Friday, August 18, 2006
Niagara Falls KOA, Grand Island, NY
So I guess I am getting dates wrong. I am way too far behind, and our travel schedule leaves everything a blur. We stayed two days in Batavia since Brian got sick. Then we moved on to our first big one, Niagara Falls. I'm too tired to really tell you about it now, yet I feel compelled. Sigh. Maybe a blog was not such a good idea. You're comments would be welcome so that I can be reminded that this is not a fruitless endeavor. Yeah, yeah, it's the journey no the destination. Whatever. :-)
August 7-10, 2006
August 7-10, 2006
We stayed in Niagara Falls for three nights. Our first day, I made everyone drive out to Lockport to tour the Lockport caves. They aren't really caves, but manmade tunnels which channeled water from the Erie canals. 
The water was used to power turbines, which in turn powered machines in the factories above during the times when electricity was not available. Here at the Niagara Escarpment, the 50 foot cliff down which the Niagara Falls flow, they created five locks for the boats to pass through to the Great Lakes. Since the tunnels haven't been used in so long, they have become much more cave-like, with stalactites slowly forming on the ceilings of the tunnels. One inch of stalactite takes about 130 years to form, so you can imagine that the stalactites were less than spectacular.
When we signed up for the tour we were unaware of any of this. We just thought we were going to take a boat ride through the underground caves. Instead we had a walking tour first, which featured the locks and this upside-down railroad bridge.
Apparently, the railroad company constructed this bridge for two reasons. First, it was a stronger bridge with more struts and supports because there was no need to make room between them for the trains. Second, it was a way of limiting the size of the ships that could travel through the locks. Though it didn't slow traffic on the Erie Canal, it did limit the size of the ships and thus any attempts at expanding the canal to allow bigger ships to pass. Sneaky bastards!
It was interesting to learn a little of the history of one of the places we visited. Unfortunately, it seems that was enough "tourist" stuff for the boys. I then missed the Maid of the Mist and other on-the-beaten-path Niagara tours.
That night, we went to the Canadian side of the Falls. Over there, we wandered around and went on a ferris wheel. I guess it's similar to the one they put up in London. Very fancy and air conditioned. Zorah loved it. The only problem with an air-conditioned, enclosed car is that there really isn't any air circulation. We realized this when an unnamed member of our party farted. Still, the scenery was nice.
Canadian side is very flashy with a carnival atmosphere. I think I may have said that already. After you pass through customs, which takes about 10 minutes, there is a street called Clifton Hill which is a smorgasbord of tourist attractions. Not historic, but weird. A haunted house is attached to a Burger King with a giant Frankenstein eating a cheeseburger popping out of the top. There is also a fun house, arcade, Spiderman ride of some sort. Like I said, weird. Of course, the whole city is not like this, just the street and general area of Clifton Hill.
Brian wanted to check out the casino, so Z, Ian, and I put 20 bucks into a token machine at the arcade. We could maybe have walked around more, and perhaps we should have, but oh well. We had tickets to get and prizes to trade them in for! Zorah did really well at this one game in which you are a chameleon and you have to knock down ants with your tongue. We tried the air hockey thing, but she quickly got bored this time. Finally, our last tokens were spent and it was time to meet back up with Brian. It was around 2 am by now.
I drove back, but I was so tired I missed the turn back to the American side. As I looped around the way I thought I should, I saw a sign for an alternate route for the bridge to the US. Following this took me on a 20 minute detour that ended up at the wrong bridge! Canadian Alternate Routes are really alternate, apparently. Not fun. Of course I got really crabby and was berating the whole concept of this trip. I do that every couple of days, it seems. But then, as I said, I wasn't a hundred percent on it.
The water was used to power turbines, which in turn powered machines in the factories above during the times when electricity was not available. Here at the Niagara Escarpment, the 50 foot cliff down which the Niagara Falls flow, they created five locks for the boats to pass through to the Great Lakes. Since the tunnels haven't been used in so long, they have become much more cave-like, with stalactites slowly forming on the ceilings of the tunnels. One inch of stalactite takes about 130 years to form, so you can imagine that the stalactites were less than spectacular.When we signed up for the tour we were unaware of any of this. We just thought we were going to take a boat ride through the underground caves. Instead we had a walking tour first, which featured the locks and this upside-down railroad bridge.
Apparently, the railroad company constructed this bridge for two reasons. First, it was a stronger bridge with more struts and supports because there was no need to make room between them for the trains. Second, it was a way of limiting the size of the ships that could travel through the locks. Though it didn't slow traffic on the Erie Canal, it did limit the size of the ships and thus any attempts at expanding the canal to allow bigger ships to pass. Sneaky bastards!It was interesting to learn a little of the history of one of the places we visited. Unfortunately, it seems that was enough "tourist" stuff for the boys. I then missed the Maid of the Mist and other on-the-beaten-path Niagara tours.
Our first night, we went to the falls, and it was really interesting. They have this "illumination" thing now, where they shine pretty colored lights on the falls at night. So we stood on the American side of the falls, and realized we really couldn't see much of it. Also, looking across to the Canada side, we saw all sorts of bright shiny attractions. Casino, a big ferris wheel, and other flashy things. Canada looked much more happening.
We were able, however, to get a spiffy picture of Zorah and Ian standing on a monument to Father Louis Hennepin, a Franciscan missionary on LaSalle's expedition during which the falls were first seen. Or something to that effect.
