Day 19

Today was a good day, and a sad day. Started the day by driving to Niagara on the lake to go on a jet boat ride. What a thrill it was! It was a 38 foot boat with threec9 catapillar engines coupled to Hamilton jets. Now I know that means nothing to any of you, but what that equates to is three 600 hp engines. 3x600=1800. 1800 horsepower to move the boat thru the water at 65mph with 40 people on board, impressive to say the least. Ned and Ted never stopped grinning even though they were soaked head to toe.

From there we headed to drop antie and Caleb off at the airport.  Now this might sound like a simple task, but you have to keep in mind that we are travelling in a 33 foot motorhome and the airport was Pearson international in Toronto. I might as well have been a elephant riding a unicycle while juggling running chainsaws with the looks I was getting. Just a note for anyone flying out of Toronto, the parking garages at #1 terminal are just under 8 feet tall. I challenge anyone to back up a motorhome out of a parking garage into three lanes of airport traffic on their 18th wedding anniversary and have it go smooth enough that high 5s were in order. After that adventure we got auntie and Caleb to their plane said our sad goodbyes and we headed off down the 401. A stop for fuel and ice cream, then on to meet back up with grandpa. Arrived at the reststop to a home cooked meal, ready to eat. Back on the road for a few hours to end the day in Brookvile Ontario at the walmart country club.

  Now can any of you ladies think of a better way to spend a anniversary? Wet laundry to deal with, lost in Toronto, dinner in a truck stop, and a night in a walmart parking lot.   Who says guys can't plan a romantic day. 

    

Day 18, Niagra falls!

A beautiful surprise. I woke up this morning at an overpriced campground (almost $90/night)! For that price I expect someone to clean my motorhome and wash my sheets, but no, after all this is one of Canada's top tourist attractions and the season is short and we are visiting on a long weekend which adds up to very pricy accommodation. I am overwhelmed by the number of tourist gimmicks concentrated into a very small space. Everyone wants a piece of the tourist pie. not having done any prior research I had no idea which "package" that was offered was the best way to experience the falls. In the end being overwhelmed resulted not in just choosing something... Anything! But in choosing nothing at all. A very good choice. We took the shuttle, a meager $6 per adult (added to the $90/night) to the falls where we were greeted, not with a big iron gate demanding yet another overprice admission, but a lovely park like atmosphere with a meandering walkway that led you right beside the spectacular rushing water toward the plumiting horseshoe falls! We strolled and enjoyed a morning double, double from Tim Hortons and watched the boats bring people into the rolling water at the bottom of the falls. Took lots of photos but the sun in the mist made it difficult to see the horseshoe shape until later in the morning. We finally decided on the behind the falls tunnel experience (there is a charge for this) and down we went, 125 feet down, with our fashionable yellow slicker attire. Wow, the wind took my breath away and we were soaked within seconds. The power of the falls is awesome, and I am so glad my kids have listened to our Jonathan park audio stories and knew some of the history of the falls. It was fun to learn that the first person who went over the falls in a barrel was a lady who was a school teacher but also that she took her cat with her! We also read that the only person to ever accidentally go over the falls was a 7 year old boy who was victim of a boating accident and he survived and was rescued by the Maid of the mist who spotted him. We did not take a waterproof camera so photos were a bit of a challenge. Lunch and a few more pictures now that the sun was higher and we went to catch the shuttle back to the campsite. I can't tell you how pleased I am to know that this national treasure has not been put behind bars and toll booths so that the public can enjoy it without charge. Now I can't say the same for Yoho natIonal park, where it cost us $20 just for the pleasure of pulling over to have lunch and stretch our legs, you have to buy a park pass just to stop within the park.

Back at the campsite we swam to cool off, then the kids rigged up some costumes to participate in the organized kids club "holloween" trick or treat event. All the kids in the campground gathered and were led through the campground to collect candy just like a real Halloween. 

Tomorrow auntie paula leaves us even though I have tried hard to convince her to stay till the east coast. We have had a wonderful time with Auntie and Caleb. 

Day 17

Up and to the Toronto zoo by 9am. What a great day! We saw lions and tigers, snakes and ducks. Hippos, giraffes, moose, bear, gorillas, pandas, jaguars, and rhinos. Every kind of animal from all over the world. Ned, Ted and their cousin Caleb were troopers and except for the odd shoulder ride walked the whole day with little complaint. Played in the splash park before heading back to the motorhome for the slow drive to Niagara Falls. Driving thru Toronto on Friday afternoon of a long weekend was uneventful but slow going. Arrived at the yogi's jelly stone campground about 630 and were greated by grandpa and grandma. Dinner and a play on the giant trampoline and playground and then a quick shower and off to bed. Tomorrow we see the falls. 

Day 16

Today was a great day. I got to drive in Toronto, Ned, Ted and Caleb got to go to the Toronto science centre, and we had our first campfire that we got to sit and enjoy. Started the morning with breakfast and then a swim in the pool and a play on the playground. Great to have Caleb and auntie here for a few days. As the boys played I got to fix a few little things then it was time to go. Off to get some groceries and supplies, had lunch in the parking lot. Off we headed to the science centre where we played and explored and even took in a IMAX movie. We then headed to the glen rouge campground so we would be closer to the zoo in the morning. Got set up, nice dinner, boys played, rode bikes and explored the river. Mom cooked and cleaned. Dad changed the oil and checked the suspension over. Ned and Ted lit a fire and we all had s'mores and auntie showed the boys how to make ghost gum. Into bed by 10, big day tomorrow.