Seventeen Falls

Today's adventure started us on the road in our new film-mobile at 10am this morning. Although we got the film playing while we were on the drive, we lost it going up the road. Huffle stopped briefly to try and start it again but to no avail. Instead we made do with the radio and good old fashioned talking. Grandma was chief navigator but without giving directions and Huffle was pilot. Small and I sat in the middle and the two stinkies sat in the back. It was very cold today with strong winds, in fact there was a warning on the Skyway bridge.

Skyway

Our first big stop was at Niagara-on-the-Lake where we were glad we had filled the car with coats, hats and gloves (it really was that cold). We wandered along the Main Street and came across a lovely little British Pub. In the ladies toilets there was a statue with a man who had a hinged leaf over his unmentionables. I decided to have a peak under the leaf and it made a doorbell go off. Next to the statue was a note that said Respect the Angels modesty. In the men's toilet there was a goal in the urinal for the men to aim at. Smallest was very pleased he got a goal.

We had lovely meals in the pub. Chicken and Peach Pie, Steak and Kidney Pie, Shepherds Pie, Portobella Mushroom Burger, Beef Burger and Chicken Fingers (which were so good they tasted like fish - Smallest's words). Plus a couple of pints of Steam Whistle.

Nicely warm and full of good food, we carried on wandering down the main street. It had started raining and was getting colder. It feels like Winter - what happened to Autumn? Grandma and I snook into a couple of shops much to the dismay of the rest of the family though they were happy to go into the fudge shop and sample a bit. The flower displays were outstanding with their huge Cannas.

Next we drove along the scenic route towards Niagara Falls, stopping at the Whirlpool along the way. Unfortunately the Cable Car wasn't running today due to high winds, which was a shame because we all wanted to go on it. Still, we were able to see the whirlpool and take photos. The river was very wild and fast and it was hard to believe that Aunty A and I went so close to the river in the Spring.

We carried on to the Falls and parked the car. Because we were high up, we walked downwards through the gardens and were level with the American Falls. Once again the sound was deafening and the mist was incredibly high which of course made it quite wet too. We had the obligatory photos. It was very busy, though I haven't been there yet when it hasn't been. This was my sixth visit, the boys fourth, Huffle's third, and Grandma and Grandads second. After we took too many photos, we went inside to get warm, dry and get a hot drink. There was nowhere to sit so we stood leaning next to a Teriyaki stand. The owner wasn't happy about us being there and instead of asking us to move, kept putting boxes on the shelf where we were. Huffle was getting annoyed and in the end I asked the owner if we were in his way. He ignored me.

Grandad really wanted to go 'behind the falls' and so did Small so we chose to do this today. It was a very reasonable price and my expectations were very low, partly because of reviews I read and partly because of word of mouth but I was pleasantly surprised. We went down in a lift for 125 feet into a tunnel (could have been a tiny metro tunnel and felt a little concentration camp like) but it lead to two portal holes which were directly behind the falls. The water gushing past the window was so fast and furious, you couldn't help but be impressed. You couldn't get to the water, obviously because we would have been dragged into it but it was still very impressive.

The viewing platform was right next to the falls (closer than the boat gets to which we did last time we were here with Grandma and Grandad) and was wet but amazing. Looking up to see the water falling was fabulous. There were two different levels to go on and we were given a lovely (well I say lovely) yellow poncho to wear. Yellow isn't really my colour!! And the way it puffs out when the wind blows making you look like a huge yellow balloon isn't very fetching!

And as usual all tours end in the gift shop

As this was part of Small's birthday celebration, we decided to have a look up Tat Street as we call it. Small loves it up there, lights, loud music, amusements, etc. We all went on the SkyWheel and even persuaded Grandma she would be fine. In fact Smallest was the one with the problem on this one. A really slow high Ferris wheel type ride where we could see the Falls and all around far and wide. This was mine and the boys second time on it but it's a good way to see above the falls while having a nice sit down.

It was getting late and we were a bit peckish so decided to go to the Rainforest Cafe for a bite and a warm. Smallest was tired but the noise and theatre of the cafe woke him up slightly and we had a small something to eat. (The bill wasn't small though as I guess you are paying for the ambience, definitely not the quality of the food).

It was dark when we came out so couldn't pass up seeing the falls all nicely lit up though there was no way we were going to walk back to the Horseshoe Falls, tired boys and tired feet! We stood in front of the American Falls which was lit up red, white and blue and could see some of the other falls which was lit red and white.

We managed to make our way back up through the gardens and up the steps using my camera torch for extra light. This time we got the film playing and although Grandma was scared of the loud noises and Huffle was driving to the noise of Pod Racing (we were watching Star Wars), it made the journey go much quicker. Smallest was very tired and had an issue with his feet and legs, Small was tired but loved watching the film, Grandad found watching the film in the car a very bizarre experience and I found it caused me travel sickness at the beginning and then I got used to it. I would never buy a car like that as Huffle said our middle screen restricted his view of the rear view mirror, the noise for the driver and passenger was very weird and it was uncomfortable to watch a screen in the middle and not directly in front of your face. So picky, I know but these cars cost a lot of money and I'm not sure they are completely practical.

We got home just after 10pm which meant the journey was just two hours (good safe driving from the Huffle). The boys went straight to bed and Grandma want far behind them. The men watched football whiIe I blogged.

A good day was had by all.

 

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