Port Huron MI.

The freighter is coming from Lake Huron past the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, Michigan's oldest working lighthouse under the Blue Water Bridge into Port Huron then down the St. Clair River through Lake St. Clair and possibly into Lake Erie. It can dock any where along the route on either side ( Canada or US). There are parks all along the river allowing picnicking and viewing of the blue water in this river. I have never seen water this blue, it is just beautiful.

St. Clair River in St. Clair MI.

Here are a couple of shots of Palmer Park on the St. Clair river. You can walk along the world's longest freshwater wooden boardwalk and watch freighters pass so close you can almost touch them. The Palmer Park is home to the St. Clair Art Fair, July4th fireworks, River Classic Car Show, Riverfest and the famous Offshore Powerboat Race. Looking across the water is Canada.

Back in the U.S.A.

This is the Blue Water Bridge that connects the USA and Canada. We came across it on Mon. July 30 back into the US. There were 13 lanes after crossing the bridge on the US side. We were about the 15th car in line. There was a lady walking around directing people, she came up to us and said that we could cut across and go to line no. 13. Mind you that lanes 10,11,and 12 are cars only, I said will we have room to get MH through and she said oooo yes. So we cut across and were number 3 in line. The customs agent only asked where were we from, where are you going and what did you buy in Canada ? Then we were on our way it only took 20 mins. total time. When we got to the campground I was talking with the people next to us ( who are from Florida) and they told us that last year when they went to Canada they got their MH searched going in and coming back to the US and they looked in every compartment.



   

 

Niagara on The Lake

Today we drove up to Niagara on The Lake which is on Lake Ontario in Canada. A very nice small town with loads of flowers all over with nice shops etc. Getting there you drive along the lake and the houses are just unreal. This is a very upscale area. We watched some of a sailboat race from a park along side of the lake. I could not get a good close up of the race.

Niagara Falls Ontario Canada

Crossed the border into Canada on Friday July 27 with no problems. The customs agent only asked a few questions and we were on our way. We had all the paper work for the dog and a list of things we had on board and they never asked for anything. So here we are in Niagara Falls Ontario Canada. The photos are of both sides of the falls ( U.S. and Canada sides) the weather wasn't the greatest as it was overcast and drizzling during the boat ride. The boat ride on the Maid of The Mist lasted about a half hour it got up close to the falls the current was a washing machine effect and of course windy. The rest of the town was just like Vegas minus the casinos.

Good day to fly

John called this morning and asked Clare if she wanted to go flying but she said no thanks Gary can take my place, of course that is not a problem I was ready to go flying again. We had a great flight, it was nice and clear. Later in the day we took Abby up to the cabin for her last swim and running around off leash. What a great day. Tomorrow we get ready to leave on Friday for Niagra Falls Ontario Canada. 

Another day on the wine trail

Today was another beautiful day on the Finger Lakes. We went to some wineries on Seneca Lake and had a great time.

Hammondsport Antique Boat Show on Keuka Lake

Yesterday it rained a slow light steady rain  just about all day. I'm glad it rained itself out yesterday because today is the Hammondsport 30th. Anniversary Antique Boat Show on Keuka Lake. It is a beautiful day on the lake for the show,the lake is nice and calm and it is only about 80 degrees. This lake is crystal clear. Here are some shots of a few of the boats and of course what would an Antique Boat Show be without a few old Woodies on display.

Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport N.Y.

We almost did not go to this Museum that surely would have been a mistake. This museum contains some of the old motorcycles, planes and boats and engines that he either built or designed plus a lot of other items. When Curtiss was in his twenty's he started building bicycles and racing them. By 1902 he had three employees and was making the Hercules motorcycles. In a measured-mile run at Ormond Beach Fla. on Jan. 23,1907, Curtiss's V8 powered motorcycle was officially clocked at 136.3 miles per hour, making him the fastest man on earth. Can you believe that!!!  In later years he started building engines for planes that started his aviation career. I also learned that he left the aviation business in 1921 to go down to Florida and with friends developed the Florida cities of Hialeah, Miami Springs, and Opa-Locka . In 1903 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Miami for his many contributions to the development of the Miami area. This is just a small bit of information on what he accomplished in his lifetime.

Watkins Glen State Park

We went to Watkins Glen State Park yesterday. The park is about 776 acres with a small campground, picnic areas and other facilities. We took the Gorge Trail which follows Glen Creek past water-sculpted rock and 19 waterfalls. There are over 800  stone steps in the gorge. From the lower end of the gorge to the upper is a mile and half. Clare only made it about a quarter of the way because her fear of heights. I continued  on the grueling stone steps. At one point you go under a small waterfall. The path is narrow. Instead of going back down all of those steps I opted to take the South Rim Trail along the top of the gorge. It was just a trail through the woods and not marked very well. One side of the trail had a fence along it so no one could get too close to the gorge. I walked that whole trail and only saw one person going up the trail. There are some photo of the trail through the woods in the slide show. 

Flying

Today I went flying with John. He has a Cessna 172 made in 1956. This plane is in great condition. It will fly two up front and two small people in the back. We flew from a small grass landing field where he keeps the plane under cover. We flew for about 1 hour all around the mountains. As we were flying over the lake there were a couple of sailboats sailing around. I got a shot of his cabin and the RV at the park where we are staying. The last shots are of the grass landing field. What a great morning. Looking forward to another flight. Clare Gail and Gwen went shopping.

Wine Trail

Today we visited a few Wineries along the Finger Lakes NY. Here are some photos of the wineries and of some of the vineyards over looking Keuka Lake. We had a great time. 

Day trip to John & Gail's cabin

     




Clare Abby and I took a day trip up to the cabin so that Abby could do some swimming.

  

 

John and Gail's Cabin

We arrived in Bath NY. on Wednesday June 27 2012. These are a couple of photos of our friends John and Gail's cabin. There grandson Douglas is in the kayak. Abby was in the water in no time.

                           

Campground Oneonta NY. June 25, 2012

These are just a couple of shots of the campground we stayed at while in Oneonta NY.