Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Niagara Falls....even more amazing!

The last time we visited Niagara Falls, we were blown over but, this time....WOW !!! Forgot how amazing all this water looks.

Horseshoe Falls
American Falls from the side



American Falls from the other side....and a rainbow!

We were staying at a KOA in Pennsylvania the night before and wanted to get here before the crowds. Our alarm went off at 4am !! We had packed up the night before so all we had to do was pull in the slides, start the engine and go. It was only about 85 miles to the Falls, Parking Lot 3. No one was around and we got in there before anyone (see map below and yellow circle for parking lot).




There are many terrific viewing spots and walking paths around the park so we took the one that went along the Niagara River on towards the American Falls.
Green line is our 3 mile walk to see all the falls



The water was really rushing by in its way over the cliff.




Katie looks happy...so does Daddy

Ahhhh,,,,kiss, kiss

Water about to go over the American Falls

We could stand right next to it!

...and over it goes...
This is a view from the other side of American Falls

You get so close, it's a bit scary watching that water going over



You can see the boat, Maid of the Mist, in there near Horseshoe Falls.

Everyone wears these blue raincoats...for obvious reasons. We did not do the boat this time.
People tell us that the view from the Canada side is better. I believe but we had no passports to get back into the States.

Aerial from the Canada side showing American Falls to the left and Horseshoe to the right

Here's what the American Falls look like from Canada. Notice the Maid of the Mist in the foreground.


Selfie....check out dad's new haircut....I asked for short but...really?
Just threw this in because I love taking closeups of flowers.
After we got through here, we drove another 250 miles to our RV spot in upper New York state for a couple of days before heading into Vermont for three weeks.

See you then!

steve/kim/katie

Monday, July 9, 2018

World's Largest Truck Stop


ANOTHER place we've (well, mostly me) have wanted to visit for years....the Iowa 80 Truck Stop west of Davenport, Iowa near the Mississippi River.






Here's the opening paragraph from their website:

A place where people want to stop. On the eastern edge of Iowa, not far from the Mississippi River, adjacent to the small town of Walcott, you’ll find a place like no other in the world. The Iowa 80 Truckstop, now the World’s Largest Truckstop, established its home here in 1964 and is now in itself a home away from home to countless drivers and a destination for travelers as well. Some say Iowa 80 Truckstop is like a small city, others have likened it to a Trucker’s Disneyland, all can agree it is a place not to be missed.

They have a huge truck museum next door and have a very large Truck Jamboree every year. It's amazing.

just a small portion of their parking lot that is being used for the jamboree


Over 900 Truck parking spots !! Just so you can compare...as we crossed Nebraska, the truck stops there had 65, 80, 90, 55, and 150 truck parking stops each.

Look how many parking spots for Iowa I-80 versus the Pilot in the upper right.
Inside was rows and rows and rows of anything you ever wanted, or dreamed of wanting, for your truck.




A Full-size truck and trailer....INSIDE !! 
Another truck !




All the lights you could ask for on the wall.

Here's what they do with the lights

...and this...

Three trucks in all inside


A full choice of chrome tailpipes

Anyone want to light up their truck?

CHROME !!

More chrome 

...and even more chrome

at least 6 restaurants under roof

Anyone thirsty ?
They have a theater, special lounge seating for the truck drivers, a barber and even a dentist !

As we left, we spotted this "Condo Truck"

After all the searching, we only spent $60 on stuff. Guess our coach doesn't need any chrome or more lights.

We caught up with this truck down the highway and couldn't resist taking our picture in the reflection.

The Truck Stop was a pretty cool place to gawk over...glad we stopped.

steve/kim/katie

Kayaking again...finally!

Finally, we got back on the water. This time at Meacham Lake in upper state New York, just on the north edge of the Adirondack Mountains (yo...