...how could we forget???

...having gone down to look at the falls this evening... we spotted a raccoon... which we forgot to mention in our previous post... and as we can only post five photos per entry... The Raccoon gets his own entry...

All about the falls...

***Miles travelled today: Loads ... on foot...

***Total Miles:

***States travelled through: Still in Ontario...

So - everything we did today was about the falls...

...after breakfast we made our way to the 'Maid on the Mist'... WOW!!! How awesome - just to be right in the falls... words just cannot explain the thunder and roar of the water when up so close... we were lucky enough (NOT) to get on a trip with a load of school kids... but the sound of the falls was greater than them!!!

and then we went to see 'Niagara Fury', a 3-D/4-D experiential film about how the falls and gorge were created through the ice age... I kept feeling Jay's hand on my back, in an attempt to make sure I wasn't scared at the noise and movement during the experience... (which included snow, thunder, lightening and torrents of rain!!! - on us!!!) I had to tell her that I wasn't scared... until it dawned on me - that SHE needed to hold MY hand!!!

Then we went on 'the Journey behind the Falls'... again that was an experience... you go down almost to the bottom of the falls, and you are just meters away from the torrents coming over... after this, we walked all along the top, where you are actually just feet away from where the water cascades over... what was also amazing is the birds... that fly all through the mist that is created!!! We have included photos from all of these different aspects - however - no photo could do it justice!!!

This evening we went down to the falls again, in order to see the falls illuminated... and as it is Canada Day Weekend, a bank holiday, they had fireworks at the falls as well as a live rock band... Although we took some photos of the falls and the fireworks, the flash on our camera is not brilliant... so we have opted not to blog any of them... but they will make their way into the scrapbooks...

Ann, we caught up with your family and we will be meeting them tomorrow for a meal... before passing through Buffalo and onto the next part of our journey which includes a few days in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania - where Jay thinks she's going to get me to wear a 'pinny' and 'cap' for photos on an Amish farm!!! (Now THAT will be a photo opportunity!!!) We have also booked three nights in Washington DC next weekend...

Suzi... no sticker today as we are still in Niagara Falls... but we will be moving tomorrow!!!

En Route to Niagara Falls

***Miles travelled today: to be advised tomorrow as we forgot again

***Total Miles:

***States travelled through: still in Ontario, Canada but we are on the move!

This morning got off to a scenic start with breakfast on Lake Ontario whilst we sat on the lake's edge {see photo of feet for the view} and planned our route which was to include winelands and a search for totem poles (especially as we had seen them on the map). Given you are only allowed to drive at a maximum of 60km/hr; our riverside drive took a while although we kept on stopping as there were so many things catching our eyes. One of our stops was the Ice House Winery where we sampled a very Nice Ice Wine (for those who don't know or may have looked up on the internet-very nice ice wine is harvested in the snow and ice!)-the red was reminiscent of a good port whilst the white was just de-lish! So,purchases had to be made and unfortunately-we couldn't get schickered as we were driving :(

As for the totem poles, we found them but they weren't what we had in mind as they were really wood-carvings of pop culture and cartoons.

On route to our hotel at Niagara Falls, we stopped to do the Aerocar Whirlpool Ride that takes you out over the whirlpool eddies of Niagara river-totally suspended on a cable 250ft above the water-awesome. At this point we decided to buy an Adventure Pass which enables us to get into tourist attractions at the Falls including the White River Walk (took us 23 stories down into Niagara Gorge) where we got really close to the rapids; the Maid on the mist and Journey Behind the Falls (to be done tomorrow) and a few others which we forget at the mo....

Although not planned-we discovered this Buddhist Temple with 10 000 statues....not only was it frequented by monks, but we were allowed access which is usually unheard of.

On arrival at the hotel, we found that Linz had accidentally booked us in for next week but were lucky to get in. The day was not over yet as the sun was still shining and so we made our way to the Skylon Tower as we wanted our first view of the Falls to be from up high. We weren't disappointed as the view was both phenomenal and awesome- so we have included a few pics from today.

{For those who aren't used to blogging-if you place your cursor over the pic and double-click, it enlarges it ! try it on the one of Niagara Falls and you should be able to see what we Really saw }

Hey Suz-put a sticker on NIAGARA FALLS :)

On the move again...

