time at the Monument. This was originally erected in the ruins of the fort in 1904 and stands over a mass grave that was uncovered during the fort's restoration in 1937-1939, where the remains of 150 British and 3 American soldiers, killed during fighting here in 1814 lie.
Tuesday was our “wet” day. Scheduled for that day was the Maid of the Mist tour and then after a long walk down the boardwalk, the Journey Under the Falls. Just a short distance downriver from the falls, a rowboat ferry service to cross the Niagara River was in operation as early as 1818. The current service began as a ferry to the US side but with the building of the Rainbow Bridge, traffic waned and looking for another use for his boat, the Captain began a tour service viewing the falls and back. This has now evolved into one of the most popular tourist venues in the world.
Our blue poncho covered ride started off at a calm part of the Niagara River, near the Rainbow Bridge, and took us past the American and Bridal Veil Falls, then into the dense mist of spray inside the curve of the Horseshoe Falls, also known as the Canadian Falls. The American Falls fell into a mass of boulders at its base whereas the Canadian Falls, with its high erosion, falls into a cavern below, which is over (175 feet) deep.
These next pictures are of the American Falls with the small little falls on the right, which are the Bridal Veil Falls.
These next pictures are of the American Falls with the small little falls on the right, which are the Bridal Veil Falls.
These next pictures are from the Canadian or Horseshoe Falls.
This is a picture of one of the other "Maid of the Mist" who was just ahead of us and just about to enter the spray.
After a long walk and a good lunch, our Journey Behind the Falls visit began with a yellow rain poncho as protection from the mist of the Falls. Elevators took us 150 feet down through bedrock to tunnels that lead and to the Cataract Portal and the Great Falls Portal, which is one third of the way behind the massive sheet of water. Then we walked on to the Upper and Lower Observation Decks at the very foot of the Falls. Words cannot explain the thrill and the fear looking up at the falls, knowing that 20% of the world’s fresh water thunders over the falls in front of you every day. And, yes it was very wet!
Right at the top of the falls is the tourist plaza. They recently opened up a new area which is right on top of the water flow. I took this picture from less than 2 meters (6 feet) from the drop off.
Wednesday we went to Niagara-on-the-Lake. This is a very interesting old town and full of quaint shops and restaurants. There are 26 wineries nestled in the valley amongst a landscape of vineyards and orchards, into which we just couldn’t help visit. We also visited Fort George. During the War of 1812, Fort George served as the headquarters for the Centre Division of the British Army. Fort George was totally destroyed save one building, by American artillery fire and captured during the Battle of Fort George in May 1813. Similar to Fort Erie, it was also restored in 1937-1939.
On Thursday we went back downtown to visit two of Niagara’s casinos as well as head over to the Imax theater for a show. The show took us back to the days when Native peoples worshipped the thunder spirits, and when the first European encountered of this wild wonder of nature. We had a chance to see some film footage of the people who challenged the Falls including the story of seven-year-old Roger Woodward, who survived the plunge with only a lifejacket after the boat in which he was crossing the river capsized. Later we toured the Daredevil Exhibit, which contained the actual barrels and artifacts along with the stories of the daredevils themselves. One of note was a 63-year-old female schoolteacher who rode over the falls in an apple barrel taking with her a small black kitten. They both survived. Another interesting note: no one has ever challenged the American Falls (wonder why? Have a look at the pictures above again…).
Friday, September 30 was a day for cleaning, shopping and packing for tomorrow we leave for the US and the next chapter of our journey.
No comments:
Post a Comment