Wednesday, October 4, 2023: Farewell to the USA!
Info:
What is known as Niagara Falls is divided into the American Falls (320 m wide, 20 – 30 m high), the narrower Bridal Veil Falls and the Horseshoe Falls (790 m wide, 57 m high). The first two are completely on American territory, while the middle of the Horseshoe Falls forms the national border between the USA and Canada.
Four million people visit the Falls every year. With the Maid of the Mist you can ride into the horseshoe – free shower included!
My opinion:
A very special experience. It was my third time there – and I was overwhelmed again!
Diary:
As my ninety days in the USA were slowly coming to an end, it was time to return to Canada. I had chosen the most beautiful border for this: Niagara Falls!
For some reason the border official had doubts that I would be allowed to import a Bearspray bought in Canada, but after a lengthy phone call she confirmed that I would be allowed to. She was also the first to ask about Annie Way’s license plates and whether I would even be allowed to enter Canada with them. This was also confirmed to her – again after a lengthy phone call.
And so I left the USA for a long time, possibly forever.
That’s what I thought.
I had specially booked a campsite in Canada – in the middle of nowhere and, as it turned out, without WIFI – because you can see the falls better from the Canadian side.
As I wanted a little more background information than you can find on the non-existent internet, I decided to take a guided tour, two hours including Maid of the Mist and the viewing platform.
It took me a little while to realize that I would have to go back to the USA for this …
The American border official was also very suspicious of Annie Way. He found a number near her windshield wiper, entered it into the computer, then said: “You are good.” And I was allowed to return to the USA.
Before I met up with the group, I went to the park and took a look at the American Falls from the side. Unbelievable! These are the “small” falls, over which only ten percent of the Niagara River’s water flows, the rest comes via the Horseshoe Falls.
The guided tour was a little bizarre. I am always amazed at how adult Americans mutate into toddlers in a group. Yoohoo is shouted when the tour guide gives the cue, and people fall into a collective mood of happiness and nerdily answer the stupidest questions. Since I was the only non-American, which the tour guide never tired of mentioning (Ursula from Austria), I went along, otherwise people might have thought that Europeans are not as friendly herd animals as Americans. I would like to correct the image of Europe that is conveyed in the American media (communists and pickpockets). Even if that means shouting Yoohoo when the tour guide wants you to. And he wanted that every few minutes. Yoohoo.
But what he said in between was quite interesting. Yoohoo.
The Maid of the Mist now has plastic rain capes that you can take with you afterwards. Yoohoo. They used to have yellow raincoats in different sizes and they were returned after the tour. I thought it was smarter. Yoohoo.
Seeing the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls from the river is a dream.
The Horseshoe Falls are different, where you are surrounded by water and get completely wet – the plastic rain gowns are a bit unsuitable if they are meant to protect you from the heavy spray and cold wind. Luckily it was a hot day and the sun was shining – hair and clothes dried quickly. Yoohoo!
Niagara Falls are a product of the last ice age 10,000 years ago. The Niagara River comes from Lake Erie and flows into Lake Ontario. Because of the arrangement of the rock layers – the very hard ones at the top and the softer ones at the bottom (all deposits from an earlier sea), at some point it began to crumble at the edge and the falls moved backwards. This used to be 90 cm per year, but since about half of the Niagara River’s water no longer flows over the falls but through various power plants, it is now only 30 cm per year. In 50,000 years, the falls will arrive at Lake Erie – and no longer exist. Yoohoo?
Countless people have tried to master the falls in barrels. You can definitely survive that. If you’re lucky. Suicides are also relatively common, but this is not publicized.
I found one story touching. It took place in 1963. As a birthday surprise for a seven-year-old boy, he and his seventeen-year-old sister were allowed to go boating with a family friend. They were staying at Goat Island, the island that separates the Horseshoe Falls from the Bridal Veil Falls. The boat owner didn’t know that there were some shallows near the island – and suddenly the engine’s propeller was gone. The boat shot off in the direction of Horseshoe Falls. The man quickly put the life jackets on the siblings, he had no time for himself. He tried to row, but it was no use.
Shortly afterwards, the passengers of the Maid of the Mist discovered something in the water – a child. The ship turned around, the lifebuoy was thrown, missed, was thrown again, missed again. On the third attempt, the boy caught it and they were able to pull him to the ship. He thanked and politely asked if he could have a glass of water.
He later joined the navy and then became a pastor.
His sister managed to hold on to a rock in the water above the falls. A man out for a walk with his family saw this. Without hesitation, he jumped into the water, also holding on to a rock, and shouted to the girl to let out. He caught her and went ashore with her.
The boat owner was also holding on to a rock, but slipped off. His body was found a few days later.
There is a photo of the boy at the moment he is pulled out of the water. He smiles. He later said that he had the feeling that something was leading him to a very specific spot and he knew that nothing could happen to him. There is actually a “soft spot” under which there are no rocks. This is the only place where you can survive a fall.
However the boy got to this exact spot – he survived. He still visits Niagara Falls every year.
I wanted to cross over to the Canadian side afterwards, because you have a better view from there.
Why do I want to go to Canada? Vacation. – What do I plan to do? Fly home on October 25. – How long will I be in Canada in total? 178 days. – Why? Because I’ve just retired and I think deserve it. – Congratulations. Weapons? No. – Not even at home in Austria? No. – Why not? We don’t have guns in Austria because we think it’s safer. – Goodbye.
I was back in Canada. Yoohoo!
I had actually left the USA behind me. And paid 35 Canadian dollars plus tax for a parking space.
A few minutes later I was standing at the Horseshoe Falls. Unbelievable! As the sun was shining, there were also rainbows!
I strolled on towards American Falls, which are also much easier to see from this side.
I found the colors at the Horseshoe Falls the most beautiful. First the river with its dark green, and then the water as it falls. The intensity of the green is incredible.
I stood there for a long time, eating an ice cream with relish and looking out at the water and the rainbow. The colors of light. Another one of those moments that I will never forget.
