Roadtrip to Niagara

The Peach Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake was being held on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August and we’d decided a while ago that we’d check it out. Originally, I thought it was just a one-day thing but – a week out from the event – the website was updated to say it was going over two days. I was expecting peaches everywhere. Millions of peaches. (Peaches for me.) But the day before, Glen and I thought about it and realised that in all likelihood it would be like most festival things we’ve been to. A closed off street, some stalls, and lots of people (not our favourite).

This meant that our plans could alter slightly. As we’d decided against taking the train to Niagara-on-the-Lake and instead manning up and hiring a car, we asked Lauren if she wanted to go to Niagara Falls, which was only about half an hour from Niagara-on-the-Lake. Originally, we were going to just throw her out of the car at the Maid of the Mist, go gorge ourselves on peaches, then pick her up later.

At the last minute though we decided we’d all go look at some peaches then all go on the Maid of the Mist. I picked up the car from down the road at about 9:30 (there was a long queue for pick-ups so I’m going to join their rental club thing so I can just pick-up the keys without talking to anyone next time and go). They gave us a car bigger than I’d originally requested but that was fine. I climbed in (after opening the passenger side door and realising I’d gone to the wrong side) and then, as I drove off, repeated aloud, “Right of the road…right of the road…right of the road…”

Amazingly, I didn’t have an accident within the fifty metres between the Avis rental place and our apartment.

Glen and Lauren were waiting for me so they jumped in. Then I ran upstairs for something then came down. Then Glen went back inside and came back with his bag and some snacks. (Note for next time: bring more snacks.) We finally set off at 10am, about an hour later than planned.

Driving on the right side of the road wasn’t so much of an issue; what was worse was trying to keep to the left of the lane instead of drifting too far to the right. I freaked Glen out a lot, especially when I veered slightly (Glen would say, “swerve wildly”) to correct. I’m not sure why I was driving. I think it was just assumed, like it is back home.

Pauline said it would take us three hours to get to Niagara. Rubbish! said I. GoogleMaps said an hour and a half. Why on earth would it take three hours?

Traffic jams, that’s why.

We went through about three or four along the Gardiner Expressway and the Queen Elizabeth W-something. Minutes ticked by as we crawled along, until finally we passed the truck that had jack-knifed off one of the exits and we were free to do 110 kmh again. Speed limit says 100kmh but everyone is going at least 110, if not 120. 110 seems to be acceptable.

We made it into Niagara-on-the-Lake, without serious injury and without a big fight between Glen and I, after two hours and twenty minutes. Factor in another thirty minutes to get to Niagara:

Three hours.

Sigh.

We turned down a leafy-green side street to park, and luckily someone was just leaving. We parallel-parked and then doubly luckily a lady came up to me and gave me her parking ticket, good for another hour and a half. How nice! There are good people out there.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is beautiful. There are lots of big, old houses with landscaped, green gardens. It’s idyllic.

The main street was closed off for the Peach Festival. There were various stalls setup along the way. We had these peach blossom and peach custard dessert things, and I had peach sorbet (delicious!) and then we bought a peach pie and some peaches. The place wasn’t overflowing with peaches and there was plenty of space to move around. But after a walk from one end to the other and eating a few things, there wasn’t much else to do (there was entertainment and music and stuff but we weren’t too keen). We went for lunch in one of the packed restaurants, and the food was only so-so and the service pretty lousy.

We left just after the parking ran out and I drove along the Niagara Parkway towards the Falls. Such a nice drive. I loved it last time too. It’s so beautiful along there and there are parks dotted around it so it’d be nice to have a picnic there too.

Niagara Falls was packed, being school holidays, a Saturday and beautiful bright sunny weather. So many people and cars and awfulness. We parked at a place that offered $5 all day parking but they said it was $5 per hour and $20 for the day. We ended up paying $10 for three hours. We probably should have looked elsewhere on principle but last time we spent $10 and this place was closer so it wasn’t really a big deal.

We queued for about an hour to board one of the boats. The sun beat down. None of us had sunscreen and so Glen and I now sport a bit of sunburn. This time we rode at the front of the boat (bow?) on the bottom level. Apart from the really annoying young guy behind us who kept saying the same jokes over and over again to try to get more and more attention, being at that spot was pretty cool as when we got closer to the falls we could see the churning water below.

There didn’t seem to be as much mist this time, though of course we did get wet. Those blue ponchos are wonderful. The spray was refreshing and woke me up a bit after the drive. (I was starting to feel the lack of sleep after not having slept much the night before.)

When we landed I went and got the car while Glen and Lauren walked to the top of the Falls. Thanks to the copious amounts of traffic and the endless stream of pedestrians, I got to the top of the Falls just as Glen and Lauren were turning back. I saw them on the footpath and they luckily saw me and ran over and jumped in.

Driving on the way back was easier but the traffic once we got to the expressway outside Toronto was horrendous. Trying to exit was a nightmare too as the freeway is so wide you have to exit into a certain lane to get into another three lanes of traffic and then exit from there. Nightmare. And cars everywhere.

We were dropping Lauren back at Pauline’s and saw a supermarket on the way so we stocked up with some groceries. Having a car helps sometimes as you can buy more. I managed to find Pauline’s place, despite not really knowing the address. Pauline was at work and finished late so wasn’t answering her phone and couldn’t help us with the address but we found it anyway. We said goodbye to Lauren and then drove home.

Soon after, Pauline called. She was at the station near our house so she came over and we discussed what we were going to do tonight. There’s a dark sky reserve two hours north of Toronto (probably two and a half hours really, maybe even three) and we had considered driving there to see the Perseids Meteor Shower, with possible northern lights. But by the time we got there, it would have been at least midnight and then we wouldn’t get home until three or four. I was already falling asleep so wouldn’t be any good to drive. Glen and Pauline could drive there but driving back was going to be an issue.

So we decided to put a break on those plans and possibly go Sunday night instead. I then drove Pauline to her place, we collected Lauren, and the girls came over for a sleepover (yay! guests!) so we could have breakfast in the morning then go to Taste of the Danforth at 12 without delay.

Went to bed about 11:30 and not a moment too soon. Very proud of myself for all that driving. And with no accidents or (mental) breakdowns either.