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 Niagara Falls - The American Falls.
I reached the Buffalo area smack dab during the morning rush hour. By the way, I’d like to know why it is called ‘rush hour’ when everyone is going slow. Actually, although the traffic was heavy, it flowed fairly well that morning. I skirted around the east and north side of the city, heading to my first destination of the day - Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls is one of those handful of destinations, like Mount Rushmore, that everyone knows about and would like to visit at least once in their lives. I was no different, and to think that 1 had actually debated with myself the night before whether or not to take the time to drive there, since a trip to and from the falls would take the better part of a day. I am glad I decided to take the plunge (figuratively speaking, that is).
The falls were seen by Europeans as early as 1604, when members of Samuel de Champlain’s party of exploration happened upon them. Other early explorers, such as La Salle, also paid a visit.
 A close up look at the American Falls.
About 20-30 of us, all attired in yellow plastic, were escorted onto an elevator, which took us 175 feet through solid rock to the riverfront at the bottom of the falls. There are actually two sets of falls - the well-known Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls. (There is also a small offshoot of the American Falls called Bridal Veil Falls.) The reason that there are two sets of falls is that the Niagara River separates into two streams shortly before it reaches the drop-offs. In between the two streams is Goat Island, named for the goats that grazed there long ago. The parking area and the Cave of the Winds entrance are located on the island.
When we emerged from the elevator we were near the river. A tour guide led the way toward the base of the Bridalveil Falls. The constant roar only became louder as we wended our way along an elaborate boardwalk-and-stairs system. It reminded me of the Mousetrap game that I used to play as a kid. Because of the constant spray of the water, the steps are coated with a sandpaper-type material to aid in traction. The guide told us that, because the walkway is damaged each winter by freezing weather, it has to be torn down and built anew each spring.
Several, but not all of the group, braved a section of the walkway called the Hurricand Deck. The name is appropriate. To stand on the deck, which is just 20 feet from the bottom of the gushing falls, is to invite an instant soaking. The water at that point was falling with great enthusiasm. The only thing missing was the hurricane-force winds, although I read later that winds sometimes get up to 68 mph at the foot of the falls. Despite the fact that my camera lens, not to mention my glasses, got all fogged up while near the falls, I was still able to get some fairly good pictures.
Upon completing the tour, our group rode the elevator back to the top of Goat Island. I then hopped on the tram bus and rode over to the other visitor center, where I bought a ticket ($12.50) for the Maid of the Mist boat tour. This is the boat that goes to the base of the Horseshoe Falls. I was issued still another thin poncho, a blue one this time. Believe me, it was imperative to wear one because of the spray near the bottom of the falls.
An army of about 150-200 of us blue-ponchoed tourists marched onto the boat and were sardined onto the boat’s two decks. By the time I boarded, most of the choice viewing spots were taken, but I was determined to get a vantage point sufficient for picture-taking and managed to fit in sort of sideways along the railing.
I finished up a roll of film on the ride over to the base of the falls, so I had to open the back of the camera, remove the old roll, and then insert the new roll, all the while fighting with a poncho that wanted to blow all over the place. The motion of the boat only served to add to the challenge. I somehow managed to successfully complete this delicate operation and was soon back to shooting pictures. I guess I’ll have to follow the advice of friends who tell me that I need to get a digital camera.
After getting as close as we could, the boat remained stationary near the base of the falls for three or four minutes before heading back. While there, my senses were pretty much overloaded with the thunder of the falls and the whiteness of the mist. In fact, it was hard to make out the actual water that was falling because of the ubiquity of the mist. On average, four million cubic feet of water passes over the falls every minute!
On the way back to the dock we got within 100 yards of the Canadian shore, where even more tourists were boarding another boat, also named Maid of the Mist, for the same purpose. One boat or the other was in constant motion.
After getting off the boat I took the elevator to the Prospect Point Observation Tower, which resembles a humongous, multi-story construction crane. It was on the observation deck that 1 got my best pictures of the American Falls.
While standing on the deck, high above the falls and the Rainbow Bridge, which links Canada and the United States, I found myself in the company of a couple of hundred of people from many nationalities and speaking several languages. I later mused that perhaps this scene was reminiscent of the Tower of Babel immediately after God had confused the tongues of the ancients.
After missing the trolley back to the Goat Island parking lot, I figured that I could actually walk back without too much effort, and so I did. While crossing the bridge I was treated to a good view of the Class 6 rapids of the Niagara River just a couple of hundred feet before they reach the falls.
Near the ticket booth on Goat Island is a monument to Nikola Tesla, a scientist who helped to develop alternating current. The falls were tapped early on in the age of electricity to generate electric power. Power is still generated there today.
When I reached Goat Island I walked over to the observation area at the top of the Horseshoe Falls and took even more pictures, including that of a rainbow, looking down toward the spray at the base of the falls.
For several yards the railing at the top of the falls is only about ten feet from the falls. I later read about a sever-year old boy who fell into the river in 1960 and survived, receiving only minor injuries. He vas rescued by the crew of the Maid of the Mist.
A handful of people during the last century have intentionally gone over the falls. In 1901, 63-year old Annie Taylor took the plunge and survived. She tried to profit from her exploit by going on the lecture circuit, but her dishonest manager cheated her. The last time someone went over was in 2003. Going over the falls is illegal and carries with it steep fines as well as criminal charges.
While I was standing at the railing, some people asked me if I would take their picture with their camera. Afterwards they returned the favor. Shortly thereafter I climbed the concrete steps back up to the parking lot and made my way back to the car, heading for my next destination.
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Next Installment - On a Clear Day You Can See Toronto
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