Irritating Insects & Bountiful Waters

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Friday, September 2, 2016

                The mosquitoes drove us out of Potato Creek State Campground near Notre Dame. The information we got was that they are returning the area to its natural habitat which includes swamps and bogs and lots of wild plant life. While delightful in aspect, it provides habitat for mosquitoes in abundance. The park people said they’ve also ceased to spray for them. Imagine sitting inside our RV watching those critters amass at our windows looking for good meat. We abandoned our site a day early and headed east towards Niagara Falls.

Leaving Indiana driving the southern shore of Lake Erie (our 4th lake!), we entered Ohio … and that tenacious state held out for 50 miles of shore along Lake Erie before losing ground to New York. For our geography students … look it up on a map … fascinating. Also look up … which is the largest of the five Great Lakes? Is that one the largest in the world? How much of the world’s water does it hold?

While in Ohio, we caught sight of a different culture. Amish through this part of Indiana, Ohio and New York … along Lake Erie. Amish Horse Carriage. A culture within a culture. Amazing the horses aren't spooked by the cars and trucks. Maybe they have a peaceful attitude also.

NIAGARA FALLS   

Our first visit. All right … this is your basic Niagara Falls trip report … or is it? All our lives we’ve seen photos of this place; and people warn that you can look at it for hour and then what? NOT TRUE. We spent two days and were continually filled with wonder and astonishment. We went above the falls, below them, into them, across from them. We watched films about them … the geology, the history, the daredevils with their wires and barrels. We drove up the river and down the river. We went to the whirlpool in the river caused by a right degree turn in the river; we toured the power plant powered by Niagara Falls that powers parts of seven states. We had lunch in the Artpark with sculptures and musical creations in the park. And we finally crossed over the Rainbow Bridge into Ontario Canada to see the falls from the other side. The entire area is full of wondrous phenomena. Bridal Veil Falls on US side with Vicki in Picture. There are actually three falls ... American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls (on the US Sides) and Horseshoe Falls (Canadian Side).

We also did the hike to the base of Bridal Veil Falls on the Canada side. Closeup in second picture. See Dan wave at us in the picture in the center.(with sunglasses).

Horseshoe Falls

Took this picture on the Canada side it is amazing how close you can stand to the edge of these falls. Here you can see the entire "horseshoe". The views and access is much better on the Canada side.

People everywhere … but on this Wednesday and Thursday before Labor Day it was auspicious timing as the crowds were minimum. The employees everywhere were gearing up for tremendous multitudes that were coming. One gentleman, James, who drove a shuttle on the Canadian side was relaxed … like the calm before the storm and we chatted about the contrasts between the US and Canada … minimum wage, income tax, health care. And hearing we were going to Newfoundland, he extolled about how awesome it was there and be sure to go all the way to St. John’s on the far eastern coast. People are great!

Oh … and the food in Niagara Falls State Park is plentiful if you want a $12 hamburger and a $6 ice cream cone. Then again, thanks to our geocaching excursions we found a tiny food stand a few hundred yards from the Park …  that had $4.50 delicious hamburgers and a lovely sculpture garden to enjoy our food. If you go there … it’s called the Misty Dog Grill. They have a website.

Side trips included a tour of the NY Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant … can I say powerful? Recently added interactive displays. Educational and fun.

 

And just up the river from the power plant we found a Whirlpool. This whirlpool is below the falls caused by a 90 degree turn in the Niagara River at Whirlpool State Park.

Nicola Tesla is honored in both countries with a monument in the USA and a memorial in Canada. This is the statue of him in Canada. (the taller one without the sunglasses.)

An added note of curiosity … while avoiding main roads we found this house, by accident, in a residential area in the city of Niagara Falls, NY. 

Second Coming House of Prophet Isaiah -- he lives inside -- is now a spectacular piece of spiritual eye candy, with thousands of bright-hued, hand-carved surfaces continually painted and repainted by its owner. God told Isaiah, a Canadian originally from Jamaica, that he was actually in Niagara Falls for a very important purpose: because it was where the world would end in 2014. (location info noted below.)

 Next, after a night at a Walmart in Canada … the Roadtrek Factory for a tour in Kitchener, Ontario (our Coyote is a Roadtrek) … and then to a five day Roadtrek Rally in Tobermory, Ontario.

What We Discovered

Niagara Falls - Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Second Coming House of Prophet Isaiah, Niagara Falls, NY  https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/38832

Niagara Power Plant, Niagara Falls, NY  https://www.nypa.gov/power/generation/niagara-power-project

 Comments

Looks like you went through Detroit without stopping - I won't take it personally! From Tom Stella, on Sep 2, 2016 at 08:56PM

Hi Tom ... we did wave as we intentionally avoided Detroit ... driving the south edge of Lake Erie. We like driving along water ... not much of it in CO. From Dan & Vicki, on Sep 3, 2016 at 03:15PM

Keith and I went to Niagara when I was living in NJ. Amazing and unforgettable. From Jennifer Benjamin, on Sep 3, 2016 at 03:30PM

Always enjoy your pictures and posts. I went to Niagara fall on the Canadian side several years ago. A wonderful trip. Loved the maid of the mist. From Susan Malachosky, on Sep 3, 2016 at 05:13PM

Pennsylvania. Lake Superior, it is the largest "freshwater" lake, it holds 10% of the worlds fresh water. The Amish are a group of Christians that live a simple life without any technology. - Sebastian & Sabrina From Pollyanna Melendez, on Sep 13, 2016 at 03:41PM

Unsalted and Touchdown Jesus

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

South Bend, Indiana, United States

Unsalted – Saw this banner … The Great Lakes are very proud of their 'fresh water'!