***Miles travelled today: We keep forgetting to write the mileage down at the end of our daily travels, but we remember to write it in the mornings... so we will remember to add them tomorrow!!!

***Total Miles:

***States travelled through: Still in Ontario, Canada...

So this morning we went out to the Portuguese bakery again for breakfast... and Tia bought us loads of Portuguese goodies for our travels... so - we had decided before leaving home that as we were due to spend three months on holiday that we would try and be healthy, eating loads of fruit, drinking loads of water, doing lots of walking... and actually try to loose weight on our three month road trip... well, the first 12 days were pretty good... but, whatever we may have lost in those first few days has all been put back on whilst at Tia's!!!

It was hard to say 'Goodbye', as we had really enjoyed our time with them... but we have been invited back, to stay for longer... and we will definately be returning to Canada...

So we are now at a lovely hotel just outside of Niagara on the lake... so having checked in we went down into the town... what a lovely resort... thanks to everyone who suggested that we take time out to visit this town and not simply head straight for Niagara Falls... we took a walk along the lake shore, and Jay decided to share her ice cream cone with the swans... have added another website to the 'Handy Websites' above, all about Niagara on the Lake...

We are having a relaxing evening just taking a stroll down by the lake edge again tonight and will go down to the lake again tomorrow for a picnic... before venturing off to Niagara falls...

A few messages for those who may be following the blog:

Liz and Grant: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Julian for yesterday... please give him a hug from his adopted English Aunties!!!

Janice and Marina: Is THIS the band stand you referenced in your comment??? Hope you like it, we have included it just for you!!!

Suzi... time for your next sticker... look for NIAGARA ON THE LAKE... we included the photo of the sweetie covered apples just for you - if you were with us, we would have bought you one!!!

Taking it easy...

***Miles travelled today: Not too many...

***Total Miles:

***States travelled through: Stayed in Ontario...

So yesterday was a very easy day... we stayed in most of the day, simply catching up with washing and ironing, sorting out photos and our journalling and reading and relaxing... we went out for supper and then on return Jay and Tia sat for hours doing the family tree... although we had planned to go to the H-U-G-E mall, Jay and Tia sat talking most of the day and missed the opportunity to shop... I can't quite believe it myself... whilst they were catching up, I have sorted out accommodation for the next few days, so on Wednesday we are off to Niagara on the Lake, where we will be spending Wednesday night, and then we've booked into a hotel at Niagara Falls for Thursday and Friday... on Saturday we will be driving through Buffalo, so we will be trying to contact your family Ann in order to try and catch up with your mom, and meet your brother and family!!!

We decided that we would go into Toronto today... Jay was fantastic with the driving... people seem to stick to the speed limits in the States - well, they certainly don't stick to them in Canada!!!

Anyway, we went downtown, to the CN tower... we all went up to the observation deck and then Jay and I went further up to the sky pod and the glass floor level!!! We took numerous photos... some of which we have included... (Together with one of Jay doing the family tree from yesterday...) After the tower we stopped for a bite to eat in the restaurant... then walked down to the lake front!!! Seeing Lake Ontario is just unbelievable... it's weird to think that it is NOT the ocean... have added another website to the handy websites section on the CN Tower!!!

Jay is out washing the car at the moment, ready for departing tomorrow...

It will be sad to leave Tia's tomorrow, it has been really great to catch up with her, and it has been fantastic for Jay, as she feels that Tia Virgina is a close link to her mom... It will be great to return and stay for a longer period at some stage in the future...

Sorry Suzi... no sticker today... but we will be on the move again tomorrow!!!

Meeting Family...

***Miles travelled today: Mostly travelled in Tio Lemos' car...

***Total Miles:

***States travelled through: Remained in Ontario...

Post for SUNDAY 16.05.10:

So... Tia wanted to take us out for breakfast... we went to a place called 'Cora's' where there was actually a queue... for breakfast... but it was so worth it... have included a photo of the breakfast plate... then we just had to do it, we went shopping... although the bigger shopping trip is on the cards for tomorrow... as apparently the biggest mall in Cananda is about 15 minutes away!!!

