On Thursday all five of us took the boat about 5 miles, arriving at Lockport Marina. That afternoon we drove to the Buffalo airport to picked up our Florida grandchildren Alex and Cindy.
Friday, June 7, all seven of us traveled aboard Aisling Gheal through the two large Lockport locks. These impressive locks lift boats up about 50 feet.
We tied up at the dock at the top of the second lock and got ice cream at Lake Effects Ice Cream shop.
We then returned to Aisling Gheal and cruised west about 20 miles to Tonawanda. Eric and Tina had a hotel room and the three Gkids and us stayed on Aisling Gheal.
In the Lockport Lock
We tied up at the dock at the top of the second lock and got ice cream at Lake Effects Ice Cream shop.
Aisling Gheal tied at the dock at the top of the Lock
We then returned to Aisling Gheal and cruised west about 20 miles to Tonawanda. Eric and Tina had a hotel room and the three Gkids and us stayed on Aisling Gheal.
Dockside at North Tonawanda
The next few days we drove in Eric's rental car to Niagara Falls, Canada. We were all very serious going through Canadian Customs. The official looked at our passports and asked a few questions as to where we lived and then stamped our passports. We went on the "journey behind the falls". It was impressive to have all this water falling over us. We also did the cable car across the whirlpool. Eric, Alex, Cindy and Caitlin did the zip line on the edge of the Niagara River.
Journey behind the falls
Photo by Grandson Alex Lavin
Looking at whirlpool from cable car
The grandkids enjoyed the zip line down the Niagara gorge
On Sunday, June 9 (Jeff's birthday), we drove into Canada again and did the river walk alongside the Niagara River, rode the Hornblower Boat that cruises close to the falls and rode a large Ferris Wheel with a spectacular view of the falls. We had two very full and busy days and we were all exhausted!
Hornblower boat ride into the mists at the base of the falls this is the Canada side.
Photo by Grandson Alex Lavin
Hornblower boat ride at the base of the American side of the falls
Walking in the Niagara gorge with serious whitewater rapids
Photo by Grandson Alex Lavin
Standing waves in the rapids along the Niagara River Walk
Spectacular view of the falls from the Ferris wheel
Tuesday, June 11 we traveled back to the Lockport Marina. We stopped at the Lockport locks and again had ice cream at Lake Effects Ice Cream.
Selfie by Eric Schmitt
Lake Effect Ice Cream
The original plan was that Caitlin, Eric and Tina would leave on Wednesday, June 12 and Alex and Cindy would be with us until Sunday, June 16. However, Caitlin was having a great time so we decided to change her plans to stay with us and let her parents fly back home without her.
Lockport Marina where the grandkids loved to fish from the docks
Alexander with a fish!
Wednesday the grandkids spent riding bikes and fishing from the marina dock. We enjoyed a dinner of "salt potatoes" and chicken. Salt potatoes are a specialty of Syracuse - the Salt City. Salt miners from Ireland boiled potatoes in heavily salted water. We discovered "salt potatoes" in a grocery store. They sell a 5 pound bag of small yellow potatoes with a bag of salt. You boil the potatoes in a pan of water with the salt until tender and then serve with LOTS of butter. All of us enjoyed the potatoes and the organic chicken.
On Thursday June 13 we navigated to Brockport and tied up at the welcome center. Friday was a day of bicycling. The welcome center has bikes to borrow and all three grandkids were excited to ride. Caitlin, however, could not yet ride a bike. With the borrowed bike, she was coached by Jeff and Cindy while coasting down a gently slope in the parking lot. Finally, Caitlin could ride!
Caitlin and Cindy riding bikes
On Saturday, June 15 we took a ride on the historic Rochester and Genesee River Railroad.
Riding the historic R&GR train
Saturday night and Sunday morning the grandchildren spent packing. This was not as easy as you might imagine. At the Rochester airport we said our goodbyes. We made a lot of good memories.
The grandchildren board a plane in Rochester
Looks like a fun, memorable trip. Nice to see your grandchildren and Eric and his wife. Happy 4th of July!
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful experience for all of you and the pictures are wonderful. The walk under the falls brought back fond memories.
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