Day 20 - Niagara Falls

After breakfast we made a bee line to the Falls Visitor Centre nearby, just a 10 min walk and bought a $36 Discovery Pass covering 5 New York State Park attractions including the iconic Maid of the Mist. We were given blue ponchos before boarding; a real challenge to put on in the windy conditions. Boarded the boat along with several hundred others and sailed off to view the falls. Received a good drenching from the falls spray when we got to within a 100m or so from the base. Mighty impressive to know that around 20% of the Earths fresh water flows over the falls. Returned to dock and headed off on the complimentary trolley bus to do "The Cave of the Winds" where we again received more ponchos and also sandals. This visit to the falls allowed us to go down to view the American Falls from alongside. Every year new walkways, platforms and staircases are temporarily constructed allowing visitors to get up real close to the falls and even stand on the "Hurricane Deck" to receive an absolute drenching from the water spray. Surprisingly the water didn't feel too cold (as we were asked by many a like tourist) as we dipped our feet into the spray water - which is why we wore the sandals of course! The decking is all removed at the end of October, prior the winter season and the accompanying ice accumulation.
Snapped some good pics of the falls graced by a partial rainbow as the sun occasionally peeked out from behind the clouds. Halfway through the "Fall Color Calendar" here as stated on the TV weather channel with various shades of colour on the deciduous trees. One can imagine numerous floods on the roads with the masses of leaves blocking drains.
Had lunch at Denny's nearby and walked to the Aquarium which was included in the pass. Ambled across the Rainbow Bridge into Canada. By now the weather had closed in, with light rain beginning to fall. Snapped several pictures of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls and bought tickets to "Journey Behind the Falls" where we took a lift down and walked 200m along a tunnel, ending at a portal located behind the falls. A lot of air pressure buffeting felt here.
Exited the tunnels into a gift shop as so many of the attractions do, so had to buy some maple sugar candy.
At 7:00 pm the lights came on illuminating both of the falls with changing light patterns.
Fed 2 quarters (50 cents) into the turnstile to allow us to return to the USA. Tony had to climb over the turnstile as it jammed after feeding in the coins. Proceeded along the bridge and into the US border station at the other end, fearing an interrogation as to why the turnstile was climbed over (security cameras everywhere) but after the few usual sterile questions ("What is the purpose of your visit to the US? " etc) from the US Security officer we were allowed back in to the country.
Dined in tonite with a few takeaway supplements. Tonys' iPhone sound finally kicked backed into life, eventually drying out after the precipitous events from earlier on in the day.
An enjoyable day and we all crashed to bed happily a little earlier tonight tired out from yesterday's late arrival.
Train to New York tomorrow. Bring on the Big Apple !