So, we are up to recalling the events of Friday! =) What a fun day! We got up early again and headed out of Mackenzie's early as she had to get to work early as well. We went to Niagara Glen where our oh so fun adventure would take place... more on that later. Before that adventure, we had another. =) I love being obscure! We had breakfast at the top of the gorge, and then climbed down this thing:
Niagara Glen is home to a whole series of hiking trails. Seeing as we had plenty of time before our big adventure, we decided to poke around. Turned out to be THE best decision ever. Our hike was moderate... not too challenging, but enough adventure to keep Dan and I entertained. We saw lots of wildlife and great scenery along the way:
Dan decided to climb =)
Now, mind you, when I trekked over there, the rock was completely barren. The river wayyyy out there. As I climbed back down, and headed back to where the trail was.... the water line was suddenly closing in on where I was. (Note to our mothers: it was not like a flash flood event... just a more noticeable change in the water level) We decided to sit up on another rock further back and see what was going on. Within a short amount of time we were watching the water ebb and flow from the main river that you see above. It would surge in, then suck back out, but then each time the shoreline got closer to us. By the time we left to head to our other adventure, that rock I was standing on looked like this:
This all occurs because they decrease the flow in 2 areas: one above the falls which would be to our right in the photo, and one at the generating stations to our left. In the morning, they open the dams and increase the water flow. What we got to see, was that exact moment in which they switched things over in the morning. It was quite a privilege to see... and something the typical visitor doesn't get to experience. We hiked back up for our next adventure of the day. This one is one of the highlights of the entire week. We did a Jet Boat Tour to the whirlpool in the Niagara River. Holy Moly that was awesome. So let's start at the beginning. We all load into a bus (12 + a tour guide named Tino) to head down to the dock. In that time, the entire bus got into a conversation of marvel at our Five Finger shoes. Hahaha even the bus driver had to turn around to see our shoes. After the whole event, a gentleman asked if he could take a picture of our feet. =) Our Five Fingers were a hit in Canada. Anywho, we get down to the dock, and get life jackets on... We opted to do the Jet Dome, so we would stay dry and get amazing photos/video. =) Our guide, Tino talked to us through head sets, explained the boat, it's design and all of the neat stuff about the power plants, the gorge, and everything in between as we went along. We raced down the gorge at a good 60mph past the zone where the coast guard has stated that they refuse to go because of the danger ahead. We reached white water rapids, and got to take them on. There is one area called the Devils Hole that we went through about 3 or 4 times. =) We got to go further down and see the whirlpool that is at the end of Class 6 rapids (remember the previous post... They usually only go 1-5). Along the trip we got to see the little cove where we had been earlier in the morning too. Ohhhhhh man, all I have to say is that this was sooooooo amazing!
After that amazingness, we went to a Butterfly Conservatory. It was basically an indoor oasis for all sorts of butterflies that they raise and release into the conservatory. There are literally butterflies everywhere. 'Twas a nice walkabout.
We went to this amazing farm stand called Kurt's Market that we went to the day before and got a sandwich and dried fruit and went back to Niagara Glen to eat. We made friends with a chipmunk and many little birds. The chipmunk turned out to be not such an impressive little thing... the birds kept getting the food before he did when we were trying to feed him! Cute little thing though!
Adventure number 3: We went back down that crazy stair system to hike in the other direction than we did that morning. We were slightly annoyed as there was a group of 4 people behind us hiking, with one gentleman in particular that kept creeping on us. He was on our tail the entire time. Eventually we opted to just stop, let them pass and give them a good amount of time to get way ahead of us. Oy. They were the type of outdoors people who aren't really outdoors people but like to pretend that they are. Quite annoying really. Anywho, we went on our way... this trail being really laid back. It was open and easy. This time we ended up at a different point along the River... and perched ourselves on some rocks to just take in life. We got to wave at folks speeding by on the open Jet Boat tours. =) On the American side of the gorge people were fishing in the river.
Adventure number 4: Soooooooo to be completely short and sweet about it: we got lost. Very very lost. On the way back, somehow we got off the trail without even realizing it, and ended up in dense mountain/forest stuff, with not a trail in sight. Oh man, the excitement. You know you are meant for your partner, when you can get so lost in the middle of the woods, and not argue or kill them. Success! =) We stayed as logical as possible... keeping the sound of the river to our right. Eventually we were bound to find A trail... not sure which one, but a true trail at least. There was never any flat land... it was all either up, or down... or semi cliff face (not so much rock, more just wooded land... if that makes any sense). Hahahaha oh man. So we worked our way around and over things and much of a time later, discovered the trail we had been on originally! Major success! =) We found the area where we had gone astray the first time, and took the correct route. Finally we ended up back at that crazy staircase... very much hot.... very much tired... very gross. =) We climbed out around 6pm... we had gone in around 2 or 2:30. Soooo all in all, not too bad, but a very awesome experience.
We headed back to St. Catharines to Mackenzie's. We stopped at a grocery store and got food to cook for her. Dan cooked us all a scruptious meal. After the wonderful food... we got to look at pictures from all of her travels around the world. We are really jealous of all of her travels. She taught English in South Korea for a year, shes been to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Austrailia, New Zealand, Bermuda, South Africa (3 months), China, and Thailand. She is currently going to school for wine making. Pretty awesome.
Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd so that was the pretty awesome, pretty adventure filled and pretty exhausting Friday that Dan and I had. =) I don't have pictures of the latter half because my camera battery kicked the bucket from all the videos I took on the Jet Boat. Luckily we didn't miss anything too exciting picture wise.
Boy...I'm tired just reading about your adventure!!!AND you know I wouldn't have been in that boat!
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