Retirement Adventures

We are to one of the MAJOR highlights of our trip... Niagara Falls. Kinda like the Grand Canyon, words just don't do it justice. So, I start with a few misc. pictures, a little 'info', and then basically proceed to more pix, with comment as needed.

OK, I’m copying Wikipedia here. Good info that’s more concise!

[Wikipedia] ‘Located on the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, the combined falls form the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world, with a vertical drop of more than 165 feet (50 m). Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America, as measured by vertical height and also by flow rate. While not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls are very wide. More than six million cubic feet (168,000 m3) of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow, and almost four million cubic feet (110,000 m3) on average. Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border between Canada and the United States; more specifically, between the province of Ontario and the state of New York. They form the southern end of the Niagara Gorge. From largest to smallest, the three waterfalls are the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The Horseshoe Falls lie on the Canadian side and the American Falls on the American side, separated by Goat Island. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also located on the American side, separated from the other waterfalls by Luna Island. The international boundary line was originally drawn through Horseshoe Falls in 1819, but the boundary has long been in dispute due to natural erosion and construction. The Niagara Falls are renowned both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Managing the balance between recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 19th century.’

[ME] One of the very interesting facts is that erosion has caused the waterfalls to retreat approximately 6.8 miles southward since the ‘white man’ has been around. The Horseshoe Falls, which are approximately 2,600 feet wide, have also changed their shape through the process of erosion; evolving from a small arch, to a horseshoe bend, to the present day gigantic inverted V. Just upstream from the falls' current location, Goat Island splits the course of the Niagara River, resulting in the separation of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls to the west from the American and Bridal Veil Falls to the east. Engineering has slowed erosion and recession. By taking water out of the river upstream of the falls for hydroelectric power (Since 1910 the US and Canada use a significant amount that is returned to the river downstream from the falls.), less water pounds down on the sandstone below, therefore, less erosion.

[Wikipedia] ‘The volume of water approaching the falls during peak flow season may sometimes be as much as 202,000 cubic feet per second. Since the flow is a direct function of the Lake Erie water elevation, it typically peaks in late spring or early summer. During the summer months, 100,000 cubic feet per second of water actually traverses the falls, some 90% of which goes over the Horseshoe Falls, while the balance is diverted to hydroelectric facilities. This is accomplished by employing a weir with movable gates upstream from the Horseshoe Falls. The falls flow is further halved at night, and during the low tourist season in the winter, remains a flat 50,000 cubic feet per second. Water diversion is regulated by the 1950 Niagara Treaty and is administered by the International Niagara Board of Control. The verdant green colour of the water flowing over the Niagara Falls is a byproduct of the estimated 60 tonnes/minute of dissolved salts and "rock flour" (very finely ground rock) generated by the erosive force of the Niagara River itself. The current rate of erosion is approximately 1 foot (0.30 m) per year down from a historical average of 3 feet (0.91 m) per year. However, it is estimated that 50,000 years from now, even at this reduced rate of erosion, the remaining 20 miles (32 km) to Lake Erie will have been undermined and the falls will cease to exist. [Our tour guide said the rate of erosion was originally 3 ft per year and after 1950 when the Niagara Treaty was made it got down to 1 ft per year. However, he said it was now approaching 1 ft per 10 years. That differs from what Wikipedia says.]

[Me] I can’t even imagine all of the water flowing over those falls! It is soooo powerful! Well, I feel like I just wrote a book report… LOL.

When my picture shows buildings/land on the other side of the river, that's always going to be Canada. We didn't go to the Canadian side.

Looking across at where the Canadians get in the boats to go in the falls.

That's the old hydroelectric plant for Canada.

At the bottom of that tower on the right is where we went

to get into our boat... to go in the falls! And on the

left is one of the boats heading upstream towards the falls.

Breathtakingly beautiful!

This and the next 3 pictures are below the dam where the river makes a 90 degree turn. The water travels into that corner so fast and deep that it makes a huge and very powerful and DEEP whirlpool. Many have lost their lives trying to go through it. Once you get in the vortex, there is no escaping.

And once again, we were treated to such beautiful fall scenery.

It had been our intention to go all the way north into the New England states to see their infamous fall colors. We had already seen so many beautiful trees and forests, that when we woke up one morning in the Adirondacks with slush on the windows, Bob changed his mind and we headed south! LOL

And that put us in the Shenandoah's with a 2 day stop at The Adirondack Museum. Very large and interesting place. If you have been to Ft Steele in Canada, it's kind of laid out the same way, only much more modern. Lots and lots of different buildings to peruse, all with a different theme. So, here are some pictures from there...

This first side building we went to was one for the children. We figured that was just the place, right on our learning level! So, I tried out the bobsled and Bob went fishing.

I'm supposed to tell Cody, Kyle and Sarah that he's found a new fishing hole!

They're made of material and stuffed, with magnets in the mouth to catch them.

Next we had to try on the hats of the era.

There was a huge building dedicated to wagons of all varieties. Here's one...

The next 3 pictures are from the window at lunch. As you can see, it was beautiful,

but take note of the storm rolling in. Each time I zoomed in a bit, watching the island.

By the time I'd taken the 3 pictures, you could hardly see the island for the rain!

Bob took these in a building dedicated to the home made furniture of the times.

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As we were driving in Vermont, we saw this very tall and big monument. We were curious what it was, so we got off the exit, parked the motor home at WalMart :) and took off in the car to find it. And we were so glad we did. It is a monument to a battle fought there during the Revolutionary War. The man who spearheaded the memorial, wanted something that would attract attention from far away, so many would come. And it worked for us :) For more info... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennington_Battle_Monument

The rock face... unbelievable!

Bob took the elevator up to the top. You can see Vermont, New York and Massachusetts from those windows!

We also took a driving tour of 5 covered bridges. (http://gonewengland.about.com/od/vtsightseeing/ss/aavtbridgedrive.htm)

I took pictures of the top of the bridges, and Bob was fascinated with the underside! So, if you would like some of those pictures, let me know and I'll be happy to pass them along.

And these are pictures from the bridges... So gorgeous :)

And finally we went to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battleground, monuments and etc. were closed because of the government shut down, but thankfully the Museum was open. (We also had planned on visiting Philadelphia, but all the federal places to visit were closed.)