Our planned fishing outing this morning out in Lake Ontario was canceled due to strong winds coming out of the north. The strong winds created waves greater than 4 feet and led to a small craft advisory. Sometimes I don't think people in the United States realize how big the Great Lakes are. Lake Ontario is almost as wide as Pennsylvania and almost as high. Today was just a nice but windy day but severe storms could leave waves exceeding 8 feet high and could topple boats less than 20 feet long.
So instead of fishing, I took a walk down to my old childhood stomping grounds (I grew up right on the river at the top of the gorge). In the above picture, that's Canada on the right and the good old U.S. of A. on the left. The picture (above) is looking up river back towards Niagara Falls (which is probably about 4 miles up river.)
This is a shot looking downriver. That's the Lewiston-Queenston bridge and the Canadian power plant on the left and the American power plant on the right. Our power plant supplies much of the electricity for the Northeast United States.
It was good to be home and down by the river. I loved the river as a kid (and still do as an adult) but undoubtedly some would wonder what was so great about the river. They obviously lived sheltered lives if they had to ask why a kid would love the river while growing up. There was always something to do.
- You could always try and catch fish (the river is loaded with all kinds of species).
- You could throw rocks in the water. I never could hit Canada (not that I tried...)
- You could build stuff out of sticks.
- You could go hiking along the trail that goes all along the water.
- You could try and catch grasshoppers and bugs.
- You could have a contest to spot the seagull flying the highest.
- You could shout across the water, "Canadian fisherman stink!!!" That seemed to always make us laugh.
- You could build a boat out of sticks and leaves and then try to sink it with rocks and sticks.
- You could always find a way to get your shoes wet no matter how hard you tried to stay away from the water ("I don't know Mom, they just got wet???")
- Or you could just sit on a giant rock, look at the water and be happy that you weren't in school.
What more could you ask for while growing up?
A number of years ago they built a walk around fishing pier at the bottom of the power plant so I took a walk around the bend to watch some others do some fishing while enjoying their holiday.
If you are a thrill seeker, you could always buy a ticket for one of the many jet boat tours that run the river up through the rapids.
And of course after my morning hang out session down at the river I watched Le Tour!
Have a happy and safe holiday.
By the numbers;
- 183.2 - today's weight (January 1, 2009 weight was 184.2) Goal weight for 10/25/09 is 165
- 114 - Days until the Marine Corp Marathon
- 172 - Total days trained in 2009
- 25 - Missed days of running in 2009
- 0.00 - miles run today
- 5.00 - miles on current pair of shoes
- 960.25 - Miles run in 2009
You missed going over the falls in a barrel as something to do
Posted by: Jon Adamson | July 04, 2009 at 04:42 PM