Niagara Falls -- Riding the Maid of the Mist

6/15/06.... One of the main attractions at Niagara Falls, was of course our anticipation of riding the Maid of the Mist....So after touring about and admiring the beauty of the Falls from afar.... we prepared to explore them at a much closer range..... Here are Steve and Vicky buying their tickets for the Maid Of the Mist..... We're on our way.... just follow the signs.....
Heading down one of the ramp leading to the boat pier..... Vicky leading the way....."Why don't you show a little excitement there Val?" At the bottom.....we reached an inside alley way, which took us to the elevators that would take us to the lower levels....
This was the sight we saw as we walked out into the open.... Just before us is the tent where we were able to receive our (free) slickers to protect us from the spray of the falls.....
These falls are on the American side... just across from where we boarded the Maid of the Mist...
Here's the gang... all slickered up.... It was a very hot day... It felt like we were in a sauna beneath the slickers..... One part of this little adventure, I'm sure John & Cindy wouldn't mind missing.... LOL
Val capturing pictures of the people and sights around us..... I'm not sure who had their camera out the most ..... her or me...
Getting ready to board ship.... Hey... John... how do ya like Phil's new hat?... He and Bruce had to buy one for themselves from one of the souvenir shops to protect their heads from the sun... Here's our ship coming into dock....
This is where it took us.... right up into the center of the Horseshoe Falls... What a magnificent sight to behold .... not to mention an experience we'll always remember.... The thunder and spray all about us.... if it hadn't been for the slickers... we'd have been soaked clear through.....

Steve and Vicky taking different approaches to experiencing the sights about them...
Val & Phil getting excited as we get closer to the Falls....
The whole adventure took about 1/2 hour from the leaving the dock to return.....Here we are ..... heads soaking wet.... smiles on our faces.... as we head back .... Although Vicky, Phil, & Bruce decided to play it safe and keep their heads covered, Steve, Val, and I wanted to experience the whole affect .... AND WE DID!!! Every wet moment of it!!!

What an adventure!!!... Only thing missing were John & Cindy.....(we have some photo cds and photo story cds made up for you ..... will be in the mail SOON!!).... Here's Bruce listening to a message from John.... You must have called while we were on the Maid of the Mist..... Sorry we missed the call....but things were just a little loud for awhile there!! Not to mention VERY WET!!
Everyone tired from the events of the day and ready to find a good place to eat.... We all decided that we'd like to go to an "Outback" steak house.... So off we go..... That story to follow in next segment!!

A Keepsake picture to remember our waterfalls adventure!!!