Niagara-on-the-lake

Friday 19 October

We’re up early and again enjoy a splendid breakfast, although I have told Janet that I would be happy with cereal only. Even Frank, who always has a healthy appetite, is cutting back…

After breakfast Bruce allows me to check my email messages and just as well, because our next hosts ask if we want to go out for dinner with them that night.

Then it’s time to say goodbye again, but we’re not leaving without having taken pictures first.  

Today we want to catch up on a few other places on our list, and the first one is Niagara-on-the-lake, which is actually on Lake Ontario where the Niagara River enters the lake.  It’s an easy ride and after a night of rain the sun is coming out.

After our arrival we quickly find a parking spot and walk the full length of this pretty town, all the way to the lake where this time we don’t see Toronto, because its skyline is hidden by lingering dark clouds.

When we need a rest we order a cup of coffee with biscotti in the lounge of the Prince of Wales Hotel and watch the increasing number of tourists passing by as well as the horse-and-carriages.  It’s a pleasant little corner to enjoy some peace and quiet.

Next we are going to follow the river all the way back to the falls and stop off at places of interest along the route.  First is the Floral Clock.  It’s a gorgeous warm autumn day and it really feels like an Indian Summer.  How lucky we are today, because we can enjoy nature in all its glory with the sun bringing out the vibrant colours even more.

The Floral Clock

At the scenic lookout over the Niagara River

After stopping off at the Floral Clock we stop at a scenic lookout and later at the hydro plants (one on the Canadian side, and one on the American side).

at the hydro electric plants

Next stop is the Whirlpool where one can cross the river in an aero car.  The last stop of the day is at the White Water Walk for which we have a pass, so we spend some time at this beautiful spot.

At the Whirlpool

The Whirlpool got its name, because it is at a sharp bend in the river where the water has churned out a deep pool and where one can see the water swirling.  At this point it is still going quite fast at 9m/s.

At the White Water Walk the flow is still a lot faster at 48m/s, which creates class 6 rapids for those who are familiar with white water rafting.  We did it in New Zealand, but you wouldn’t see me doing this one!  Anyway, traversing a class 6 would be suicidal.  These rapids are beautiful to watch though.  One realises the power and beauty of Mother Nature.

At the White Water Walk

All too soon it’s after four in the afternoon and we have to get to Smithville where we are staying the night.  It’s an adventure again, with only basic instructions, but this time we can drive while it is still light, which makes it a whole lot easier.

We arrive at Cor and Alice’s at 5.15pm and are welcomed in by two kind people.  We’re shown our room, have a chat and after that we all hop into their car for the drive to Grimsby, where they know a good restaurant.  Well ‘good’ appears to be an understatement!  It’s fantastic.  Not only the food, but we are waited upon by a most pleasant girl with a fantastic sense of humour.

When we have to order Frank goes for trout, what else in Canada? ;-)  I on the other hand notice something on the menu that I haven’t had in years………  Liver and onions!  Yes, I can almost hear you: liver and onions???  Is she out of her mind?  Well, I can tell you, I haven’t had such a fantastic meal in a long, long time.  Not even the melt-in-the-mouth steak a day or so ago can surpass this meal.  The liver, I was told, is to be ordered the way you like your steak, so in my case that’s medium to rare.  And indeed, it was done to perfection.  The liver and onions came with bacon, mashed potato, carrots, beans and…. Brussels sprouts!  Boy, if I could I would go back again before leaving for home!  And imagine, we all had what they call a seniors meal. This is cheaper than the regular meals and comes with delicious dessert as well, plus bottomless coffee. And those Canadians know how to make a proper cup of coffee too.  Suffices to say that we had a great time, hence our happy faces at the table:

Afterwards we went back home with our hosts, but in the meantime we were all speaking Dutch!  It appeared that they both are of Dutch origin and have lived in Canada since they where children.  Cor arrived in Canada in 1948 and still speaks Dutch like a native.  Needless to say we had a lot of common ground to cover and Alice showed me her handiwork.  She makes hooked rugs in a manner that I haven’t seen before.  It’s done with thin strips of fabric and looks very much like it is stitched.  Beautiful work which, like most crafts, requires lots of patience.  If you want to find out more about this technique look it up under rug hooking.

Again, 12am came far too soon and off to bed we went.