Jonny Lang in Toronto 2017 - Day 4 - 27th August

Day 4

As usual we were up very early and got ready to set off for Niagara Falls.  We left at 7.00am before the majority of traffic hit the road.

Early morning in Midtown Toronto

We skirted around Lake Ontario and up towards Hamilton.  Since I was here last, over 12 years ago, it has changed dramatically with motorway roads all the way from Toronto to Niagara. 

We eventually arrived in Niagara Falls at around 08.50 feeling good that it had only taken us 1 hour and 20 minutes to get there.  We soon realised though that we were in the wrong place!! We were in the town of Niagara Falls and the actual waterfalls were a further 30 minutes away.

The town of Niagara Falls 

Not to worry though, we were soon on our way and arrived at our destination before 9.30.  We parked up and headed for breakfast in Tim Horton’s to set us up for the day.  I have really enjoyed eating at this chain.  In my opinion, better than any I had experienced in the USA and must really be killing McDonalds’s sales.

After breakfast we walked alongside the Niagara River as it coursed its way towards the descent at Horseshoe falls.  We were soaked to the skin by the spray coming from the falls but it was worth it as we witnessed something truly wondrous.

At this point we descended into the tunnels that were cut into the cliff behind the falls and we got a totally different perspective looking out from behind the water at the thunderous plummeting of the waters outside.

We then continued our journey along the sidewalk admiring the views of both the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls on the opposite bank.  The Maid of the Mist boats from the American side and the Hornblower boats from the Canadian side were to be seen sailing right into the horseshoe falls themselves before turning to return to safer, or at least drier, waters.

At this stage we decided to venture onto one of the Hornblower boats and duly took our place at the centre front of the boat. One of the crew members told us this was the best place to view the sail into the falls.  It certainly was, and also the wettest.  We got soaked, but it was worth it.  This was a memory never to be forgotten.  Sailing into the raging waters as they dropped into the river around us.

When we returned to the landing stage I was absolutely soaked through and decided to go back to the car to change into dry clothes that I had the foresight to pack, but on the way up the hill there was an incident when an elderly gentleman, being pushed by his wife, fell out of a wheelchair.  I succeeded in stopping him from hitting the floor but when I tried to lift him he was just too heavy.  I called for help and three young guys took over and after we all lifted him back into his wheelchair they transported the man up the hill to a safer place.

Back at the car I changed into dry clothes, which was very difficult on the back seat of a Chevrolet Cruze which was boiling inside.  Somehow Rhi had dried off walking back to the car so she did not have to suffer the ignominy. 

When comfortable again we decided to drive across the Rainbow Bridge to the USA.  

This went quite well until they took our passports of us and told us to leave the car and walk into the customs building opposite.  We did so and were told to sit and wait until we were called. Feeling a little uneasy we waited until called for the interrogation to begin.  Once our fingerprints had been taken and our retinas scanned we were allowed to leave after paying a further $6 each.

As we left the building we began to relax and we retrieved our car and continued our short journey into the USA.  The Niagara State Park was nearby so we parked our car and walked the rest of the way.

It was a different feeling this side of the border but the views were just as spectacular.  In fact the views this side added to those from the Canadian side to give a complete overview

A rainbow on the waters below

We stayed for a while before heading back across the river where we experienced some lengthy delays getting back into Canada.  We decided to stay on the road and head back to Toronto and if we got back in time we would go out for our last evening meal in Canada.

We did it, despite some very heavy traffic and after showering and changing we walked a short distance to the Boston Pizza House, which was anything but onl;y a Pizza House.  Rhi had a Chicken Penne Pasta meal and I had Ribs with hot wings.  Amazing.  Our deserts were also just as good. Rhi had a massive (well bite size) chocolate brownie and I had a crusty apple pie with ice cream.

Boston Pizza, right opposite our apartment building

Well fed and watered we called it a day.  Last day tomorrow and due to fly home at 18,30 Canadian time.