Happy Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!

We only had a hour and a half to drive today.  Yippee!  After yesterday's marathon, it was nice to be able to be out and about and not have to spend the day mostly in the car.  We went into Buffalo which was a treat for all of us who have studied the Erie Canal with our Epikaria Curriculum www.epikardia.com for so many years now.  This was the terminating point, in Buffalo.  All of my children except the baby were singing, "Low bridge, everybody down, low bridge, for we're coming to a town; you will always know your neighbor, you'll always know your pal, if you've ever navigated on the Erie Canal..."  Hardly any of the canal is left along New York and the parts in Buffalo are covered over by buildings and some of the foundations are under the Memorial Auditorium.  Since that is impossible to see, the best pictures are on this website here which shows the old canal system on top of the city streets today and pictures of the foundation.  A great book, actually a "must" when studying this, is, Cheryl Harness's "Amazing Impossible Erie Canal". 

We crossed the Niagara River and then went on into Niagara Falls, actually the name of the town, not just the falls.  Niagara is an Indian word meaning "Thundering Waters", very appropriate.  There are actually 3 falls, The American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, both in the US, and Horseshoe Falls, partially in the US and partially in Canada.  The border between the countries is right down the middle of the river so we spent the day looking into Canada but not going over just yet. 

There is quite a bit to do here so the cheapest and easiest was the buy a daily pass for it all.  2 of the children were free (another plus!) We went on the "Maid of the Mist" boat tour which takes you right into the mist of all the falls.  We watched an Imax movie at the Discovery Center, went out onto the observation deck, went to a small aquarium, and went to the Cave of the Winds, a walk out onto some steps and decking right into the mist of Bridal Veil Falls.  The park around this area was so nice and delightful with lots of trees for the children to play around as we sat on the grounds and ate a picnic lunch.  Our tickets included unlimited trolley rides which took us around to all these places.  This was wonderful since we otherwise would have done a ton of walking.  We had debated about whether or not to bring the main stroller or the smaller umbrella one and I'm so glad we decided to bring the larger stroller along; it came in handy for storage of food and other items as well as being easier than carrying her all day. 

On the "Maid of the Mist" boat tour, we all got to wear blue plastic ponchos which we could keep.  We got quite wet and baby didn't like this so well; it really wasn't the water that bothered her, it was something about the boat and the noise and the mist.  She loves water but she cried a little off and on throughout the tour.  Everyone else though, had a blast.  By the time we got to the Cave of the Winds, we were prepared for her to be scared again.  This time we got yellow plastic trash bags, although not as sturdy as the blue ones, more like wearing a yellow trash bag.  However we were in for a surprise.  Not only did she not get scared, she loved all the mist and water and wanted down and literally danced around slapping her bare feet in all the puddles.  I wish I had pictures of this to post but we had to take them on JB's underwater camera he uses sometimes for work.  We would have ruined any other camera.  We were all dripping wet by this point.  The others had so much fun too and everyone there was pointing at this baby who was wearing her own little version of a trash bag dancing around in front of the falls. 

After this, we decided to ride the trolley back into the town and go to our hotel.  We had had enough of wearing hot sticky trash bags and walking around in special Cave of the Wind sandals.  However, everyone now has a spare pair of shoes since we got to keep the sandals.  Every Friday and Saturday nights in Niagara Falls, there are fireworks.  Apparently on the 4th of July there is even a bigger show.  Even though the event started at 10 pm, we were hard-pressed to get everyone back to the hotel, clothes changed, supper, etc... in time.  Anyone who has traveled with a group (regardless of their ages, but especially more so the younger they are), knows that there is a certain amount of organization, sorting, and redoing that goes on at least daily.  Finding places to put things, putting items back where they are supposed to go, collecting dirty laundry, filling water bottles, packing up the overnight bag, stocking more diapers in about 5 places (back of front seat, diaper bag, pick-up and go bag, overnight bag...) all of this requires a little work and cooperation.  JB and Scott left the hotel after a quick change to go get some pizzas.  The rest of us worked on these tasks and changing clothes and watching the baby.  Then as soon as they came back, we were ready with filled water bottles, carrots, some fruit, and cleaned up children to walk back over to the Falls area.  We were fortunate enough to be able to walk to the fireworks; traffic was really backed up when we walked back.  We found a place on the ground, spread our blanket and had our dinner.  Then the show which was grand.  Afterwards we looked at the falls with the colored lights shining on them, very pretty.

I find it extremely interesting that the fireworks are shot off in Canada but over towards the American Falls.  I wonder if on July 1 (Canada Day), they do it the opposite way?  There must be quite a bit of easy cooperation between the 2 countries here.  Everything indicates that, from the fireworks to the tourism, to the electric power plant they co jointly control and benefit from. 

Another LONG day is over and everyone falls to sleep again at once; the one benefit of a busy time.  We've worn trash bags and funny looking rubber sandals, waited in line to be handed the trash bags and sandals, climbed aboard trolleys packed like cattle cars, gotten soaked by nature twice, eaten lunch and dinner (pizza) on the ground, watched the Niagara River rapids, saw Lake Erie, taken a multitude of pictures, heard the survival stories of the Falls, viewed Canada from the US, and generally had fun but have worn ourselves out.  And tomorrow is another day...

Quote of the Day:  "I can't wait to go to Cave of the Winds, so I can get those shooooosz [shoes]. 
~~~Elizabeth

Quote of the Day #2:  "Please stop spitting on my eyelids." 
 ~~Sarah Kelly to one of her brothers