There is something special I enjoy about going to tourist locations during the off season. My favorite time at the beach is in the winter. Niagara Falls is a place that has been on my “want to go” list for a while. But I wanted to see Niagara Falls frozen or at least icy and covered in snow.
Last weekend, I took the trip. Sure, I’m driving a 2 wheel drive SUV with over 200,000 miles. Sure, it is a 400 mile trip each way. Sure, I don’t have all the camera gear to take the best photographs. Sure, I was traveling alone. Sure, I could use a new pair of snow boots. So, I didn’t see any reason why not. If I waited until the perfect time to do something, I might never leave the house. On Friday afternoon, I loaded the truck with a change of clothes, stopped at the grocery store loading the cooler with food for the weekend and headed north.
The line between being foolish and adventurous can be a very thin one, but it is there. Before I left for the weekend road trip into the northern grip of winter’s snow and cold, I did prepare. In the truck, I carried two sleeping bags, two wool blankets, enough food for a couple of days, a headlamp, and I even tossed in my buddy heater and an extra tank of propane. Living in the warmer climates, we don’t often think of these things, but when heading into the colder climates, one should be prepared to spend a night or two stuck in their vehicle.
The 400 mile drive on Friday night gave me time to think. I listened to a three sermon series from my local church back in Westminster. Thank you to the unknown person who mailed me the CDs. I needed that. I listened to some music CDs reminiscing on old times. I drove in silence, letting my mind wander with thought. At 9:30 PM I arrived at the U.S. side of Niagara Falls.
Not able to wait until morning to see the Falls, I parked in the empty tourist parking lot and walked toward the roar of the Falls. Colored lights from the Canada side shinned on the mist of the falls. I’m sure from their side it looked beautiful, but from my side there was not much to see. The cold mist of the falls quickly wetted and froze my coat.
Back at the truck, I needed to decide where I was going to spend the night. I had planned to sleep in my truck Friday night, but I was not prepared for the city of lights that surrounded me. Being a vagrant and being an adventurous soul camping in his truck could be viewed the same to some. The room at the Days Inn was only $59.00 a night and I enjoyed the warmth and comfort of sleeping in a real bed and a morning shower.
Saturday morning the cell phone alarm went off at 6:00AM. I wanted to catch sunrise over the Falls. The night before, the bored night clerk had showed me on a hand drawn map the best place to be for the arrival of the sun and capturing it in a photograph. Bundled up in my winter gear, I drove over to Goat Island. I followed another driver around the half closed gate at the entrance to the park. Still not sure if I was permitted to be there or not, I parked next to the police cars in front of the park police station.
Mist and Fog hid the morning sunrise
I was the only visitor on Goat Island that morning and as the sun broke the horizon, beginning the new day, it went unseen. The grey cloud filled sky hid the sun. A foot of snow covered the walking paths.
The mist of the falls got me and my equipment wet. Two of the legs on my tripod broke from the cold when I tried to stretch the tripod over a snow fence placed to keep visitors away from the edge of the Falls. By 8:00 AM, I headed over to the Canada side which reportly has a better view of the falls.
Before leaving goat island, I made a new friend.
While photographing the partially frozen Falls in the dim grey light, a mix of snow and frozen rain fell. In about two hours, I had seen the falls and taken photographs from every position I could want from the Canada walkway. I thought there would be more to this place.
Pondering my next move, a woman walked up and we began to talk cameras. Turns out she was a local and never tires of visiting the Falls. She’s been just recently bitten by the photobug and we talked shop. Soon we were shooting together, discussing F-stops, shutter speeds and dream lens to own.
I had my own local tour guide. We shared lunch and shot into the afternoon. Late in the day, she left for home and I explored the souvenir shops.
The weather report called for a snow storm arriving the next day. I had seen what I wanted. The pending storm would not improve my photographing opportunities. Spending my evening losing money in one of the Casinos did not interest me. So instead of spending the money on another night in a hotel, I filled the gas tank and turned the truck south. Before the clock struck midnight on Saturday, I was back home in Carroll County.
Quick trips like this are what fun is for me. The loose planning leave it open to come what may. Instead of adhering to a strict schedule, I had laid out a few key points and let the trip evolve naturally; taking advantage of what was presented. The intent may have been to take profit making photographs of the falls, but nature had other plans by not showing me the light required. To be honest, I was not all that impressed with the Las Vegas streets surrounding the natural marvel of the Falls. But in the end, I had spend less than $200 on an adventure exploring a new place, and it is these kind of experiences that fill one’s life.
