A Lockdown Virtual Journey (North America) Day 5
Day 5
Day Five
By seven I had phoned by beloved texted my girls and grandson, showered shaved and put on some clean clothes. Left my room and had joined Chris outside Pete’s room. A reading was read and prayers for family and friends spoken. We sang a few songs with Chris.
We were having breakfast by 7:30 but Chris was still managing to resist the temptation of ‘grits and cornbread’. How long for we continued to wonder. I still felt a little full so just had some cereals and milk and orange juice. Pete and Chris had very similar but both had a couple of cups of coffee. Apparently it was good coffee, it did have a pleasant aroma.
Back to our rooms to pick up the suitcases. Back down to reception and settle our bills. Chris used google to find the nearest ‘Gas Station’. We checked that all the sat-naves had the same data inputted and out we rolled. This time Pete led and Chris brought up the rear. We left the car park and petty much across the road into 7th N street. The street was wide and the area prosperous looking. We pulled into the Sunoco gas station, each going to a vacant pump. There was a bit of hilarity as Pete and I each worked out how to access to the fuel tank and then to operate the gas machine. Chris was already expert on the Harley as he seemed to have to fill up every hundred and twenty miles or so. We all eventually, with some help from fellow motorists, managed to fill our respective tanks. We went and paid for the fuel and to stock up on drinks. Back at the vehicles each of us rechecked that we had put in the correct satnav destination and were each going the same way to get there. Chris and Pete had both looked quite sceptical when I had suggested ‘goat island.’
We returned almost to the hotel and then retraced our route back to the I90. To our right were a succession of industrial buildings and to the left there was a succession of houses glimpsed through the trees. Pete gave us a thumbs up as we passed a ‘Budweiser’ building. Not my favourite tipple but had enjoyed the adverts with the vocal frogs. We followed the road (no choice really) around the top of Onondaga Lake and then we were into open countryside.
After about half hour or so and still on the I90 we crossed into Montezuma National Wild life refuge. We seemed to pass through areas of wet lands interspersed by small forests. It felt a little like the Norfolk Broads or driving south from Valencia, Spain and the wet lands there. We, well I did, see a big sculpture of an eagle. Brown body and white head, yet to see an eagle but at least I’ve seen the statue. The countryside turned into mainly farm land. The roadside signs gave directions to unfamiliar places with familiar sounding names. Manchester, Rochester to name a couple.
As we approached Buffalo NY the area seemed to have more farm buildings, all seemed tidy and well laid out. The traffic increased and soon after passing the Buffalo Niagara airport we turned off the I90 for the 290 and soon after onto the 190 towards Niagara. We came off the 190 and onto the Niagara scenic parkway. We could look across the Niagara River to Canada on our left. There was a lot of industry on our right. We turned right onto River-way. Then right onto 4th Street, soon turning left into 1st Street, across a bridge and onto Goat Island. We found the car-park nearest the Horseshoe Falls,between them and the American Falls. We parked up.
Pete and I got out and Chris got off, he locked his helmet and leather jacket in his luggage compartment. We stretched and took a few deep breaths and then Chris said ‘Anyone fancy an ice cream?’ We all did so followed Chris to the kiosk he had spotted.
While we were in the queue Pete and Chris looked at each other with a kind of quizzical look. ‘What’s up?’ Pete said he felt a little shaky and Chris agreed that he did too. We realised that what we could feel was the effect of the falls that vibrated through the ground. Armed with our cornets we approached the viewing platform. The roar from the Horseshoe Falls was such that we had to shout. A mist from the spray soaked us and we were unable to see through it to Canada just a hundred yards or so away. What we could see was a little boat far below crowded with people, most wearing clear blue plastic macs, making slow head way towards the falls. We soon realised that there was another boat not very far behind. As we were enjoying the spectacle we became aware of a dull thudding in addition to folk shouting to be heard above the roar of the waterfall. It was the sort of rhythmic thudding that is felt more than heard. We looked up to see a blue helicopter circling the falls, presumably giving the tourists in it, good angles for camera shots.
