Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Day 10: GREAT weather and a wonderful day here at Niagara Falls!!!!!

Morning......and when I came downstairs, the skies were cloudy and dripping with moisture. UGH......, but after a cup of my steaming French Roast coffee.....I awakened the 1st Lady around 8am...and the morning rituals began, not only for this sagging hulk of me, but for the 1st Lady and Rachel.

I visited for a few minutes with some of the Cedar Creekers who were out and about having their morning coffee.......and then we joined Chuck and Sue and left for the Falls area. We drove up the Parkway along the river/falls.....and then arrived at the Butterfly Conservatory. WOW...WOW!!!!

They have as many as 2000 different species of butterflies inside at any one time.....and OMG, but were there ever hundreds of them flying and flitting around inside the tropical zoned conservatory. I have never seen sooooo many butterflies......and I still can't believe the beauty of soooo many of them.....I can't find the words to describe the beauty of them as they flew around and over and under us as we strolled through the area. I do not know if I will be able to post some of the pictures of them.......due to this wifi and tooooo many people being on the Wifi at the same time. But.....keep checking back to see some of the pictures.......

From there, we left Chuck's truck and took the "People Mover"......a bus transportation system that makes stops at various points of interest along the river and falls area. We had purchased an "Adventure Pass" yesterday for about $40, I believe, and this was one of the things that came with the pass.....using the "People Mover" as much as we needed for ONE day, only. Since the parking at the Conservatory is free......this is a great deal!!

We got off at the Maid of the Mist launching area......and soon, we had our rain gear/ponchos and were descending to the river below the falls to board the two decked boat for the trip to the bottom of the Falls. Again.....the tickets for this were part of the "Adventure...." pass.

Well......it became very, very wet and misty, even with the wonderful blue sky that had emerged from the gray clouds an hour or so earlier. It was really, really beautiful on the boat as we went up below the American Falls.....and then over to the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. I had been on this boat 31 years ago.....but, this time it was much more impressive, or at least in my memory versus today. I took a ton of pictures......and probably will not be able to get them on with this piss-poor Wifi here. With the $49 per night here....PLUS a $20 bill (Canadian) for the Wifi service for a week.....you would think that they would have a better and more adequate Wifi system here!!!! Very, VERY frustrating!!

OK....after that, we had a bite of lunch, which we had brought with us in the form of peanut butter on crackers for Rachel, bananas, Granola Bars, and an apple for this sagging hulk of me. We found a table overlooking the Falls area....and so, it was very pleasant to sit there and enjoy the light lunch and the view at the same time!!!

We jumped back on the People Mover....and soon arrived at the "Walk Behind the Falls". Again...this was part of the Adventure Pass....the cost of the pass becomes better with each thing we do!! Well, this was another wet adventure as we walked down into the tunneled out bluff under the falling river and then down another tunnel to the portal that looked out at the backside of the Falls......there were two tunnels each opening to a portal to see the backside.

Then we descended to a platform alongside the Falls....and there the mist was VERY wet!!!!! Could hardly get a picture or two for all of the spray and mist falling down upon us!!! A great place to visit!!!! WOW.....what a place.

We then returned to the top of the bluff......and decided we would see a new "show"......The Fury of the Falls. WELL......hmmmmmm,...it is not quite set up and finished, but nevertheless, it was NOT ANY GOOD!!!!!!!!! I do NOT recommend this costly sideshow!!!!!! What a waste of money......poorly produced, even though the idea was good, it was NOT good. Just not worth even the discounted ticket of $5 that we paid to see/experience it!!!!! TERRIBLE!!!!

By this time, it was 4:30pm....and so back onto the People Mover we went......and returned to the parking area of the Butterfly Conservatory to get the truck, and from there we dashed pack to the Wifi-poor Jellystone RV Park. About 20 minutes after returning we went over to the clubhouse for grilled hamburgers and many, many items on the "grazing table"......from shrimp to asparagus to hot cheese dips to salads.....and OMG, we over ate once again!!!!!!!!!! THIS has GOT to STOP!!!!!!!!!!!

And so, we are kicked back in TheHowserHouse with the fireplace going to take the damp chill out of the air.......enjoying being with Rachel!!! Tomorrow?????? Everyone is going to Niagara-on-the-Lake to see this highly recommended village of boutiques, shops, cafes, etc., etc.
The week is flying by in a flash.......albeit a WET flash. Tomorrow more rains are to be here, and for that matter....the rest of the week.....DAMN!

But.....with a day such as today.......the experiences we all had at and at the bottom of the Falls along with the marvelous Butterfly Conservatory.........we all feel very strongly that......

LIFE IS INCREDIBLY GREAT!!!!!!!........And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!

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