Richard and family, his wife Joanna, their daughter Katie and baby, Ethan arrived in the afternoon... and we then went out to supper... to a lovely restaurant on the lake shore at a place called Snug Harbour, see the website link we have added above... we then went for a walk along the pier... looking out over lake Ontario... WOW!!! I now understand what you said Ann in terms of it's just like the ocean, you could be standing on the beach looking out over the ocean as you do not see the other side!!! Had fun with the camera, taking loads of photos, reflections on the water, the sunset behind the light house and of course, Jay and Richard, given that this is the first time they have ever met!!!

On getting back home, we went out to the casino... we put a limit on our spending, of $50 each... so we were ready to go in less than 5 minutes as we had lost every penny... anyway... when Tia decided that she had lost enough money, she decided she would just spend a final $20 on a new machine... and proceeded to win the Jackpot... of nearly $1500!!! We were clearly her lucky charms!!! So we only got back at about 02h00 - our latest night so far on the trip!!!

***Suzi... we haven't moved yet - we are still in MISSISSAUGA... just south of TORONTO... we will be moving again on Wednesday!!!

A little bit of Portugal...

***Miles travelled today: 50

***Total Miles: 1393

***States travelled through: Stayed in Ontario...

Okay... so of course they have the internet!!!

So this morning we left the hotel and made our way to Tia Virgina's and Tio Lemos'...

What was really fascinating was that if felt like we were driving in South Africa... the motorways, the way the signs are written, the types of houses... all are reminiscent of South Africa... and feels very different to the areas that we have been driving through in America... (and everything is metric so we understand it better!!!)

Tio was at work, but Tia soon sorted us out... and within minutes made us feel right at home, and then we went off to a Portugese Cafe for coffee and all things Portugese... it was fantastic... like a little bit of Portugal in Canada... we stayed there drinking Galao (latte's) and eating pasteias de camarao and bacalhao(savory goodies) and Pasteias de Nata (milk tarts)... I couldn't pick up any Canadian accents as everyone was talking Portugese!!!

On getting back home we sorted through our washing which Tia is doing... and then we went out for supper to an amazing buffet restaurant, the likes of which we have never seen before...

Tia wanted to take us off to the casino, as she seems to be on a winning streak... but as we were pretty knackered, we went off to bed, deciding that we would go to the casino tomorrow night... the irony was not lost that the 30' somethings wanted to go to bed and the 60' somethings wanted to go out on the town!!!

They were out there!!!

***Miles travelled today: 214

***Total Miles: 1343

***States travelled through: New York State and into Ontario, Canada!!!

WOW!!! Thanks for all the comments yesterday... (Lins, who knows us extremely well, asked us when we spoke to her earlier in the week, if having people 'following' our journey feels odd, knowing that when we usually go on holiday we don't even take our mobile phones with us!!!) But somehow, given that we are to be away for three months, knowing that we would be able to touch base with family and friends both in the UK and South Africa, and sharing our experiences and thoughts and photos along the way is just really great - and we really do appreciate the comments being left... so keep them coming...

So today started off at the 'Good Year' Garage!!! We were presented with the offending article... the allen key... as a souvenir!!! Which will just have to find its way into the scrapbook!!!

We then ventured up to Cape Vincent, where Lake Ontario meets the St Lawrence River, which is where the 1000 Islands are... which we had planned on seeing yesterday... but obviously fate had other plans... so we thought that we would get to see them today, but unfortunately the weather was really misty and muggy... but we took some photos anyway... as we approached a look out spot, there was simply a bench overlooking the water, and I took a photo of the inscription... I don't know who he was, but today, in the misty weather he touched us too...

We crossed over the Thousand Island bridge, which is the border across into Canada... THE most fantastic views across the islands were from the top of the bridge... but you were not able to stop... but we tried to take some photos anyway!!! (Due to the fact that we were not able to take any fantastic photos, we have added a website in the 'Handy Websites' above... see how fantastic the area looks...)

We then simply drove to the Best Western at Oshawa, where we are staying today, and then making our way to Mississauga tomorrow to spend three or four days with Jay's aunt and uncle, and meeting a cousin whom she has never met before!!!

We don't think that Tia Virgina has the internet, so we will simply keep our electronic diary up to date, and then cut and paste and add photos when we are next able to...

When we go on holiday we always keep a journal, of everywhere we go and things we do, as it assists in the compilation of our scrapbooks... although we have no idea how we are going to 'scrap' this holiday...

