Kings adventures: Niagara Falls!

This post is dedicated to Oli who has been thwarted in her efforts to get to Niagara Falls and whom we really wished could have been with us. I hope she won't think I have been "rubbing it in" as Evy did with the Butchart Gardens!

We woke to clear skies and a fresh sunny day so we set off early for Niagara Falls. As we neared the exit from the motorway the clouds had gathered and the weather looked far from promising. You'll see from the earlier photos how overcast and gloomy it was but thankfully the weather improved for our Maid of the Mist trip to the bottom of both sets of falls.

Last night I said to Jim that I expected to be disappointed but as we made our way into Niagara I caught a glimpse of what I would say is the first SPECTACULAR bit of Ontario that I have seen! (This area of Ontario is very pretty and there is lots to see and do but you have to remember that we have just been to the Rockies, to Alaska, to Vancouver Island and on the sky to sea highway from Whistler to Vancouver.) I first glimpsed the American Falls and then noticed the huge cloud that was rising from the Horshoe Falls and which turned out to be the mist from the ferocity of the falling waters. The overcast weather created a very atmospheric scene.

The Horseshoe Falls fall from here.

Above and right the Horseshoe Falls.

Both the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls - look the sky is clearing!

Scheduled for June 15th (Friday) at 10pm, Nik Wallenda will attempt to walk a tightrope, crossing between Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario's Niagara Parks. In the photo you can see the high wire being put up. I was considering a similar attempt on Saturday but Brian reckons that I would make a big splash on my daredevil debut! Jim also reminded me that I am already unbalanced enough so I'll give it a miss and wish Nik a happy and safe crossing and a place in history and the Guinness Book of Records.

Actually, my plan of walking the tightrope was to do something special for Carol's birthday because she loves a big display. What she really wanted, according to her text message, was for me to come over the falls in a barrell! I tried, Carol, really I did but I couldn't fit into the barrell!!


The Horseshoe Falls.

Cheer up Jim!

To prove we really were there!

The American Falls.

The Horseshoe Falls - apologies if you're getting fed up but there's loads more!

View of blue raincoated beings queueing for Maid of the Mist.

A blue-ponchoed Jim - doesn't he look happy!

Don't I look good even in a plastic bag!!

On Maid of the Mist with a multitude!

The Rainbow Bridge to USA.

Getting close to the American Falls.

The high wire above the Horseshoe Falls.

All four viewed from Maid of the Mist.

To give you an idea of how close we were to the Horseshoe Falls.

Isn't that fantastic! Look at how miniscule the boat is and think how even more miniscule each individual is!

Bridge on the US side.

Maid of the Mist and many blue-ponchoed beings!


The mist rises and dissipates into clouds ...

... to fall somewhere around here (i.e. where we are walking along here!) as soft gentle rain that is refreshing because it is now very hot, but it is also very wetting!

Work continues on the tightrope - obviously safety is a major concern!

The water forges its way to fall in an absolute torrent!

Niagara Falls are absolutely awe-inspiring - on a par, for me, with Copper Canyon in Mexico, Halong Bay in Vietnam and Milford Sound in New Zealand

The highrise backdrop that we all ignore!

There are lots of other attractions and viewpoints along the Niagara Parkway which is a very scenic drive from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the Lake. One lookout is where the Whirlpool Aero Car is sited. It is also where the jet boat tours go - remember our jet boat tour on the Dart in Glenorchy, South Island, New Zealand!