The "Tour" is over and we got to see most of what we wanted to see and are now trying to skeedaddle back home around the weather. First off, let me say that we had a BALL and everyday was a busy one. We were talking tonight about how much we were able to see in such a short period. It will take weeks for everything to sink in = it was a grand tour for sure for us but it is now time to go home.
I think everything worked out because the last day and night were like the
ULTIMATE CLIMAX of a great ride so far. Couldn't have finished up any better - no way, no how.
We couldn't link up with Pibit and Pam on Thursday - well, because we didn't even know we were going to be there on Thursday until Thursday. They were suppose to have fireworks over the Fall on Friday, so JP and I talked about it and we decided to give up Gettysburg to hang out in Ontario one more day -
MAN, I AM GLAD WE DID!!!!! Best choice we ever made!
We got up on Friday and after eating breakfast changed rooms to the hotel next door. I can't believe the management took things so serious at the first hotel!
The second hotel was like the Taj Mahal compared to the first one anyway!
After that we took the shuttle back to the falls on the Canadian side and decided that the view, experience and pictures from the top were nice but there was just something missing. We decided to take the Maid of the Mist tour boat at the bottom. Folks, let me tell you, if you don't take it - you may as well just look up pictures of Niagra Falls on the net and call it quits. There was always "something missing" and we were actually dissapointed in the falls until we took the Maid!!! Boy HOWDY!!! Best $15 ever spent on this trip - BAR NONE! (That is the ship about to enter the falls)
You get to pass the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls on the way to the Horseshoe Falls. Unreal at what the difference is from down below or up above.
Then you get to the Horseshoe Falls and get to see what you are about to experience.
The Captain pulls the boat right up to the downdraft from the falls and the canned announcement says, "Ladies and Gentlemen, This is the NIAGRA FALLS!" and he pulls forward. For 5 or 10 minutes you are in the mist of the falls with the boat rocking from the current and eddys, water pouring over you, the sights and the sounds of the falls all over you! It sure lets you know how small you are in the grand scheme of things! It was probably the highlight of experiences - to be followed by the highlights of Road Trip that evening, that we have had.
After a while, you back out and get to savor what you just saw and experienced! FOLKS, if you go, YOU GOTTA EXPERIENCE IT! If not, the falls are not the same!!!!! Like I said, if you don't do it, check out the web for pictures and pick another place to vacation. It was breath taking for two old Cajun boys let me tell ya!!!!!!
History Lesson: The first Maid of the Mist was launched in 1846 as a ferry service between the Canadian and American sides, pre-dating by two years the construction of the first suspension bridge at the site. However, with the opening of the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge further downriver in 1848, the ferry service lost business, and by 1854, became a tourist attraction instead with the launch of a more luxurious boat. The current captain of the Maid of the Mist is Captain Mark Keith of St. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada.
One neat thing that was told to us during the tour was of a 7 year old that went over the falls......AND SURVIVED!
History Lesson: On July 9, 1960, Jim Honeycutt took his co-worker’s children, 17-year-old Deanne and 7-year-old Roger Woodward for a boat ride in the upper Niagara River. Intent on giving the kids a good view of the rapids, he was soon past the “point of no return”. He turned the boat around, but a shear-pin failure disabled the motor and left the boat wallowing in the swift current.
Roger was already wearing a life jacket and Deanne quickly put hers on. Seconds later the light boat flipped end over end. Honeycutt and Roger were whipped toward the brink of the Falls. Deanne was carried into the shallow rapids near Goat Island.
Within a few feet of the brink of the Falls at Terrapin Point, Deanne clutched at the hand of a rescuer who leaned far out over the protective railing. Another person grabbed her by her thumb. She was dragged to safety just in time.
Honeycutt and Roger were swept to the brink. Roger was swept over and outwards by the trajectory of the Falls. Honeycutt disappeared in the three thousand tons of water that crash over the Horseshoe Falls each second.
Moments later the Captain of the Maid of the Mist could hardly believe his eyes when he saw an orange life jacket appear in the boiling white water at the base of the Falls. Maneuvering the Maid steamship closer he saw that the boy was still alive. A life buoy was thrown and within minutes Roger Woodward was safely aboard.
He was the first person to survive the Horseshoe Falls without a protective capsule. Unfortunately, his father’s co-worker, Jim Honeycutt, died in the punishing water. The Niagara River is an implacable adversary. For both stunters and unwary boaters, the chances of survival are slim.
We had talked to Pibit that morning and he and Pam were able to get off a tad early and rode from Toronto to meet us. Early evening this beautiful Harley pulls up with some of my favorite people on board! They were just going to have dinner and split back to Toronto but got a room right across the hall from us instead- THE PARTY IN ONTARIO is on!!! With two awesome (friends) and tour guides to boot!
We were going to have a pool party but the pool didn't allow glass bottles (and all I could find from the liquor store in Jim Beam was in glass), we decided to have a rootin' tootin' Valkyrie/Harley/great friends kinda pool party and started in the Jaccuzi. We allowed glass bottles and everything at
OUR pool!!!!
PIBIT and Pam took us to this steak place......All I can saw is BOY HOWDY and a major WHOOOO-HOOOOO!!!
This was the
FINEST STEAK I HAVE EVER EATEN in my young life! That is no joke and for sure and for certain!!!!! Knife, I don't need no stinkin' knives - the steak cut like butter - all 16 oz. of it. JP and I were talking today during a smoke break about the steak and we both feel that was the finest steak either of us have ever had - bar none.
The service wasn't bad either!
The best thing was the friendship that we got to share. I mean, we are sitting in Canada and grooving with PIBIT and Pam - life just don't get no better. To hell with everything else that day - made it nice BUT - the walking around with our brother and sister - that was the PERFECT end to a great ride. We laughed, we talked, we shared fellowship - Pam got my pants to quit falling down - LIFE WAS GOOD!
We found something to pass the time until the shuttle eventually came and back to the hotel for more fellowship and fun.
You know I posted about what I won at the casino the night before, you should have seen how well I came out at the crap game that we set up on the street corner!!! Made out like a bandit I tell you. 7 come 11 and 6 the Hard Way!!!
History Lesson: PIBIT and Pam are two kindred souls whose friendships we shall cherish forever!!!!
Can't wait to link up with you two again SOON!
After a great day followed by an even better night, this morning is was time to end the Tour and come on back home. We left out of Ontario this morning and worked our way through New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and into Virginia for the night. Awesome sights today?
West Virginia - unreal!!!!! The most scenic superslab, with no traffic, awesome road surface and, did I mention, AWESOME SIGHTS AND SCENERY!!!! All covered in sweepers!!!!! Probably some of the most scenic superslab we have ever ridden. If you go by the New River Gorge on 19 - be sure to stop at the overlook!!!!!! (Sorry about no pictures today - my camera is acting up).
Biggest surprise?
Pittsburgh. For some reason, we were expecting this huge metropolis with industry and smokestacks belching smoke. It is beautiful to ride into and through. Today there was no traffic and the hills, river, road....etc. were great!!!! The houses were cool! Nothing like we expected. Beautiful scenery around Pittsburgh as is all the grape ochrards around Erie!
Anyway, we are in Virginia this evening and weather permitting will see what we can do tomorrow to get home. PS: Tonight history was made! I had the AC on and JP asked me to turn it colder - he must be getting sick or something!
Anyway, this ride was a total BALL YA'LL!!!!
Plus I learned you can just about buy ANYTHING in Canada!
Life is good and my Canadian friends (nay, brother and sister) thank you for letting two Cajuns pass a large time with you yesterday - because trust me, a
GOOD TIME WAS PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See you two soon!!!!!!!!