The next day we went to the amusement and water park right next door to the campground. Niagara Falls KOA, where we stayed, was actually a stop on the park train. Weird. Zorah of course wanted to go right to the water park, so we hiked over there for some water fun. 
First, however, we stopped at the big slide. Ian volunteered to hike up to the top with Z.
I was unable to participate in water activities due to certain monthly difficulties, but Z, our resident fish, still had a great time. They had a great kiddie area. Though Z is a swimmer, she enjoyed this part of the park for a good hour before wanting to move on to the next area.
She went on the dragon slide uncounted times, then swam in the foot deep water. 
As she was playing, other kids came into the park, and she chased them around the pool. When she came back to where I was, it was apparent why they were running. She had become that weird kid with the booger hanging out of her nose! The water softened it when her face was under, and voila! The gross kid! She actually came to me because two of the kids said something to the effect of: "Ewwww! Booogers!" I wiped her off, and she was able to appear as a normal child to these squeamish creatures. Her favorite ride turned out to be a little raft ride, which traveled in a long loop. She mostly ended up just swimming under the tube, letting the current help her around the ride. On her fifth lap, she completely forsook the tube once she got out of sight of the attendant.
We went back to the trailer for lunch then, and when we returned to the park, Z wanted to try this freefall ride in Kiddieland. So she and I did, and Brian ended up having the guy stop the ride. I couldn't help laughing every time the ride dropped, but Z was not enjoying it at all. As I tried to calm her down, I noticed something that would make her forget the agonies of freefall -- a petting zoo! She was able to feed goats and forget her cares. When we were there I saw this adorable and strange creature!
Was ever a lamb so cute? Is it a hybrid? It is so cute it doesn't seem real! The poor thing is cursed by its cuteness, as it was harried around the area by children and adults alike. Can you blame them?
This little guy somehow managed to piss off another denizen of this place, a goat, which of course started butting the little lamb. The lamb ran to its mother, another snub-nosed sheep. Mom stepped right into the goat's range and butted heads with it instead, leaving the lamb to be harrassed instead by we visitors to its demesne. Here is Zorah having a moment with the little guy. I think if it could talk, it would sound like Rudolph when he had the black thing over his nose.
I was unable to participate in water activities due to certain monthly difficulties, but Z, our resident fish, still had a great time. They had a great kiddie area. Though Z is a swimmer, she enjoyed this part of the park for a good hour before wanting to move on to the next area.
She went on the dragon slide uncounted times, then swam in the foot deep water. 
As she was playing, other kids came into the park, and she chased them around the pool. When she came back to where I was, it was apparent why they were running. She had become that weird kid with the booger hanging out of her nose! The water softened it when her face was under, and voila! The gross kid! She actually came to me because two of the kids said something to the effect of: "Ewwww! Booogers!" I wiped her off, and she was able to appear as a normal child to these squeamish creatures. Her favorite ride turned out to be a little raft ride, which traveled in a long loop. She mostly ended up just swimming under the tube, letting the current help her around the ride. On her fifth lap, she completely forsook the tube once she got out of sight of the attendant.We went back to the trailer for lunch then, and when we returned to the park, Z wanted to try this freefall ride in Kiddieland. So she and I did, and Brian ended up having the guy stop the ride. I couldn't help laughing every time the ride dropped, but Z was not enjoying it at all. As I tried to calm her down, I noticed something that would make her forget the agonies of freefall -- a petting zoo! She was able to feed goats and forget her cares. When we were there I saw this adorable and strange creature!
Was ever a lamb so cute? Is it a hybrid? It is so cute it doesn't seem real! The poor thing is cursed by its cuteness, as it was harried around the area by children and adults alike. Can you blame them?This little guy somehow managed to piss off another denizen of this place, a goat, which of course started butting the little lamb. The lamb ran to its mother, another snub-nosed sheep. Mom stepped right into the goat's range and butted heads with it instead, leaving the lamb to be harrassed instead by we visitors to its demesne. Here is Zorah having a moment with the little guy. I think if it could talk, it would sound like Rudolph when he had the black thing over his nose.
Canadian side is very flashy with a carnival atmosphere. I think I may have said that already. After you pass through customs, which takes about 10 minutes, there is a street called Clifton Hill which is a smorgasbord of tourist attractions. Not historic, but weird. A haunted house is attached to a Burger King with a giant Frankenstein eating a cheeseburger popping out of the top. There is also a fun house, arcade, Spiderman ride of some sort. Like I said, weird. Of course, the whole city is not like this, just the street and general area of Clifton Hill.
Brian wanted to check out the casino, so Z, Ian, and I put 20 bucks into a token machine at the arcade. We could maybe have walked around more, and perhaps we should have, but oh well. We had tickets to get and prizes to trade them in for! Zorah did really well at this one game in which you are a chameleon and you have to knock down ants with your tongue. We tried the air hockey thing, but she quickly got bored this time. Finally, our last tokens were spent and it was time to meet back up with Brian. It was around 2 am by now.
I drove back, but I was so tired I missed the turn back to the American side. As I looped around the way I thought I should, I saw a sign for an alternate route for the bridge to the US. Following this took me on a 20 minute detour that ended up at the wrong bridge! Canadian Alternate Routes are really alternate, apparently. Not fun. Of course I got really crabby and was berating the whole concept of this trip. I do that every couple of days, it seems. But then, as I said, I wasn't a hundred percent on it.