We took a few snaps ourselves to send back to friends and family. Then we walked around Goat Island towards the American Falls. We stopped to look at the statue of Nikola Tesla. An immigrant to America and a prolific inventor. Nice to see his name lives on even if in the name of a car. We followed some steps down and over a walkway bridge to Luna Island. It reminded me that I needed to text a lovely couple and their two amazing daughters. From the viewing area we could see the falls. This was a straight cataract. Very impressive as the water crashed down onto and around huge rocks. More photos and an enquiry as to where the ice creams had gone! None of us remembered finishing one.
While we were in the queue for a second ice cream we overheard a rather large chap holding forth on how only ten per cent of the water that used to flow over the falls now does the other ninety is used to crate hydroelectricity. He then told his companions, and us, tales of folk who had gone over the falls in barrels – some had survived! Charles Blondin had been the first to walk across the falls on a tightrope. Apparently he did so another three hundred, or there about, times. The other person he mentioned was Captain Webb, the first man to cross the English Channel. (I remember reading it on a box of matches.) He had died trying to swim through the rapids but thought he died from being crushed by the pressure of the water. Apparently he is buried nearby.
Having just had two ice creams, larger than I would normally have, and Sat-naves set and synchronised we processed back the way we had come to the I90. A beautiful and scenic run along the side of the river, at least for a while. We decided to let Chris lead as he needed to re-fuel more often than Pete and I. And we didn’t really want to have him speeding and all that that might entail trying to catch us up.
Chris refuelled just before the I90 and then set the pace at a steady sixty-five. It was quite built up around Buffalo but became less so as we moved south. The I90 follows the shoreline of Lake Eire albeit a few miles inland. The road was mostly two lanes meandering through alternating wooded areas and fields of crops. We crossed over rivers and passed by farm stead’s. The farm buildings I saw continued to be neat and looked very tidy. There were some amazingly built huge red coloured wooden barns. After a couple of hours at this pace we stopped again for Chris to refuel. We parked up and took a stroll into the service area. This was accessed by a covered bridge onto what is the space between the west and east carriageways of the interstate. I headed to the ‘Subway’ and got myself a mostly vegetable, with a bit of chicken, six inch roll. This was a very late lunch and compared with recent meals, one I felt I needed rather than wanted. We ate together although I don’t think Pete and Chris enjoyed their subways as much as I did. I had refuelled and rehydrated and now needed to dehydrate slightly. I felt slight alarm as we strolled to our vehicles there were two police men and about four other men standing around Chris’s Harley. A couple of the men appeared to be arguing. We soon realised that they were speculating as to which vehicle, the Trike or the Ford 150 would be more fun.
They seemed to be evenly split on their choices and their reasons why. I felt a little miffed as none had mentioned the Charger despite its mean green colour scheme. It turned out it was because although a nice looking car it only had a ‘puny’ three point two litre engine – should have gone for the five litre model!!
A few minutes later and this time with a lot more confidence we all three refuelled and were soon leaving the ‘Angola Travel Plaza’ and re-joining the road west. The land remained fairly flat as we left New York State and into Pennsylvania. The road by passed the town of Erie and soon after we entered Ohio, same road another state. The road continued through mostly flattish country with lots of neat farm stead’s and woodlands.
As we approached Cleveland the number of buildings increased. It was shortly after going past an airport on the lake that the road curved to the left and we were into the city. Whilst driving and listening and looking at the satnav and following Pete and Chris, I didn’t see very much of the city. Traffic was a lot heavier as well. Most of the buildings were low rise but did glimpse some tall buildings but nothing on the scale of Manhattan. We three followed the road and went over the River Cuyahoga, the views were of an industrial landscape with trees. Soon after the road signs and the satnav told us to keep right to stay on the I90 and avoid heading towards Columbus. It was mostly built up until and even after the Rocky River. The Rocky River Valley looked (what I could see of it.) to be deep and wooded. We did another keep right to stay on the I90 and after a few miles followed Chris off the road, over flyovers and eventually into a BP petrol station. We parked up and while Chris did what he had to Pete and I crossed the road to a Kentucky place. More diet coke no ice and coffee for Pete. Chris soon joined us and also had another coffee. We chatted while we consumed our drinks, mostly about what sort of church we would like to attend the following day. It boiled down to bible believing and charismatic. How do we find the one? We decided to ask the receptionist at our hotel in Toledo.
