Day One - Saturday, September 6

Expectations: After breakfast more sightseeing, picture taking. Get someone to take our picture. After lunch (if not sooner) head toward Lockport. Our ride will be all on-road today.

I shut the alarm clock off at 6 a.m. I didn’t sleep well in a strange bed. A peek out the window showed it was raining. By 7:25 it looked like the rain had stopped…at most maybe misting. Doesn’t look like a very good riding day, but we have no choice. We do have ponchos if we need them. I watched Lou leave. There goes our transportation…except for our bikes.

I grabbed a banana in the breakfast room. Already had a lemon Danish. Kathy had cereal with a banana. The breakfast room opened at 6:30 and had a variety of hot and cold cereals, coffee, tea, juices, Danish pastry, muffins, etc. There were tables where guests could sit and eat. We chose to eat in our rooms.

Local TV news had a story of a shooting overnight smack in the middle of the neighborhood we would have ridden through had the tourist information lady not redirected us.

Left Howard Johnson’s at 8:02. After Kathy put air in her front tire we headed for Horseshoe Falls and Luna Island. We chose not to go into Canada even though we probably would have had a better view. I think we are feeling a little anxious and want to get this show on the road. The weather is very dreary, cloudy, misty, and cool.

At Niagara Falls State Park I took many pictures at the statue of Chief Clinton Rickard (RO-WA-DA-GAH-RA-DEH – Loud Voice, Tuscarora, Beaver Clan) who founded the Indian Defense League of America. Also photographed plaques dedicated to Charter Members of the League, Sophie Martin (GO-WA-TAH-RA-NEH – Speaking to the People, Mohawk, Wolf Clan); David Hill (DE-HO-WEH-YA-HE-REH – Spreading Wings, Mohawk – Wolf Clan).

At Luna Island we walked down a lot of steps in the area of Bridal Veil Falls. We were able to get so close to the Niagara River as it flowed over the Niagara Escarpment that we could see the shallow bottom very clearly. Just before the water flows over the edge it gives no indication of how rapid the current is. Just thinking about stepping into the water is scary! Yet we saw signs that cautioned, “No climbing over railing.” Duh!