My 2 Grand Adventure

Falling Down

It's time to head south. I catch the early train ... just ... to Niagara Falls. After the delay crossing the border on the way up, I've decided to walk the border. It's a lovely sunny day when I get off the train on the Canadian side of the Whirlpool Bridge. Which means, by the time I've hiked the 45 mins down to the pedestrian crossing at the Rainbow Bridge with my full pack, I'm very smelly and sweaty.

The walk down is pretty though, following the Niagara River (which isn't a river) and kicking up the multi-hued leaves that have fallen on the path. The crossing was easy. Pay your 50c, walk the 10-15 mins across the bridge and show your passport to the customs on the other side.

By now the falls is in full view. The weather is perfect and I can't help being envigored by the sound of the rushing water. I'm too tired and it's too far to walk the hostel on the US side, so I check into a motel.

Once I've dropped my bags, I head off to explore the falls. By now it's 1.30pm, so I decide to stick to the US side. There's plenty to see, so I spend a couple of hours wandering around Niagara Park taking pictures of the three falls. The Maid of the Mist tour has closed for the winter season, but I do get to go up to the observation tower and down to the bottom of the gorge for the Cave of the Winds tour; where I found the end of the rainbow.

As the light starts to fade, I head back to the motel for some Country Fried Steak and a couple of Buds.

Night-time is a bit of a challenge. There really isn't anything on the US side besides the park. So as the hotel seams quiet, I cross the border to the Canadian side and head to the casino.

I wander around the Clifton Hill area. It's full of neon-lit tacky arcades and ghost houses. After spending an hour or so in a Marvel theamed arcade, I walk up to the Niagara Casino and spend a couple of house playing video poker and slots. I did get asked for ID entering the casino which, for a man of my newly advanced years, I took as a compliment. After all that 'excitement', I crossed the US/Canada border for the 4th time and went back to the motel.

posted by Mark Slattery @ 11:19 pm