July 13 The Falls at Niagra

So now the expedition party is three>> Ellen and I, and the family dog. And we are off to Niagra Falls, where I haven't been in nearly 30 years! And today is our 19th anniversary! (I went to college at Hobart College in nearby Geneva, so I know upstate New York well, tho 30 years does cloud things). We say farewell to Jeri Jaeger and her family in East Amherst and fold ourselves into the morning commute over to the University of Buffalo campus, where we pick up another good bike trail through campus to the Niagra River. There sure are a lot of Canada Geese on this route! And a slimy trail they make! Over the I-190 bridge and onto then off of Grand Island, then a turn westward out toward the rising cloud of mist and the destination spot for so many tourists each year.
As it approaches the famous drop, the blue Niagra River starts to churn with energy as the otherwise gentle grade gradually steepens. There appear many "Boats prohibited beyond this point" signs. One can feel the impending energy as the gallons of whitewater reach, then plunge over the rocks and disappear below. There are two sets of falls: the American and the Horseshoe, which I believe the Canadians claim. Canada has an elaborate and overwhelming buildup on their side of the river, and no doubt the straight on view is glorious. Gawking tourists are everywhere, jockeying for the best places to get those special photo album pix. When 2 Indian fellows got in our "perfect" line of sight with the falls, I courteously asked them if they wouldn't mind taking our "anniversary" picture, whereupon we grabbed their perch and the deed was accomplished. For a brief and dreamy moment, I looked about for the "one time use" barrel store, but didn't see one. Lunch calls and we find some delish red-hot Indian Thali dishes before heading out.
The town of Niagra Falls, outside the 5* hotels and fine eateries of the actual falls, is quite depressed and impoverished, and our route east took us thru some of the worst. Another place where one does not want a flat, tho a stretch where the shoulders were full of glass and debris. We meet a young lady and help her get the chain back on her bike. Out SR 62 a few miles trying to outrace the heavy truck traffic before turning NE and into the corn fields and flatness, where, even after 10 more miles, we are still in quite a heavy rush hour. Seems that we have spent all day riding around Buffalo and are still quite close to its suburbs. On Rte. 31, we pass Lockport, Royalton and Shelby, for a soft serve ice cream break. (NY state must have the most soft serve ice cream joints in the country, and memories of my youth are happily reinstated.)
We finally make Medina, a simple crossroads town en route to Rochester, after 73 miles, and the Dollinger's Motel. Ellen's first day on the road has proven to be a long one!
And she did great!
Pass 3400 miles today.