After making sure we had all taken advantage of the facilities it was back across the road, collect our vehicles and retrace or our route to the I90.
Safely back on ‘our’ road we settled down to enjoy the hundred miles or so to our lodgings for the night. The view changed to housing on the left and countryside on the right. We saw signs for the ‘Black River State Reservation’ then I had views of the river valley. I’m not sure what I expected to see on a ‘reservation’ but saw nothing but the river and its heavily wooded surround. I listened to some classical music which seemed to match the alternate small housing developments and the open countryside. The developments receded and there were more and more cultivated fields. These seemed to stretch for miles.
We passed signs for an ‘Executive Airport’ and the housing developments grew and got closer. The satnav said I should keep right and I followed Chris and Pete in doing that. We joined the 75 going north and then crossed a wide sluggish moving Maumee River. We came off the 75 and joined the 475. The buildings seemed to be mainly two and one story houses. I followed Chris and Pete onto the off ramp and then if was ‘L’ ‘R’ ‘L’ till we parked up outside the hotel. Stretches completed luggage removed from the boot/trunk of the charger we entered the lobby.
The receptionist seemed to have worked out who we were. They checked our documents and we signed the paperwork and were issued with what passes for keys these days. Chris then asked ‘Are there any good churches near here?’ ‘Aren’t they all good sir?’ they replied. Pete explained what we were looking for and the receptionist said they would do some research for us. They then asked if we would like to make a reservation for dinner anywhere. I declined their offer explain that we had a reservation for eight at Mancy’s Steakhouse. We did ask then to book us a taxi and it was arranged to seven forty outside the lobby. Chris commented that it would be difficult to get a taxi in the lobby. The receptionist laughed politely as receptionists do and we beat a retreat to our studio rooms.
It had been a long day and we didn’t have a lot of time to freshen up. Quick wash change of ‘T’ shirt and back to the lobby. Pete was already there and we were wondering if Chris had fallen asleep when he appeared in the lobby. The receptionist gave us a sheaf of paper and explained that our taxi was outside.
The taxi driver checked our names and reassured himself that he had the right destination. During the three miles or so to the restaurant he chatted to Chris. Another scrabble opponent coming up Pete queried! I was thinking the guy should be working for the CIA he was getting so much information out of Chris.
We were dropped off and Chris paid and tipped the driver. A big sign outside proclaimed we had arrived at the right place. Inside we were shown to a booth that had been reserved for us. We were asked what we like to drink while we looked at the menu. ‘Seagram’s VO 7 please.’ I said as both Chris and Pete looked at me quizzically. It’s a drink I used to enjoy on American airbases I explained. Pete and Chris both chose beers and we ordered a bottle of house red. Before the drinks arrived we knew what we wanted. Chris went for a thirty ounce ribeye while Pete and I asked if we could share a meal. The waiter agreed we could so we ordered an aged Delmonico ribeye mine with salad and Pete’s with jacket potato.
The drinks arrived and we looked through the list of churches given us by the receptionist. There were lots of churches on the sheets but not very much description. We decided we would have to take pot luck and just walk to a nearby one.
Chris turned a shade lighter as his steak arrived and was placed before him. It would have done a family of four for a couple of days! Next to it was a baked potato which must have weighed in at about a pound. I felt really pleased that Pete and I had shared a steak. The food was superb as was the wine, I was saving my Seagram’s until after. Chris made a valiant effort but was defeated, unable to eat all of either the steak or the potato. Both were put into a ‘doggy’ box, the wine was consumed, the bill was paid and a taxi ordered. I think this was when we actually looked at our surroundings and our fellow dinners. The surroundings were opulent, lots of wood, mirrors and dim lighting. We were the only folk in the place who were dressed in jeans and ‘T’ shirts. The only folk without female partners. And the only folk who knew how to eat properly with a knife and fork!! (joke)
The ride back to the hotel was much quieter as Chris could hardly keep awake. It wasn’t very long until I and I suspect Pete and Chris were fast asleep in our rooms. We would meet for breakfast at eight.
Niagara Falls (niagarafallsusa.org)
https://www.loraincountymetroparks.com/black-river-reservation
https://foursquare.com/v/angola-travel-plaza/4b3e60c7f964a5202f9c25e3