Thundering waters

We climbed aboard our small tourist van at 6:15am and headed out of NYC. We drove across parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania until re-entering New York state on Route 81. Even though we were mainly on motorways, it was exciting to see snow decorating the trees, bushes and ground. We drove beside frozen rivers, ice chinks floating and swirling in dark water. A quick stop at Chequaga Falls, in Montour Falls township, was our introduction to frozen waterfalls. It was a good preparation for our destination of Niagara Falls. A drive along Seneca finger lake, past snow-dusted vineyards was another treat.

Eventually, we arrived at our destination. We visited the NY Power Authority Centre and felt like school kids on an excursion, as we watched videos about hydroelectricity and had an ‘immersive’ experience about the generation of electricity (on chairs that moved, sprayed water and wobbled about). It was a giggle.

Niagara Falls did not disappoint. We viewed the falls from the American side, marvelling at the force of the water, the power of the winds and the icy mist rising up from the valley floor. Unfortunately, the viewpoint for the Horseshoe Falls on the US side was iced over (closed) but that was not an issue. We had an exciting addition to the tour … we were going to Canada!

We crossed into Canada on the Rainbow Bridge and checked out the three falls – American, Bridal and Horseshoe – from the Canadian side. What a spectacle! Millions of litres of water a second cascading over the edges, creating a thunderous roar and throwing up a mist, which in turn created enormous ‘marshmallow’ drifts at the bases. After dinner, we walked back to the falls to see them lit in a variety of colours.

In the morning we had a final visit to the falls, back on the US side of the boarder. We descended to the gorge’s floor to take in the Bridal Falls from the base. The ‘marshmallows’ were huge and seeing the cascading water from below was incredible. The long drive back to NYC then completed the tour.

What a bucket list moment … spectacular falls in the ice and snow!