day 3...

good bye america, hello canada!

our plan the entire trip was to spend thrusday and friday on the american side and saturday and sunday on the canadian side.

so before we went to canada saturday morning (once we got into canada, we were staying there@ d/t crossing the boarder and passport stuff) we decided to drive a few miles north and go to old fort niagara. this was actually pretty cool. i am usually not into history stuff like this (couldnt stand the subject in high school)...but i had fun going into all the old buildings, reading about what each one was, and watching them (3 men workers dressed like back then) shot off a mortar.....

me in a bunker where they kept the ammunition

shooting off the mortar. these guys were pretty funny, complete with a fake british accent!

on the way back towards the boarder and rainbow bridge, we stopped at the whirlpool state park and kind of accidentally did some heavy duty hiking. we had TALKED about hiking the night before...but that was it....just talked....so when we stopped at the park, we I wasnt really dressed to hike (aka...JEANS and a sweatshirt jacket!), but i was game!

we started on an easy trail...you know, the paved, family friendly one...on top of the bluffs over looking the niagara river, rapids, and whirlpool. beautiful views from up here! but we both were really wanting to get "down there"..by the river. then i saw a trail map...and a sign that said "stairs to gorge" with an arrow pointing in the direction we were walking! i talked matt into going to the stairs (the sign said it was .4 miles) so we could go down by the river...

we finally got to the stairs..and started down them. matt kept reminding me we would have to come back UP these stairs...but at the time, that didnt deter me! (lol, i would learn to regret this later!) on the way down these winding stairs, they even had a picnic area with tables and benches, just in case you wanted to rest...or have lunch i guess!


we finally made it to the bottom of the stairs and then started hiking back up the river. we quickly found out this trail was not "easy" for beginners and families. it was for "experienced" hikers...we were on a narrow dirt trail, winding our way around trees, up and down hills, and climbing over huge boulders...it was actually very challenging and fun!

but not in jeans. and by now the sun had come out...so sweaty stick-to-you jeans!
but it was soooo worth it! we thought the views from above were beautiful, but being down right next to the river was a zillion times better!
here are a few pics of us when we got to the whirlpool!

after hiking a little further up...we found ourselves up close and personal to the rapids that lead into the whirlpool!

we found a nice place on a huge rock to sit at the waters edge and take a rest....and enjoy the nature all around us!

looking up the bluffs....to the top where this hike began so many hours before....(remember those stairs???? i would only recommend going DOWN them! and if you can figure out how to go down and not come up, please let me know!)


the hike was fantastic. the views were phenomenal! and the company wasnt so bad either! (haha, love you matt!)

after our afternoon hike up the river to the whirlpool and rapids...back we went to those dang stairs...and back up those dang stairs!

back to the car....and onto

CANADA!........