Day 8 - Our Green Bandana Day

After the green t-shirt day, we went with green bandanas as our group identifier. Like people really need to see this group coming!

While out walking on Sunday, we sighted a few restaurants that had $6.99 breakfast. After yesterday's expensive experience, we opted for a no-name place with a buffet. The food was okay, but after a few of us had filled our plates, the waitress said that we had to order drinks. Ah, the catch. Every drink was between $2.50 and $3. Regardless, it was still way less than the Denny's breakfast, but was definitely not the Galley that we had eaten at in Mackinaw City.

Green bandanas at breakfast

 

We headed down to the Falls and grabbed a 'people-mover' to the Journey Behind the Falls (JBF) attraction. Had a nice lady bus driver which we would also have on the ride back - a second time of randomly catching the same bus coming as we did going. We hopped off the bus and meandered our way along the water. Still an amazing sight.

Many of us have heard about those who fall in the water and wonder how anyone could be so stupid. Well, here's stupid #1:

Our girls were standing on the wall with the railing to their knees, but notice the guy in blue on top of the high post with absolutely no barrier (ground either) between him and the water. Stupids #2, #3 and #4 sat where the blue guy was standing while we were there. I had to walk away. Guess when a lot of people fall in, it could be considered genetic cleansing.

Frankie at Horseshoe Falls-forgot his bandana

On to the JBF, which in a nutshell. is an elevator ride down 150 feet then a couple of tunnels. We were actually behind the falls, but there was so much water that you couldn't see through it to the outside. So, basically, it was tons of water and loud noise. I wouldn't want to take a shower in it though.

The third tunnel led us to a walkout point that was really close - and you get pretty wet.

Oh, yes, and they give you these yellow raincoats that don't fit anyone over a size 9, so half of us looked like stuffed sausages and got our clothes wet too. Abby took pleasure in doing an Incredible Hulk move of tearing hers off at the end.

Frankie in the mist.

The boat's proximity. Where we went yesterday.

Waiting at the top of the stairs for me.

As with most attractions, you're dumped out into the gift shop to mosey through. Lisa was trying to decide on on a gift and Nikki was heard saying 'Get the cookies, throw a cigar in there, and let's call it a day.' We made our purchases then went outside for another view. If you read Day 7, I mentioned meeting a family from Israel at the ferris wheel who are on a six month vacation. Of the thousands of people who pass through JBF, guess who we ran into. Yup, the family. I saw the mom and Abby, the kids (as Abby says - they are just so darn cute!), so I just had to have a picture of Frankie with them for the contest. I gave the mom the blog site info so they could check out the picture.

After JBF, we went to Niagara's Fury which is a 4-D experience. We had to have 'reservations' so the lady said she would check us all in as quickly as possible so we could go together. Being the obedient Gouldings, someone said to line up to make it go faster and there we were, the 10 of us lined with our badges ready to be scanned. 

A 4-D experience is when you see, feel, and hear an experience. This one started with an animated movie then we were moved to the next room for a surrounding video of flying around the falls and rapids (sight and hear). The 'feel' part of this is being snowed on then having water sprayed at you. (The first clue is the raincoat that they give you going in.) The snow as huge flakes, and Mark and Lisa got pretty wet from the 'waves'. The rest of us, not so much. Lisa thought this adventure was really fun.


Mark and David went back to the hotel to get the vans to pick up the rest of us so we didn't have to walk 'the HILL' again. Plus, we were off to our next sighting. (Pun intended - you'll understand when you read further down.)

Kids playing a slapping game while waiting on the vans.

The Canadians could spend more on road signs to make the travels a little easier in this country, but the lack of, led us on a Goulding scenic route (i.e. wandering until you figure out where you are and where you need to be.) Didn't take long and we were on the way to the restaurant. Thankfully, the bus driver told me that Victoria Ave - where our hotel is - turns into Ferris street, then into Lundy, (like Independence Ave/24 highway in KC) which is where we needed to be. And so, here we are, at the...

Abby with Frankie

Frankie behind the menu (FBM)

Inside shot

While waiting for our food, the kids all made paper airplanes out of their placemats, so once outside, they had to see whose would fly the longest distance. Abby's won twice.

Nikkie, Luke, Molly, Emily and Abby

We did a crash nap then went behind our hotel to the Spy Shop (lame) and all, but Mom, Molly, Emily, and I, went to get a Niagara history lesson at the Imax.  

walking to the spy shop/Imax behind our hotel

Molly finds a plastic fork and entertains herself by flipping with her foot.

The four of us went to Walmart for a breakfast and junk food run for the next day. Sure can count on Walmart - the prices were the same, if not better, than at home thus no sticker shock here.


The night closed with the McCoskeys going back to the falls for a panoramic shot of them while lit in colors, and Mark and the girls going out for ice cream.


Tomorrow, it's back to the U.S. of A.