Suzi, you need to look for OSHAWA - on top of the big lake, as we cross into Canada!!!

Mom... the Adirondack chair is simply the design, and it's called that after the area that we were in...

Damsels in Distress

***Miles travelled today: 130

***Total Miles:1129

***States travelled through:Stayed in New York State

Well, today was not without incident. It started off very sedately with a wander through the town of Lake Placid, visiting some shops and taking yet more photos of ..... lakes (although Linz assures me all the pics we both take are all very different from the other!) We were interested to discover that Lake Placid continues to be used by the Winter Olympics Team for their training, having been the venue for the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics-hence my photo with the luge. Thanks Ann for your suggestion that we come up to the Adirondack Park.It has been fantastic and although we didn't get to Raquette Lake, maybe that will be part of the next journey we make.... Having ambled with little intent, we stopped by the lake and lazed for a moment, gathering our energies for the next part of our journey-which was to take us to Thousand Islands on Lake Ontario (yup-the original birthplace of 'Thousand Island Dressing' but not the reason we were wanting to visit)....this journey was not to be-at least not today :)

Heading towards Cranberry Lake (isn't that a fantastic name ?) -a little light 'pinged' on the dashboard-no-it was neither the petrol nor the oil light, we just didn't know what it was as there was no manual in the car (National Rentals Don't provide them-we DID ask !).....we stopped at the first opportunity at a General Store/Garage on Route 3, Cranberry Lake (yes, this is their address). A helpful burley gentleman behind the counter looked at the light and said, "Don worry mam, the light's not flashin red, I'd be worried if it were red-just carry on..." So we did.

Moments later we pulled over to the lakeside for a picnic lunch when Linz heard 'a hissin' from the back tyre and found this allen key wedged nicely into the tyre-so we swiftly returned and to cut a very long story short.....we were helped by two gentlemen called 'Tiger and Dell' who stayed with us for about two hours, as the rental roadside assistance couldn't find anyone to get to us. The most amazing thing about this episode (which has to happen on any good roadtrip)-was that neither of them would take any money for their generosity and time and simply asked that we send them a letter telling them about our trip when we get back home. Having chatted to Linz, we realise again just how fortunate we are (in so many ways) to be doing this journey, which isn't just about sightseeing, but about learning .....

The flat tyre incident has now made us change :) those 'non-plans-that-we-never-had' as we were heading towards Niagara Falls tomorrow, before venturing into Canada on Saturday to stay with Tia Virgina (my aunt). Instead, we are heading to Thousand Islands tomorrow and shall be crossing over into Ontario, a route suggested by Dell; making our way back to Niagara Falls after a few days with Tia.

Just a quick note to everyone who's keeping in touch via comments and comments on facebook-we just want to say thanks as it's fun to see the conversations evolving and your thoughts on what's happening :)

Finally, for Susie-today's sticker needs to go onto a sleepy town called WATERTOWN-it's not very big but has a pond with more ducks....

Wildflowers and Snow...

***Miles travelled today: 194

***Total Miles: 999

***States travelled through: Vermont and New York State

As you can see from the photos that we have now been able to upload... we did not see moose yesterday... or today!!! The closest we got were the cut out moose - of which there were many!!!

Today Jay was looking for elk... but didn't find any...

Once again we have had a fantastic drive today... through Northern Vermont, where we passed through numerous fields of wild flowers... in a few weeks they will no doubt all be out... and then we found snow!!! Jay wouldn't go near it!!! The scenery from one state to another is just so vastly different... passing through into New York State we have followed rivers and waterfalls and gorges... where there could be some serious white water rafting... by others!!!

We arrived at Lake Placid... heading to the Best Western... (I am a convert to Tam Tam... she is really good when you enter the zip code of your destination... Yeah - yeah - I know that's what they are supposed to do!!! I will no longer compete... although she does have a tendency to want to take us on the interstates, which we are steering clear of... so we actually still need maps!!!)

We have had a lovely stroll through the town - which looks very Swiss-like, finding somewhere to stop for a bite to eat. Although Jay disagrees, I think this is the best time to walk around... as all the shops are closed!!! I have however been assured that we can go back tomorrow morning!!!

Suzi - you can put your next sticker on the map, on Lake Placid... and hope you like the pictures of your aunties!!!