Ahoy Matey! Into the mist we go! Niagara Falls Adventure Part 3

When you live in a tourist destination and were to ask the locals "Do you do tourist type activities?" Most would reply "No". I know this, as I live in a tourist town and most of us stay away during high season for the most part. On our first day of being Niagara Falls tourists we did a lot of activities, everything I have posted in parts 1-2-3 were all done on Monday.  It was a busy day indeed! 

We decided to do a cruise at the base of the Falls, most would commonly recognise the name 'Maid Of the Mist', but on the Canadian side it is called Hornblower Cruises.  We paid our $20 CDN and sailed off into the mist.  We donned the signature plastic raincoats, have to say if you think you are going to stay dry its a fantasy. 

I look like a little sunburned smurf in this oh so attractive designer garbage bag.  Here I was actually dry! In another 2 minutes I was soaked, a tip for those who are contemplating doing this make sure your camera and other digital devices are in waterproof cases, for the girls waterproof mascara is the way to roll, there were a few ladies who when they got off the cruise they looked like Alice Cooper at the end with mascara running down their faces.  

Have to admit this was the best part of the tourist experience, it is not every day that you are able to get this close to one of the most magnificent water falls in the world and experience the raw power of nature.   I was pretty excited and I was very glad I did this and would do it again!

American side of falls  and Bridal Veil falls -simply stunning!

Niagara Falls consists of three falls, there are two on the American side, Bridal Veil falls and the American falls. Then we come to the biggest portion of the Falls which is on the Canadian side, it was named the Horseshoe Falls in 1721.

Photocredit to:  oldfact.org

Horseshoe Falls isn't one of the tallest or biggest waterfalls in the world, but due to the amount of water that runs over it, approximately 168,000 cubic m of water with the equivalent of 750,000 gallons per second falling 52 metres (170ft) into the basin that makes it one of the most powerful waterfallsin the world and it is a key component of hydroelectric power generation in Ontario.  The Horsehoe Falls are located between Table Rock and Goat Island. The length of the Niagara River is 58km. 

Here is a shot of the American Falls and to the extreme right Bridal Veil falls. At this point you could hear the roar from the Horseshoe Falls and we hadn't hit the mist yet. 

Rainbows were dancing off the water and it made it even more enchanting. Weare heading towards Horseshoe falls, the water was starting to get a little choppier and we were getting wetter. But it was very charming and there was a feeling of romance with it. The legend of the falls is that a young first nation's maiden was sacrificed & was sent over the falls in a canoe. They say if you listen to the water you will be mesmirized, pulled in and plummet over the falls. 

There was a lot of squealing about being wet from many a passenger. I was standing by a young couple and I have to say watching young love blossom was very touching, oh the days to be young and giddy with love. It was very sweet, the young man kept saying to me "I promised my girl I'd bring her here." All this was happening as moto man was wandering around taking pictures. 

Here we are about to head into the mist and at this point all hopes of staying somewhat dry are dashed. The mist also make it extremely difficult to take good pictures and I actually gave up, as did my iphone, it shut itself down, luckily it restarted!

You can't tell from my expression, but I was truly enjoying the adventure, I was just having an issue trying to work around a windswepted poncho to snap a pic. I looked like a drowned rat.

The roar was deafening! Ear plugs would be a handy thing to have, at this point the water was very turbulent, but it was nothing you couldn't deal with.

Coming back out of the falls.

Looking back down the gorge there is an observation platform and there is a story behind this, apparently it was supoosed to be the new bridge, connecting the US and Canada and part of the plan was for it to be a joint effort between the US and Canadian governments, but something happened and the bridge was not completed.  In any event I caught one of the many rainbows. 

The cruise was drawing to a soggy close, but every face you looked upon was beaming with joy.

Heading back to calmer waters.  

We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise through the mist and I would recommend doing this activity, it was amazing seeing the falls from above and from the Ferris Wheel, but it is completely different when you are so close, the magnitude of it is overwhelming.than It was thrilling to see just how powerful the falls are.  A few things i would recommend, wear good walking footwear, don't carry a big bulky handbag, make sure your electronics are protected from the water, most importantly enjoy one of Canada's most magnificent wonders!

This was an awesome day!