Temp: Warm -3 degrees overcast.
Heading off to Niagra falls in the morning we took a slight detour to visit the CN Tower. A Toronto landmark. First thoughts were to go to the top of the tower but as it came into view the observation decks only just sat under the blanket of cloud. Toronto boasts a population around 2.5 million. Took some photographs and decided to continue towards Hamilton. It was about 60 minutes to Dundas, the town I spent some time in a good few years back. The GPS took us in through the back way, but straight onto Melville St where the primary school sits, and of course our old home. While photographing 154 Melville a neighbour from across the road stopped for a chat. He actually owns the place now and was interested in knowing I lived there 32 years ago. He offered some suggestions for the rest of our trip. The place is definately different from what I remember. It was much larger back then, and I was sure the driveway was wider. :-)
St James church across the road was well restored with significant rennovations done. This church was destroyed by fire just before we arrived in 1978. Further on down the road the school has suffered few changes. As Clare mentioned later the school is actually one of the first built in early Canada (That is after the creation of the Canadian Nation). Changes to the school outside did include grass, a perimeter fence and a shed on the right of the building. We drove around the neighbourhood for a short time.
Once leaving Dundas we headed to Ancaster to meet up with the Stewarts for lunch. Although really a suburb Ancaster is complete with country roads through wooded areas and abound with isolated stone buildings before coming to developed built up residential and commercial areas. In many regards reminiscent to Bridgewater in the Adelaide hills. The snow brought us back to reality.
Lunch at the Stewarts was fantastic and it was great to see Clare again and meet her son Brett.
After lunch we were on our way to Niagra. Clare offered to lead us back to the 403, QEW or Link which would eventually take us to Niagra. I hoped for road signs and decided to continue to follow Clare ignoring the GPS. Eventually ended back onto the QEW with signs directing us to Niagra Falls. Not a big problem and certainly no longer travelling. It was only about an hour to the falls and we made the Sheraton hotel in good time. The hotel was busy and by the way the staff were running about and chasing down cars we took the valet option. While waiting for reception we were given a complimentary warm cider.
Our hotel room faced the falls with a spectacular view.
As light was fading we went for a walk along the falls, taking photos as well. We couldn't find the 'Behind the falls' tour information so we returned to the hotel for dinner. Dinner was had at the hotel in one of the restaurants there. It was busy but they managed to squeeze us into the buffet pretty quickly.
After dinner Kylie and the girls strolled into the heart of the Niagra fun district. Think Las Vegas.
I went back to the falls for some night photos. The sound and spray from the falls assail the senses. It isn't that cold but the spray turns the snow to ice and makes the pavement slippery to walk on. There is a huge light show along the roadway ranging from decorated trees to a variety of light displays.
In one of the trees there a raccoon hid from the lights and sounds of the kids running about the parklands.
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