Great American Road Trip: Part 8

9:15 a.m., 65 Degrees, Raining

After a morning of gross, weak coffee and an even grosser, weaker shower, we depart Batavia and head towards Buffalo. There are cornfields all around...and not much else.

9:51 a.m.

We've crossed the Niagara River

10:00 a.m.

The sky has opened up and it is pouring buckets (cows and pigs as Ben said). I am concerned because we have NO rain gear whatsoever, save one tiny, Los Angeles-rain-sized umbrella in my purse.



10:20 a.m. , 65 Degrees, Drizzling

Welcome to Canada! We've paid the toll and waited in a small line to cross the border. A friendly agent glanced at our passports and all but waved us through. Do we have vaccinations "and stuff" for our dog? Yes? Have a nice day...

10:56 a.m.

We enter a parking garage at a large casino. While we are thrilled to have covered parking so the car says cool (for the dog), we are slightly dismayed at the $25 price for all day parking. Oh well.

11:30 a.m. Blessedly, the rain has let up. We board the Maid of the Mist boat and take a ride to the bottom of the falls. Blue ponchos on, we are already feeling the mist.


These crazy folks are on the NY side of the falls, standing directly under the fall's spray. We are getting soaked on the boat, I can only imagine how wet they are. But what a spectacular sight!


The kids with their requisite ponchos...

The boat we were on traveled right up to the base of Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side. It was loud, choppy and absolutely breathtaking. I've seen plenty of pictures, but nothing quite prepares you for the magnitude and force of the water. It was not unlike seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time.

After Maid of the Mist, we headed up to the Hard Rock Cafe for a delicious and nutritious lunch of nachos and cheeseburgers and then walked along the promenade that bordered the falls. Amazingly we were even sprinkled by the mist up there. This photo was taken from the top of Horseshoe Falls.

3:25 p.m.

After a seemingly long day of walking around, we were looking forward to relaxing in the car for a bit. After a warm and clear day, it starts sprinkling as we leave Niagara. We've got a long way to go before we get to Sterling Heights, a suburb of Detroit, where our good friends live.

4:05 p.m. 85 Degrees, Sunny

We are driving alongside Lake Ontario. It is so vast it looks much like the ocean. Just huge...

5:20 p.m.

Stop for gas. Incredibly it's only 95.8 cents a gallon!! Oh wait--that's for a LITER. Duh. There are rolling hills and corn all around. If I didn't know any better, I'd say we were driving through Ohio.

7:45 p.m. 79 Degrees, Sunny (and still quite bright!)

With the sun still high, we have reached the Canadian/US border. There is quite a line. Hopefully it won't take too long. We are passing over yet another great lake. I wish I knew which one...(Huron).

8:14 p.m.

We've made it through and stopped at a Duty Free to load up on Scotch (Famous Grouse), Vodka (Grey Goose) and maple syrup (grade B).

9:00 p.m.

We pull into the driveway of our dear friends in Sterling Heights. We haven't seen them for nearly three years. Their kids look the same, but bigger, and there is a new one to boot. I can't wait to meet him in the morning.

We're looking forward to a nice visit...then head out to WI to visit my Aunt Bettie tomorrow.