Tuesday, May 23, 2017

5/23/17 - 5/27/17 Niagara Falls

From: casarollnotes.blogspot.com 
Tim and Linda Bunyan

Here for Niagra Falls USA; and so much more
 The map indicates our route for 2017 Travel Tour





May 23, 2017 Tuesday
We arrived at Cinderella RV Camp, located just behind the Cinderella Motor-Court Motel on Grand Island, New York 




Our RV Park (home for this week) is conveniently placed across the Niagara River by way of the truss-arch, blue bridge, constructed in 1935. 












Arriving Niagra Falls, we parked at the U.S. Visitors Center 


and off we went for the amazing "Maid of The Mist" monumental boat ride.  This is a New York experience for the adventurous, the sport, and the conquerors! 


Entering the 18-floor elevator to Prospect Point, the boat dock, we boldly stepped aboard (wrapped in blue water coats.)
The boat ride is 20-minutes of full sensory experience with falling water and a thunderous sound, mist surrounds your body, and the air tendrils fill your being:  the Falls rule!  
Tim protected me at the section behind the main cabin.  I could then see all around me.

Next-Day: 'DRY DOCKED': For a close look at the Niagara River, we hiked Goat Island.  

The Niagara River current is white-water for miles.  The rushing river is parted by Goat Island creating the U.S. Falls and the Canadian Falls.



Approximately 90% of the Niagara River, after diversions for hydropower generation, flows over Horseshoe Falls.  The remaining 10% flows over American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.
May 24, Wednesday
We approached Niagara Falls today on the Canadian side
in the afternoon to stay for the stunning panoramic views of city lights and the famous colored illumination of the falls! 













AND SO MUCH MORE


We crossed over the Niagara River gorge on the 
International Rainbow Bridge.
It opened 75 years ago. We showed our Passports and 






declared our address as South Dakota and walked into a land of beautiful gardens, wide walkways, elevated hotels, and restaurants.  

The evening was calm and warm as the sprinkles of rain were only a tease. 




The U.S. side is lit with red, white, and blue;
 the Canadian side is shown red and white representing each country’s flag.  









About 600,00 gallons of water flow over Niagara Falls every second.   

We walked on, beyond the falls to the old Electrical Development Co.  It is a historical landmark in Niagara Falls, Ontario.  It is a former generating station along the river, upstream from the newer Rankine Power Station.  It was completed in 1906 in the Beaux-Art-style by architect E. J. Lennox for electric power supply to nearby Toronto.
Sure hope it will be used in future adaptive reuse and urban exploration activities.  We walked by the Rankine Generating Station, now closed built in 1905.  


NEW YORK POWER




POWER!






We dined a chef-prepared meal at Elements Restaurant overlooking the spectacular edge of the Canadian Falls and the Canada 150 sign, representing the 150 celebrations of Canada becoming a Confederation.  

We walked around the Illumination Tower which is located next to Queen Victoria Place.  Energy-efficient LED lighting provides high lighting levels, programmable lighting, and a wide spectrum of color.  It is financed by The Niagara Falls Illumination Board since 1925.
Next Day:
THE LOVE CANAL
  Yes, it does exist........stretching northward from the Niagara River in a quiet, low-populated neighborhood within Niagara Falls, New York.  This 70-acre 'Superfund Site' is a massive environmental pollution disaster, with over 200 chemicals identified, that affected the health of hundreds.  The chemically saturated land was evacuated in 1978.
 









LOVE CANAL, not longer loved; completely fenced!






  We hiked along the Niagara River
 the adjoining water: Lake Erie at the West and Lake Ontario to the East.



We took a drive to Old Fort Niagara.  It sets at the end of the Niagara River where it flows out into a bigger body of water: Lake Ontario. 

The Iroquois and the French fought in 1670’s.  British gained control in 1759 but forced by treaty to yield it to the U.S. in 1796.  Finally ceded at the end of the Ware of 1812.  Through the years and wars, the last army units were withdrawn in 1963.  Today, the U.S. Coast Guard is the only military presence on the site.


We visited where the tips of each state (New York & Ohio) meet up at the towns of: Youngtown and Lewiston, Ohio.  

The Youngstown Yacht Club was established 1931.  The address is 491 Water Street and right now the marina is edged with sandbags!  



The Yacht Club entrance gate is encased with sandbags overrun with water from Niagara River into Lake Ontario.











