FKO and Niagara Falls, part 4

[beige_alert]

Monday morning was time for goodbyes. A lot of other times goodbyes are really “see you next month” or “see you at the next Chicago con” or maybe “see you next year,” but with so many people from the UK, saying goodbye is harder because the next meeting is so much more uncertain. I am very fortunate to be planning to go to FilkContinental this fall, though, so there are people I’ll be seeing there. It is quite a delight to hear people saying “see you in Germany!”

I described for some people my con-travel-progression, where I first regard some distance as just too far to travel, but once I finally try it, I decide that it’s not so bad. The process then repeats with a greater distance. First OVFF, now the more distant FKO, and then in the fall, the rather more distant still Germany. sibylle then said, “that’s not so bad!”

The con was really a wonderful experience for me. I was sure the music would be great, there were a few friends I really wanted to see in person, and beyond that there were lots of people I’d hoped to be able to say hello to but didn’t really expect to spend any time with. As it was, though, I made more friends that I could have possibly expected and spent more time with more people than I could have dared hope.

I finally finished hugging everyone and set off for Niagara Falls at roughly noon. It was raining part of the time, but the drive went well and it’s really not far at all. I checked into the hotel, ate some food at a pancake place next door, and, the weather having partly cleared up by then, drove down to the falls.

Wow!

To clarify, wow!

Niagara Falls are amazing. I grew up in Illinois, where our idea of a massive drop is about a meter. Rivers are pretty mellow, given the nearly flat terrain. Niagara is rather different. The spray from the falls is a dominant local effect. The massive mist of cold spray left the immediate downwind area much cooler than the surroundings on that fairly warm day. All over and around the falls that heat-shimmer effect that you normally associate with strong heat sources was evident, in this case caused by the cold air near the falls mixing with the warmer surrounding air. That’s normally a very difficult effect to capture in a still photo, but it was so strong and so widespread around the falls that I actually have some reasonably good photos of the shimmering.

I wandered the area until after sunset, walking downriver past the Rainbow Bridge and nearly to the Whirlpool Bridge and back. At least this time of year there are not all that many people even by the falls on a Monday, and once you walk any distance away it’s very peaceful. The river was still partly frozen over. I also did the behind the falls tour, though tunnels behind the falls leading to some not-especially-interesting viewing ports, one iced over and one just the rush of water, and to a covered platform that gives a wonderful view of the falls from down low and relatively nearby.

It rained intermittently during the day, and rained more in the evening, with some thunderstorms. By sunset fog started forming, and the whole area along the road and walking paths was covered in a quite dense fog. Fun to walk in, but not fun to drive in, even very very slowly. As soon as I drove up the hill, though, it was clear. Also much warmer, and so then water condensed on my much colder car windows. One thing after another, but it was just a very short drive back to the hotel.

After a good night’s sleep I started back toward home, with plans only to stop “somewhere” for a night in a motel along the way. This was the most spontaneous drive I’ve ever done, in that respect.

There was a significant wait at the border crossing, but no troubles. I was near Lansing, Michigan in the afternoon and stopped at Elderly Instruments, a shop highly regarded by many of my friends. The place is amazing. Seemingly all the guitars in the world. Banjos of all types. A room of violins. Lots of fun to look around. I managed to escape with just the purchase of a book.

On the theory that driving done Tuesday would not have to be done Wednesday, I kept on moving south and stopped for the night in Coldwater, Michigan, near the border with Indiana, and stayed in a Super-8 motel. As good a place as any. I had a reasonably nice meal at an Applebee’s, a good night’s sleep, and got an early start on the final leg of the journey. I was back in Milwaukee before 3 on Wednesday afternoon. No stress, no worries about getting home at a reasonable hour. After the extra days in Niagara Falls and traveling I was even switched back from Filk Time to regular time.

I did end up with a post-con cold, which I’m just now nearly over, but it didn’t strike me until I was home.

Again, the entire trip was just absolutely wonderful.

Comments

[mvt.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you had I great time.I was in Niagara Falls today. I cross at the Falls at least 12 times a year and the view never gets old. I hope sometime you will go back and ride the Maid of the Mist. It is not running this time of year.
Getting that close to the falls is awe inspiring.