I'm watching a cheesy show about Niagara Falls, and I want to stand at the edge and watch the bottom drop out from the surprised river again. From Detroit, it was a doable day trip, a nice weekend vacation. Lunch at the Welland Canal park, overnight at the Scotsman Motel, and hours staring at the massive power of water dropped over a cliff. The observatory and lightshow were distractions.
I've not really been there since the town went LasVegas/Atlantic City kitsch. That's on the Canadian side, I have no recollection of the American side.
I've been there in the winter, but none of the ones where the falls froze and stopped. I was there the year they closed the falls to shore up the boulders that threatened the Maid of the Mist boats, and clambered over dry rocks where torrents usually reigned. I've been there in rain and sun, never saw it without a rainbow over the mists. I've been on the boat, in the heavy, borrowed raingear, in the spray and thunder. I've been in the Cave of the Winds behind the Horseshoe Falls, awed and humbled. Once, we even got in a helicopter for a flight over, one of those rare moments when I loved my dad, who also talked mom into going, and we were all glad. I loved the rapids above the falls, where the water feels ominous, and the moss grows on the rocks and the stunted trees await eventual doom.
I want to return. I want to take D. I want to share that experience of immensity and flow.
8 comments:
Like you, I can recall only the Canadian view. Having seen it in flowering spring and icy winter, in daylight and dusk, I most easily remember the winter scene at dusk. It is a thunderous wonder at any time.
I only saw it from the American side, aged 13, and have wished to see it from the other. Wonder if I will? There's a place for the virtual picnic, perhaps? You make it sound very appealing...
My geology is very poor. Do you reckon that in a million years, the water will have carved the rock away, so that it's more a steep river than a waterfall?
mbick
yes
lucy
But you won't get the sound, the negative ions, the smell. As mentioned, the town is pretty much tourist trap crap, was then to a certain point, I hear it's much worse now.
pacian,
Massive rapids, that'd be cool. Try this link, some speculation at the end.
http://www.niagaraparks.com/nfgg/geology.php
I haven't been to Niagara since my parents to our nuclear family there when I was a child.
In another few years it will be my turn to bring my own children.
Having read your words, I want to go there, too.
". . . one of those rare moments when I loved my dad, who also talked mom into going, and we were all glad."
(o)
You've got me wanting to go back there now...it's a beautiful view down on the Maid of the Mist. I still recall dating a dufus who, at the time we went, insisted on leaving his hood down the whole ride as he didn't want it up...needless to say he was drenched...and soon single.
The cityon the canadian side is still terribly tacky, but very beautiful in the fall. I hope when I'm out in ontario again next summer I can figure out how to do a day trip there.
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