October 3, 2012, Wednesday Part 2

The Rainbow Illumination Tour in Canada Part 1

As we await our tour guide in the lobby of our hotel, the Embassy Suites, we meet a couple that are also going on this tour and the one going back in to the U.S. on Thursday morning.  Faye and her husband, we learn that Faye used to book tours in Europe and is now retired.

Our bus pulls up and we get our little green clip on tags and meet Amanda who is celebrating her 29th and 12 month birthday!  (Wish I'd have thought of that!!)

Thank you so much for taking this picture Carol!

So the first thing we see from the tour bus window is the Old Scow.

The Old Scow- Horseshoe Falls

Niagara Falls, ON

Canada

See map: Google Maps

The “Old Scow” located in Niagara Falls, is a steel barge that has been sitting precariously in the river since August 6th 1918. It is an aging reminder of near tragedy and a spectacular rescue. The barge, loaded with rock was being pulled by a Hydro tug to the upper river when its tow line snapped and it was set adrift in the Niagara River. Two men on board, Gustave Lofberg and James Harris had the foresight to open the dumping hatches and the scow was grounded 767 m (838 yds) from the edge of the falls.

Efforts to rescue the stranded men began immediately. Several attempts were made to send a buoy to the barge, but every time the lines became twisted and failed to reach the scow. It was Red Hill Sr., a famous Niagara river man who voluntarily made the trek through the raging waters using a guide line and swinging from it hand over hand until he reached the barge. It was only then that the men were rescued.

Today the barge can still be seen above the falls. Rumor has it that Mr. Harris’s hair turned from brown to white overnight. Over the years the old scow has added to the folklore that surrounds Niagara Falls

Our first stop is the Journey Behind the Falls.  This is where we actually went in the tunnels and it is wet and damp, and there are walkways out to see behind the falls.  Not an easy place to take pictures.

 

And then Table Rock and Table Rock House.  Good thing we
got the fashionable yellow hefty bags to protect us!

Yes, Carol, I got the rainbow....

Oh look...another rainbow.



Add caption

Yes, Carol, I did get the "double rainbow" above.

Imagine their view!!

And as always, people are kind enough to take photos for us.

The Sea Gull had the same piercing gaze as the Canadian Border lady.......

We rode this on Thursday.

Yes, that is $5.00.

Water $3.00, at the hotel gift shop it was $3.00 Canadian money but $3.75 with US money.