Fistful of Firsts

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July 3rd 2019

Published: July 3rd 2019

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3TravelingSisters

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Pam getting her feet in the Erie Canal

Day 5 – Tuesday – Buffalo, NY to Buffalo, NY (103 miles ???)

Today was the first day we woke up to rain. It was only drizzling, but rain nonetheless. That didn’t dampen our spirits because we were headed out for a day of adventure.

Our journey led us to Lockport and the Erie Canal. Of course, Pam had to get her feet into the chilly water. Then we set out to cruise the famous canal. This wasn’t just a laid-back ordinary cruise, this cruise ventured through the two highest locks along the canal (Pam’s first experience at riding a boat in a lock). The two locks combined rose the canal a total height of 50 feet. Many years ago, before the Erie Canal was built, it would take 6 weeks for a stage coach to go from Albany to Niagara Falls, NY. When it opened in 1825, the same trip only took 1 week. The rain held off for most of the cruise, but at the end it let loose and we ended up eating our lunch in the van overlooking the canal instead of at a picnic table.

Adventures continued as we headed to Niagara Falls.

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in the Erie Canal - coming up to the 2 lock set before town

Originally, we had intended to go to the US side first, but made a quick decision with a break in the weather to go to the Canadian side for the best view. Across the Rainbow Bridge we went, passports out, and soon Pam had even more firsts (her first time out of the country, her first time using her passport, her first time in Canada, and her first time to Niagara Falls); she was quite excited. After looking for a parking place to view the falls, Claire soon realized she had a first, too (her first time driving a car in another country)! We’re having a day of firsts! Susan had done all of these things before. For the most part, we had cloudy conditions, but it was interspersed with periods of rain and the rare sunshine breaking through the clouds. The crowds were heavy, especially around the best views of the falls, but the picture opportunities were terrific anyway. The power of Niagara Falls is unimaginable as well as the volume of water that spills over each second. The beauty of the green-blue waters with the white foam and spray is absolutely breath-taking.

After the falls and a

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moving into the lock

short stop for a few token souvenirs, Pam drove all of us along the Niagara River. Now it was Pam’s turn at “first time driving in another country” and we saw the turbulent waters above the falls along with the gorge formed by the waters downstream. Several miles downstream, we decided to take another adventure and pulled off to ride a cable car across the river where whirlpools swirled from the sharp bend of the river. This was another first for Pam (riding a cable car in another country). Pam was really pumped at this point. It was about time to be heading back to the US, so we crossed the Rainbow Bridge and went through customs (another first for Pam).

To keep with the French flare of the day, we stopped to eat outside at a French restaurant in Buffalo. Since Pam was the only one who hadn’t had escargot before, Claire had to order it for appetizer for us to share and Pam got another first. As we waited for our entrée to arrive, Claire looked at Pam’s passport and noticed that she didn’t get a stamp at the border. Pam said, “What??? You mean I went

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Susan and Pam relaxing for a bit

to another country and I don’t even have anything to show for it???” Suddenly, the air was let out of Pam’s balloon! Thankfully, supper was magnifique! Overall, this day of firsts was a grandiose experience for all the sisters.

Additional photos below

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