The Cubicle is empty!!!

8-05-06

 

Our trip actuall started yesterday when Maria and I got to Milwaukee around 9pm.  Deanna and Donny greeted us but were ready to go to sleep as Deanna will be working the next day.  Maria and I also got to sleep early as our alarm was set for 3:30 am!!!

 

The alarm went off and I got up with no problem as my adrenalaine (sp) was really going.  Barely got any sleep at all last night.  Maria is sick as she has a cold.  Not a good start for her.

 

We got to the ferry terminal at 5am and checked-in and got in line for boarding.  The boarding went well and the ferry took off on time at 6am.  The sunrise over Lake Michigan was fantastic and the view of the city skyline appearing in front of you from the nightfall is really fun to watch.  I was on top-deck and snapped a few pics.  Then joined Maria below deck to get our plans organized and get a whatever sleep and rest we can get.

 

We did managed to get some sleep and also some bagels with coffee and tea for breakfast.  The ride was calm for the most part and you can feel a little bit of rocking of the boat.  The lake was calm and it made for a pleasant journey across Lake Michigan.

 

We arrived in Muskegon, Michigan at 9:30 am ET.  The ferry ride took exactly 2:30 hrs.  The unloading went fairly quickly.  With Maria navigating we found our highway right away and we’re off to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

 

The drive across Michigan was non-eventfull as we took the by-pass route in all the big cities like Grand Rapids, Lansing and Flint.  We stopped to gas and eat lunch before we hit Flint.  We ate at an Arby’s fast food. 

 

We then headed for Port Huron to cross the border into Canada.  This will be my first time setting foot in Canadian soil, but I believe it will be Maria’s third time.  The canadian border guard was friendly and chatty as he stamped our passports.  Now it’s official that I’ve been in Canada, eh!

 

The drive across Ontario from Point Edward to Niagara Falls was also uneventfull.  Their highway system is similar to ours.  Although they should set the speed limit faster as the highway was marked only with 60 kmh speed limit!  Needless to say, I followed a few fast rabbits to see the Falls.

 

We stopped once in Strathroy to gas up.  This should take us all the way to Niagara Falls.  We also stopped in Brantford Tourist Center to book for a hotel in Niagara Falls.  The reason we stopped here is that getting late in the afternoon and with no reservation, we wanted to know for sure where we are staying that night.  If none were available in Niagara Falls, we would look for a room in Hamilton which is the next big city. 

 

We were able to secure a room at the HoJo (Howard Johnsons).  We also went to a grocery store to get Maria some medicine for her cold, some water and snacks.  We also got some canadian money from the ATM.

 

We got to Niagara Falls around 5:30 ish after some heavy duty traffic stoppage just north of the city at St. Catherines.  Massive construction going on.  Probably to upgrade the border crossings. 

 

After checking in we went to see what we went there for.  The Falls themselves.  The Falls are incredible.  Pictures you’ve seen does not do it any justice.  The size and the volume of water going over the rock ledge is just massive and awesome!  oh, about a quarter of a mile from the falls, i thought it was about to rain when Maria informed me that it was just the mist from the falls.  It just depends on which way the winds are blowing that day as to what part of town is getting wet.  We stayed there ’till about 9:30 to see the falls at night all lighted up.  There are about 10 big, powerfull spotlights that shine on the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls with different colors to make it look impressive.  I suppose they needed a gimmick for nightfall to keep the people from leaving.  I was an awesome sight none the less at night with the spotlights.

 

This is Maria’s third visit here.  No, not with a new husband each time as some of you are probably thinking.  In the immortal words from Tony — You sicko! 

 

Anyway, after seeing the “lightshow”, we got something to eat, then headed back to our hotel to rest up from our 18 hr day. 

 

Niagara Falls, a truly national treasure that one should see in their lifetime!  Better hurry up before it really becomes commercialized, if it’s not already. 

Tags: E Vermont 2006, Milwaukee, Niagara Falls

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 6th, 2006 at 11:34 pm and is filed under E Vermont 2006. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.