McEwen Farming and Family Stuff

Saturday, Sunday – 18^th & 19^th July

Although, we were disappointed that we had booked a motel at Port Colbourne as it was a long way from Niagara Falls(my decision), on the way in we began to feel excited in anticipation. Parking the car we started to walk and there was our first glimpse as we walked under the `Rainbow Bridge’ ( bridge to the American Falls). The best view is from the Canadian side. As we looked we both felt and commented on the remarkable beauty of the scene. Volumes of water thundering over the rockfall. The sound is a continuous roar. Spray rises up into clouds of vapour.

Just before writing this, I read Facebook comments. Angie Cox wrote that she was `emotional little possum’ as she was tearful on hearing of Mike Fanning’s escape from a shark attack. I can identify with the emotional bit as I found myself tearful with the beauty of the Falls and the privilege of actually seeing them. The Falls tumble water from the Great Lakes into the Niagara River. The river bank is lined with a stone wall and a wide pathway on which hundreds of people from all over the world view the Falls. We walked along the wall taking photos . the day was overcast and the spray formed clouds.

We finally reached the Horseshoe Falls. Buying tickets, we attended The Niagara Fury. This film and the interaction 3D experience which included water showering us explained the origin of rhe Falls – only 12,000 years old! May be the receding waters of the Noah’s flood may have contributed to the erosion of the soft rock. The suggestion is that it may have happened in days or even hours! One comment I heard from a grandmother to grandchild. `God has created this for our enjoyment’ I verbally agreed with her. Our creator God is a loving God – giving us beautiful wonders for our pleasure.

Following the Niagara Fury we went down to the bottom level of the Falls and behind the Falls. Down stairs, ramps and elevator we arrived at the bottom, covered in plastic capes we look at close range the thundering fall of water. Walking along tunnels, we look out `open windows’ at the veil of water – looks like `extra heavy rain storm’!?!?

Now, we have been walking for on or off over 5 hours. Ian is worn out. He cannot walk too far now before his legs are so very tired that the event comes to screaming halt. – end of day. We catch the bus back to the carpark and drive back to motel! – rest is welcome.

Sunday morning, finds us back at the Falls. This time in brillant blue sky, no clouds. We ride on `the Hornblower’ – this is the boat that sails to the base of the Falls, first the American Falls and then onto the Horseshoe Falls. Again we are covered in plastic capes – hundreds of people on the boat standing, all yell as the first of the spray pours over us. Taking photos is limited as the cameras are going to get very wet. We loved the experience. A quick buy of souvenirs and we are off again. Walking back to the car, we took in the lovely gardens that support this beautiful site, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Ian wanted to visit an extraordinary collection of engines at Coolsprings, Penn—- 4 hours away. We cross through US customs, only 20 minutes this time and then on through Allegheny National Park. This trip hits a problem – a major road is closed – easy problem to overcome for the locals but retracing our tracks, asking a couple of times, following road signs we take a different direction. This makes us both frustrated as time is short, the Coolsprings Power Museum is only open for this Sat and Sunday – not Monday. We arrive after 4.00PM and greeted by friendly Americans who love their restored engines. Ian had a very interesting time. I trailed along listening to Ian’s informed comments and questions. The development of the engine-ing is amazing.