The concessionaire for the Niagara Jet Boats has several pumps going to save their new floor room, restaurant, and bar.  










The politics of dam regulation has not released the usual amount of water, so Lake Ontario is higher than in the past. 
Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River are
running about 21” higher than average.

This puppy dog is quite alarmed at the impending danger of completely flooding because of the high water.
Communities are facing losses and politicians are being called upon to ‘function’.  
Lots of rain and the former "Legislative Plan 2014" 
is taking the heat.  
There is flooding everywhere!  Climate Change?  The North Pole melting??  Donald Trump and both countries need to agree.

We took another hike.

We approach the month of June, eager to fly to Sacramento for our grandson, Jeffrey's HS graduation, and also our son, Jason and Erin's Wedding.  We are leaving the RV at the Family Farm for the month of June.
Laundry tonight, doormats all clean, refrigerator and cupboards are bare as we prepare to leave RV at Family Farm.  
Tim and I are planning our July through October 2017 trips:  New York, Fingers Lakes; down to PA-Hershey; over to Atlantic City; Washington, DC; and East to the Cape to Woods Hole up to Maine then west to Connecticut, Vermont, (Mike and Sherry to meet up with us) and return to Upstate New York.  The route we begin when we return to New York (after the month of June in the Sacramento area):
 is Our 2017 Travel Tour of the Colony States 'counter-clockwise express'.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

5/18/2017 Sara's CampGround RV Resort Erie, Pennsylvania

from: casarollnotes.blogspot.com
Linda and Tim Bunyan

Erie, Pennsylvania

Departed Geneva-by-the-Sea State Park site 58 to drive along the Lake Erie road as much as possible to arrive afternoon at
Sara’s Campground: Erie, Pennsylvania  

Original owner: Sara, from Ireland.  Came here and made her way of purchasing land and creating this access to Lake Erie.  The RV Resort is run by one of her sons, RV and Camping grounds on the lakeside and on the bayside.  


Sara’s restaurant is operated by her other son.  Diners are lined up around the building along with walkups lined up at several indoor order windows.  





Many pictures may capture the description of this dining place.  The style is much like a real 50’s diner.  Old signs and gas pumps.  






People do come all day and in the hot and the cold weather.  The special Sara’s is most known for is the orange sherbet/vanilla swirl soft-served ice cream in a cone.  
Tim BBQ Tilapia and I fixed a salad.....after our Sara's Special!

Errands today for milk and ‘pop’ and screws for RV.  The outdoor handle knob came off.  Need to size up a fix.  Took a photo of the drive-thru beer store.  The first drive-thru we ever saw was in Mazatlan when David and Mildred picked us up at the airport and stopped at the local drive-thru for some brews.  These marts serve unopened beer beverages by bottle, pack, or case with returnable bottles!  

Working on photos and this travel blog as having too busy to write much more than jot daily notes.  It cooled to 58 degrees today so we postponed our bike ride till tomorrow.  




Dinner at Pittsburgh Inn, since 1924.  The original owner purchased the land in 1917.  Serves a blue plate and it is a house with tables and a bar.
They have a “Wall of Honor” as a tribute to all the brave servicemen and women.  Tom and Robin Weunski are the owners of this local restaurant.  





May 20 Saturday

15 miles bike ride around 
Presque Isle State Park Peninsula with Marina.  We saw the lighthouse, it is red brick with a white tower.




The Commodore Perry Monument  He won a war of 1812 (Lake Erie) on the Niagara Ship which now tours the Great Lakes.  





We watched the sunset near our Sara’s Campground site; we have a path to the beach.  Over 4M visitors per year come to this playground.  It is really a nice State Park on a peninsula that projects into Lake Erie.  

There are marinas and boat launches (no charge).  Bike trail all around the perimeter of the park.  It is glorious and I love it here.



May 21 Sunday
Day of rain so we did museums today.  The Maritime Museum near downtown Erie in the wharf district.  Very nice with a tribute to Commodore Perry in the war of 1812.  Ropes with knot tying were available for kids and we kids tied a clove hitch, Bolin, and sheet bend.  Yes, Tim did them all.  
We also went to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center with a 75’ observation tower at Presque Isle. 

 Boats were built there at the Erie Shipbuilding.  A Fresnel lens originally mounted in the Erie Harbor is on display.  It looks like a 5’ tall crystal.  Paul Simple, Eagle and Sea Scout, is honored there as he devised the Wind Chill Index while he led a team in 1872 to winter at the South Pole!