MACKINAC ISLAND, Michigan

                Our travels east brought us to St. Ignace (pronounced St. Ig-niss). After checking out all three ferry companies (we hate making decisions, but the competition does keep the cost down), we headed up a few miles and settled down in an Ojibwa casino parking lot for the night (boondocking). The next morning we packed up what we needed and headed to the ferry for a day long excursion to Mackinac Island (pronounced Mac-kin-naw … French influence here).  We and our bicycles sailed across. The boat trip included a tangential trip under the Mackinac Bridge. This bridge is FIVE miles long and connected the U.P. of Michigan to the trolls below in the Lower Peninsula. Those who live in the U.P. call themselves Yoopers. We even saw a t-shirt that said, "Yooper Border Patrol, Protecting our Stuff". The bridge demarks the split between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron (pronounced hurine – honest).

The Island is beautiful and even the guidebooks don’t prepare you for the sights to see and the interesting natural environment … once you leave the touristy fudge and souvenir shops and restaurants. To accomplish this we climbed on our bikes and headed out on the eight-mile trail that circumnavigated the island. Note: 8 bike miles are 17,000 steps, or pedals. As there are no automobiles on the island, bicycles, horses and feet are the modes of transportation. Picture of Dan with Inukshuks on the east side of the island with Lake Huron.Pictures also of an Arch from inside we had to hike up the hill from the bike trail to get this shot. And the grotto with Vicki is called Devil’s Kitchen.

At the end of our bike ride, we asked a carriage driver the best restaurant in town and Blake sent us to the Seabisquit. A rotund gentleman with the darkest skin and the largest snaggle-toothed grin, showed us a great place to sit and shared stories of the island. He had lived and worked there for 20 years.  Joe wins the prize for friendliest person we’ve met so far. Best Whitefish Reuben we’ve ever had (only one I’ve ever had).

The tree on the island in the picture with the orange berries is called a Rowan Tree. We call it our grandson tree.

After 9 hours on the island, we headed back on the ferry and hit the road … over the Mackinac Bridge, five mile bridge. After a quiet night in a Walmart parking lot in Cheboygan, it took 7 hours to travel the entire length of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula heading south and 25 miles into Indiana arriving at Potato Creek State Park near South Bend, and signed up for three nights. The second night the campground was completely deserted… school must be starting tomorrow.

NOTRE DAME

Sunday morning found us at Mass in the Basilica of Sacred Heart in Notre Dame University. For those who have been here … you know! For us, it was a jaw-dropping experience.  Later that day, we had a private tour of the church (we were the only ones there) by Joe N. and he asked us how much time we had … we said nine weeks. So he became another good friend showing us spots of beauty and points of interest that are not in the guide book. We talked theology and art and sculpture and history.

Those of you from here … here’s something you’ve not seen! Note that the organ is BRAND NEW, only just installed and astonishing, not ready for full performance yet. We heard it playing as they were ‘voicing’ it. Picture only … as words elude us.

However, ND is not just a spectacular church or even great football, so we came back the next day for a tour of the Notre Dame Campus. At the visitor center we talked to a student, Danni, who said she was a townie (born in South Bend). We shared stories of our travels … she went to Ireland last semester for a student semester there. And on the campus we met a couple from Pennsylvania, Steve and Shawn, who shared with us the amazement of the university grounds… 175 years of landscape and building atmosphere.

Bernini Side Altar

This is my favorite. We've seen Bernini sculptures in Rome and were excited to see Bernini in Indiana.

I counted 25 putti (baby angels).

 

And finally – Touchdown Jesus!

This is the side of the Hesburg Library ... 12 stories tall. From the 50 yd line in the ND Stadium across campus, one can see the top of Jesus.

Check out this tree in Notre Dame. Autumn is approaching. 

What We Discovered

Mackinac Island, Michigan https://www.mackinacisland.org/

University of Notre Dame - Eck Visitor Center, South Bend, Indiana

Potato Creek State Park for camping (574) 656-8186  25601 State Road 4 North Liberty, IN 46554 https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2972.htm

 Comments

Love the Rowan tree!! From Jennifer Benjamin, on Aug 31, 2016 at 11:35AM

You guys look like you're having fun, and it sounds like it too! Stay safe. From Bill Armstrong, on Sep 1, 2016 at 02:50PM

Did you get a video of the organ? - Sebastian From Pollyanna Melendez, on Sep 13, 2016 at 03:19PM