Welland Canal

Drove to the Welland Canal and parkway. Visited Thorold Museum of the little town on the canal in the municipality of St Catherines and on lock #7 Then down to St Catherines Lock 3 Museum about the locks and a bunch of other stuff, including a tribute to Lacross Hall of Fame. FREE. Well worth the money and worth seeing.

Lock #7

Lock #7, Yes, we did kiss

Lock #3, North view

Lock #3,  South view

Welland Canal History

Click here

Then a couple of wineries, Southbrook Vineyards. Organic wine, overpriced. They were okay, but...

Diamond Estates, The Winery. This is where you buy Dan Ackroyd Wines. The winery acquires vineyards, but continues the brand of these small vineyards. Many labels under 1 roof. Tasted some good wine here and a merlot was on sale for $7.95. Bought 6, great value.

Niagara Falls

Found a parking spot for the bike, cost $10 for the day. (Cars are $18) Took a tour package of the 4 most common tours -White Water Walk, - Hornblower Niagara Cruise, -Journey behind the Falls, and  -Niagara's Fury. and not to forget a 2 day pass on the local "WEGO" bus that you can hop on and off as required. And of course walking along the cliff with everyone else. Ticket agent said it wasn't very busy today, so line-ups will be short. She was right but still, there was a lot of people.

Emergency shut off gates for the Alan Beck Power plant 

above the falls

Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side

American Falls

Yours truly

White water Walk

Class 6 Rapids

Most dangerous in the world

Hornblower Niagara Cruise

In the cue. Boats hold unto 700 people

Julie and I with our ponchos

On the way up the river without a paddle

Original Electric power plant decommissioned in 1999

Getting Close

Pretty fricking close

US Falls and the elevator to "Maid in the Mist"

Journey Behind the Falls

The tunnels are man made. They cut 2 openings under and behind the falls 1 100 meters and 1 200 meter or 1/3 the way out behind the falls. The noise of the water overhead was the most impressive.

Niagara's Fury

2 movies, one animated, sort of corny, about how Niagara Falls was formed.  The other was a 4D 360 degree movie. Yes we had to wear our plastic ponchos again. This time the poncho colour was blue. You need to be there to experience it. Picture and Video taping was not allowed.

When we got out of the movies, came outside and fabulous rainbows had formed over the falls. Too Cool!

Above the falls, the inlet for the power plant 

that was decommissioned in 1999

Note the rusted barge wreck near the top right.

Day off

I got nothin!

Fort George

Headed to Niagara Falls this morning. On the way, crossed the Welland Canal. As we stopped for pictures of this old bridge, bells started to sound, the gates came down and the bridge started to rise. After 5 minutes a boat chugs by and then everything was good.

After that stop, continued to Niagara Falls and turned onto the Parkway. Travelled down to Fort George and spent the day learning about the War of 1812 with the Americans. 

American Hydro Electric Generation

Canadian Hydro Electric Generation

And Julie

Fort George

Powder Magazine, Only building not burnt down

Cooks for the Officers

Burning Kiln

On the road to Tillsonburg "My back still aches when I hear that word" Detours for groceries, and a 30-15 amp plug converter of the camper (found in Tillsonburg) And then down the back roads to Lake Erie. Enroute, another winery. Stopped in and found some great wines in a winery that was situated in a building that used to dry tobacco.  AKA; Burning Kilm Winery.  My wine box is filling up quickly.

Spring,  tobacco field, plants still small

Port Dover, Lake Erie, Main Street

More back roads to our destination Campsite. 25 minutes to the Welland Canal.

Hoity Toity

After Kyle's visit with Willie,  we packed up and got on the road. First chance we got, detour was made to the back roads. Our first objective was to find the cheapest gas so Harriston had gas under a buck. Enroute was found our first winery. Hoity Toity Cellar, had to stop, actually we had to turn around, Went in and talked to Gary and Diane the owners, They were charming. Because it is a cold region, special grapes that can withstand the cold are grown, they also make ciders. Must say that the grape wine was not the best, but the rhubarb wine was delightful. And had to buy some dry apple cider too. Loved their name. Diane also suggested the a local enroute craft brewery.

Kyle with Wiarton Willie behind glass

After Diane's suggested detour, we happen upon her suggested tastery. The lady serving had a personality of a wet paper bag, but had to take a phone call and handed us over to a nice young gentleman that had loads of personality and information. This craft brewery is in the former site of the Crystal Springs Brewery established in 1859, is the oldest operating original brewery building in Ontario. 

Some locals...  Many Mennonites in this area

Got down to Ingersoll and situated at a campsite. Got through 2 of the craft beers and it started thundering, moments later the rain came down, Snuggle in for the night..