May 22, Monday
We did some planning for our stays in NY in July and August.

Sunday, May 14, 2017

5/14/2017 Shores of Lake Erie in Ohio


from: casarollnotes.blogspot.com
Linda and Tim Bunyan


May 14 Sunday Mother’s Day 
Jason and Erin called to wish me a Happy Mother’s Day!  That makes me HAPPY!

We departed the home of Superman: Cleveland, Ohio.  We had stayed overnight boondocking at the First Energy Stadium.  It is a great location to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and we walked to Cleveland downtown square.   

We signed up for EZ Pass. We purchased a transponder and registered it on-line so we are ready for Toll roads.  
It automatically debits your account and allows the traveler to the drive-thru in the EZ Pass lane which will be a relief for Tim to not have to lane change at short notice.




We are leaving the city behind to recreate along Lake Erie!  

We drive the Ohio Coastal Trail as much as practical for the local flavor of the areas and points of interest, neighborhoods, and houses.  
We ARRIVE, Geneva, Ohio State Park and set up our home for a week to play and explore this shore of Lake Erie in Ohio.

We set out on a 20-mile bike ride everywhere we could.  The state park held a bike path and we reached the small tourist town of Geneva connected to the state park.




One week before the opening season, the population is filled with innkeepers, street sweepers, and others setting out old glory upon the lamp posts throughout this one-road playground.

This cute pop stand is ready to open to serve thirsty vacationers.

We even rode our bikes around the local golf course.  It is preparing for Season Opening next week.


We had the town to ourselves as we RODE OUR BIKES throughout the area.  This is Lake Erie for as far as you can see!!! 









Next day: 10-mile bike ride from our campsite thru the park, along the Lake Erie and to Geneva-by-the-Lake town.  It is all set for next week's opening season’. 
Flags are flown from telephone poles and front of homes and businesses.  
The main street appears festive in color and full fair food to satisfy beachcombers.  Eddy’s is paired up with DQ.  The benches are freshly painted yellow and Tim noticed the outside counter has a new Formica countertop.  Handymen and gardeners were the few people we saw. 
The weather was beautiful while we were there………warming for the millions of people that come every year for fun in the sun and the sandy beach at Lake Erie.
Antique store in the neighborhood.
Side street to Lake Cottages getting ready to be filled with Summer Season Guests.


Delightful, we have the place to ourselves.




OPEN BAR along the shore in the neighborhood.  Well, it is closed this week!

Drove thru Ashtabula County, the wine country and known for many covered bridges.  Harpersfield claimed 10’ 9” clearance with 2 spans, Howe Truss, and 228’ long.  It is the second-longest covered bridge in Ohio, built in 1869.
  It is a National Register of Historic Places.  It is bridging the Grand River. 

Tim and I had lunch at the Grand River Manor tavern.  Brought back a bottle cap ‘Coney Island Brewing Company’…...soft, light, sweet beer…. appropriately brewed in Brooklyn, New York…they have it on Thirsty Thursday at Jolly Monk at their 701 9th Ave New York, NY location.  We added the bottle cap to the US map given to us from Jason and Erin.

Day trip westerly along the Lake Erie to as far at the Headlands Beach State Park with a mile-long stretch of natural sand beach.  Can fish at the pier (for perch and bass—I’ve heard), hiking, and picnic.  It is in the city of Mentor, settled in 1797.  The Population is 50,000.  CNNMoney.com ranked Mentor 37th in a list of the Top 100 Best Places to live in America.  Tim and I ranked it right up in the top 5!  Discovered the Marina Harbor Yacht Club.  The lagoons allowed boaters range along the shores for boat docks which included patio, awnings, BBQ, and even contracted each their own ‘blue house’ for the summer months. 

The Grand River is a tributary of Lake Erie, 102 miles long.  It does flow out thru the
 St Lawrence River to the Atlantic Ocean.  We saw industrial gravel company; Osborne Concrete & Stone Co. is privately held-limestone and sand products with huge piles.  Conveyor belts and heavy equipment for un-loading.  Founded in 1947 they are a full-service concrete, paving, and stone business.

16 covered bridges can be found on this day-long drive.  We drove 15 minutes from Geneva State Park around Ashtabula county.  
 The Harpersfield Covered Bridge: two span Howe Truss bridge is 228' long.