M'off - an inspection of the north american colonies

We headed down the Niagara Gorge to the whirlpool. This is where the river makes a 90 degree turn and has eroded a circular pool with the outgoing flow passing under the incoming flow.

It's also the place where most bodies are found. It's said that suicides over the Falls are counted at 20-30 each year.

There is a 100+ year old cable car that runs across the whirlpool.

The operator told me that several people each year drop their mobile phones into the raging river below.

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From there we headed further downstream to the exceptionally pretty community of Niagara-on-the-Lake...

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And then we took, with some intrepidation, the Rainbow Bridge from Canada into the United States.

At the barrier we handed over our passports and were told to park our car and go to the 2nd floor of the Immigration Building. In the waiting room about 50 people were waiting to be processed. A notice said to wait until your name is called.

After a waiting of about 2 minutes, we were called for our interview. We had been called before ANY of the others.

Twenty questions on where we had been, the purpose of our visit and when we would be leaving the USA were asked and answered. Photographs and fingerprints were taken before we received stamps in our passports authorising our stay until October.

We are now in Pennsylvania.
 
Stayed overnight with my cousin adjacent to Lake Erie.

The photographs below do not adequately describe the size of Lake Erie. Even at the top of a 50 foot bank, the far shores of Lake Erie cannot be seen.

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Local kids have built a den from driftwood.

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The fresh water is teeming with fish. This guy landed a good catch!

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We have now driven to New York State for a couple of days.
 
In search of a decent cup of coffee, we headed to a mall this morning.

I'm not sure if you could use this name for a store in the UK!

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But the shopping mall recognise the need for men's rest areas...

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(Mrs M was shopping in Madewell)

After coffee, we headed over to my buddy's house where I was able to collect a stack of parts that I have ordered from various US vendors for my American LaFrance...

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I'm not sure that I can get them all into my suitcase 🤔

John, a bachelor, has an extensive vehicle collection. We counted a dozen motorcycles and at least 10 cars - all but a couple are plated and ready to drive.

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We spent the day cruising in his 1967 Ford Country Squire - a monster of a car! But this one has a Hurst 5-speed shifter and a massive 447cu in engine.

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It attracted a LOT of attention!
 

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A lazy day today. We started with bakery coffee and croissant in Pittsford, NY.

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We saw this VW flatbed...

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Is it a kit? I'm not sure.

This evening we ate here...

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The burgers were excellent!

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And an ice-cream to finish...

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Tomorrow we move on from this delightful region of New York State.
 
Liking the Beetle. Even if it's a kit it looks very professional.
Diet when you get home.:LOL:
 
This morning we headed back to the fabulous bakery in Pittsford for coffee and croissants. The Village Bakery is thoroughly recommended.

We walked around the delightful community of Pittsford.

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The Erie Canal

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Coaling tower

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Flour mill

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Is 'cupcakery' a word?

Then we headed to Rochester Airport...

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Replica 1928 Taylor Chummy in the check-in zone

BTW - downtown Rochester is NOT a place to be. We received several similar warnings from different sources.

This afternoon we have flown to The Big Apple - in doing so, have traversed the entire continent.

Just checked into our room in a Williamsburg hotel - across the Hudson but within easy reach of the bright lights.

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A somewhat hazy view from our room.

We're off to explore more now...
 
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If in New York City, look out for these LinkNYC advertising units. There are around 2,000 of them throughout the city.

They offer free high speed wifi; free telephone calls and free USB charging.

 
This afternoon we took the ferry down the East River ...

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Took the mandatory 'influencer' picture...

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Manhattan Bridge (with Empire State Building just visible in the middle of the lower uprights)

And then walked across the Brooklyn Bridge...

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Finally, we took the ferry back to base camp.
 
We awoke to a bluebird day in the Big Apple.

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We took the ferry to Wall Street and had a womble around...

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The Chrysler Building

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And then into Central Park...

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This guy was helping himself to the coins that had been tossed into the fountain!
 
We couldn't not go to Ground Zero and the 9/11 Museum.

The Museum is in the deep foundations of the former WTC.

It is very well presented.

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The antenna

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Part of an aircraft.

:rose
 
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of a Police Officer and four others killed in a mid-town shooting early this evening.

:rose
 


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