Niagara Falls Baby

Grandad was the last one up this morning, although he did have a visitor. Smallest climbed in with him to have a chat and a tickle. We had a croissant breakfast and decided we would go to Niagara Falls for the day (about 2.5 hours away). The weather forecast was 50% chance of rain but temperatures of 14*. We decided not to hire a car because it wasn't worth it for the one day we needed it so we took two cars. Huffle, Grandma and Small went in one car with the Sat Nav, and Me, Grandad (navigating) and Smallest in my car with my GPS.

We drove to Niagara-On-The-Lake first. Had a walk around, in a few shops and had a lovely tea/coffee and cake/cheesecake/scone/brownie/barm brack in an Irish Tea Room. I bought a lovely French glass Gateaux Stand from a shop when it started to rain. (the boys took shelter and Grandma and I sneaked in).

Main street, Niagara on the Lake

Niagara-on-the-lake was a lovely place. Oldy style, a bit colonial, had a lovely feeling about it. Big wide main street. I thought it felt a little bit like Disney's Magic Kingdom Main Street, but bigger and wider. Small said he thought the same. It rained a bit bit it was warmish.

Another Just Christmas shop, just for Grandma

Only 260 days left you know! Next time we go Pottery Painting I might try and replicate this for Christmas.

Ahhhh Grandma wasn't looking, or did she purposely look away?

George Bernard Shaw

The climate must be slightly warmer here as there were lots of flowers out, blossom on trees and Magnolias in flower.

Charlie on his Harley!

We got back in our cars and went off to find Niagara Falls. Another hour away.

We parked up and started walking towards the famous falls. We saw a bit of them as we were driving. Huffle saw this big building with incredibly large letters on saying CASINO and asked "what's this then, a casino?". Grandad laughed and said "aren't the letters big enough for you?".

SkyLan Tower

The boys getting excited about a small amount of water, wait till they find the BIG water!

We could see a waterfall ahead of us as we walked down a steep hill but it didn't look that spectacular and I thought I might be disappointed. However, when we got to the bottom of the hill we saw the real falls, the curved falls.

The one I originally saw

The real falls

Smallest and the falls.

Smallest taking photos with his new camera

The Maid of the Mist boat that we were going to go on later in the day (Grandad insisted). It went really close to the falls, hence the name, and everyone on the boat wore thin blue plastic bag style coats. Note the tree in this picture (Grandad and Huffle say it is a bush!!!).

We walked closer and closer and finally got to the part where the falls fell away. It was amazing. The colours were 'awesome'. Considering it wasn't a really bright sunny day, the colours in the water were a fabulous greeny blue. The roar from the water was loud and crashing. Every now and then there was a huge rain like spray.

Small had seen something on the Internet about people crossing the falls on a tightrope and he wondered if we were going to do that! Err no, maybe not today! Grandad told him about a man in a barrel who tried to go down the falls and Huffle told us about a lady who fell over into the falls because she was leaning over the rails trying to get a good shot. I saw a couple put their child on the railing and told her to lean back so they could get a good photo.

Huffle thought that Grandma couldn't hear the Minister renewing their vows

All of us.

The boys started moaning about being hungry but there was nowhere to eat anywhere around really, so we walked back up the hill and stopped at a place. We had pizzas and fish and chips. We had a good rest and feed and then walked back down the hill again.

Grandad was desperate to go on the boat so we made our way down there. The opposite end of the falls this time.

Daffodils, falls, two boats and USA in the distance.

Grandma decided she didn't want to go on so we left her in a parky area. She watched us sail away. We had to wear some very elegant coats. Smallest's coat had to be tied at the bottom because it was so long. Mine kept blowing off. We realised you had to tie the hoods on as they kept falling off. We started off at the top of the boat and then realised we had better views being on the bottom.

This is Huffle and I (yes I am in there somewhere under the blue loveliness)

The closer we got, the more wet we got. We laughed a lot. I don't know what happened to my coat but it didn't keep me very dry.

It was very very blowy

We almost sailed into the falls. We seemed to stay there for ages. My hands were freezing but I just had to keep taking photographs.

It was amazing.

I wasn't sure I wanted to go on but I'm so glad grandad persuaded me. Smallest got really cold and huddled in a sheltered spot but small and I were right at the front.

I think this is Grandad, Small and Huffle.

This was a photo from the very front of the boat, just mist and water spray here.

We lost Grandad for a while but we found him by the time the boat came back. He was very happy that we did this boat trip. Smallest got off the boat and said "Thank god we don't have to do that again!".

We warmed up a bit by the time we met up with Grandma again.

Grandma liked this tree. It was a paper bark birch.

I liked these neat rows of tulips

The boys were definitely NOT chasing a squirrel.

We made our way slowly back up the hill. Everyone was very tired. We thought we might have an ice-cream but couldn't find anywhere. The town was very much like Blackpool. It was starting to get ready for the evening entertainment and restaurants and bars were playing loud music. We found our cars, and said we would stop half way for a drink.

Comedy shot of Huffle and his 'hat'

SkyLan, pansies and lampost

Small thought this tree had a face. I could see it at the time but I can't now!

This time I had Small and Grandad with me, and Huffle had Grandma and Smallest. Smallest fell asleep almost as soon as they got going but Small chatted and moaned all the way. He was hungry, he was thirsty etc etc.

We stopped after about an hour at a Tim Horton's and had a quick replenish and loo break, then got back on the road. Quite a good journey back, we made good time. It was almost 9pm by the time we were in home. They boys went straight to bed. The men watched the football. I blogged and Grandma stayed up for a bit and then went to bed too.

Great day.