Kong Posh: My Tour to Niagara falls: Buffalo

Sham S. Misri
(From: Buffalo, New York)

6^th July, 2002

From New York hotel I, along with my wife Sarla decided to go to see the Nigra Falls at Buffalo. My son Sandeep and his wife Suprigya decided to go back home at Austin. So, the two groups went in two directions. From New York air port we flew direct to Buffalo. Prior message was sent by my wife Sarla to her brother Dr. H.L.Gurtoo. He has been in USA over decades. The moment he came to know about our visit to Buffalo he was extremely jubilant.

From New York City to Niagara Falls is nearly 406 miles. All the three modes of travel are available from New York to Nigra falls, Buffalo.

By car it's a 6.5 hour drive. Some bus services also ply to Niagara Falls. This route takes 9-11 hours. The train ride is great; much of the route follows the New York State Barge Canal and Hudson River. The trip takes nine hours roughly. By plane it is a 45 minute flight. I took the flight option. From airport to airport it took me nearly three to four hours.

When we reached Buffalo Air Port, he was there to receive us. It was late that night when we reached the air port. Dr. Gurtoo had come in his Limos car to give us a pick. When he spotted us at the arrival terminus, he just waved high his hand. It was quite conspicuous and we met with warm tight embraces. Dr. Gurtoo is a good talker and has lot of humour. While on the dining table he recalled some Dare Devils who had ventured into the Nigra Falls.

Some infamous Bobby Leach had plunged over the fall in a steel barrel. Bobby broke both kneecaps and his jaw during his daring event. Years later, while touring in New Zealand, Bobby slipped on an orange peel and died from complications due to gangrene! It was around 1901.

July, 1911: Annie Taylor was the first person to conquer the falls in a barrel. After climbing inside her airtight wooden barrel, the air pressure was compressed with a bicycle pump. Though bruised and worn out Annie made it. She expected fame and fortune. Annie died in poverty.

July 1920: Charles Stephens, an Englishman equipped his wooden barrel with an anvil for weight. Charles tied himself to the anvil for security. After the plunge, Englishman’s right arm was the only item left in the barrel.

July 1930 : A Greek waiter suffocated to death after his barrel was trapped behind the falls for more than 14 hours.

July, 1984: The first Canadian to conquer the Falls was Karel Soucek. Karel survived the plunge, but later that year Karel was killed while recreating the drop from a platform inside the Houston Astrodome. (Karel's barrel hit the edge of the water tank)

August, 1985: A Rhode Island bartender named Steven Trotter made the trip in a barrel wrapped in inner tubes. Steven was fined a total of $5,503.00

October 1985: A Canadian mechanic made a successful trip in his barrel. He could not get enough! He made a second successful trip on September 26th 1993.

September 1989: Two Niagara Falls Ontario residents accomplished the first duo descent of the Falls.

October 1995: Robert Over cracker rides a jet ski over the brink of the Horseshoe Falls to help promote awareness for the homeless. His parachute did not open and Robert ended up promoting better parachutes. He plunged to his death and his body was never recovered. An Egyptian tourist captured this amazing image.

October 22nd 2003 Kirk Jones from Michigan becomes first stunter in the history of Niagara Falls to survive the plunge wearing only the clothes on his back. Kirk's idea had been in the works for a number of years. While here on a visit with a friend, Kirk made the decision. They purchased a used video camera to record this historical event and went to the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side of the river. Kirk entered the water about one hundred yards upstream and began swimming out into the swift current. Eight seconds later Kirk made the 175 foot (53.3m) drop and swam to shore while passing up a free ride with the "maid of the mist" tour boat. Kirk was treated for minor bumps and bruises at local a hospital and released only after promising to return for court. For his stunt Kirk was fined a total of $2,300.00 dollars and banned from entering Canada for life. Unfortunately Kirk and his friend had been imbibing in alcohol before the stunt and Kirks friend couldn't figure out how to work the camcorder and the entire stunt went unrecorded!

When the gossip was over, we had some soft drinks, and the dinner was served on the table; we had late dinner and then had a comfortable sleep. Before leaving the table Dr. Gurtoo had said that the next day he had booked our trip to Nigra falls.

Tossing in the bed for rest of few hours, I had in my sub conscious mind the imagination of Nigra Falls...Falls...Falls, which is just twelve miles from his residence?

7^th, July, 2002

Niagara Falls is known as one of the most beautiful wonders of the world. I along with my wife, Sarla, her brother Dr. HL Gurtoo, his wife Lalita Ji, and their son Dr. Lalit Gurtoo accompanied us on this tour.

The Buffalo-Niagara Falls is a metropolitan area. It surrounds two counties – Erie and Niagara – in Western New York. There are three International bridges between the U.S. and Canada within six miles of the Falls.

500 yards from the American Falls is the "Rainbow Bridge" which offers a spectacular view of the fall. Niagara Falls has a very low crime rate. While going, we stopped at The Three Sisters Island. We had our snacks there and then proceeded further. On the US side we walked from the visitor’s center to the Point to catch the Maid of the Mist. In Niagara Falls New York we parked at the Niagara Reservation State Park near. The Maid of the Mist takes us to the base of the world-famous falls.

A powerful diesel-engine boat took us from the base of the American Falls, then into the basin of the magnificent Canadian Horseshoe Falls. The boat departs every 15 minutes. The big passenger boats are nearly 80-foot long and have high horsepower engines that carry the vessels against the powerful current. A souvenir raincoat is provided free with admission to help keep us dry from the mist and spray. The Maid of the Mist Steamship Company is privately owned.

As the boat moved, water rushed all around us and we got “soaked" in the excitement and explored the roar of the Falls. A historical ride aboard the world-famous Maid of the Mist is half an hour thrill of a lifetime! North America's oldest tourist attraction, millions of visitors have enjoyed the boat tours since 1846.

At the end of boat tour, we entered the Maid of the Mist Plaza, which includes gift shops, a quick serve food outlet, a Welcome Center and the ticket offices for the Maid of the Mist.

Buffalo is New York’s second largest city. As we travel north on the Great Lakes Trail, we closely follow the shores of the Niagara River. As the river starts to become more turbulent, we soon start to see the mist rising up from Niagara Falls. We stopped at Niagara Falls State Park to view the fall.

Buffalo was the typical 19th Century boomtown. Its position at the western end of the Erie Canal made it the Gateway to the West - the departure point for immigrants on their way to the heartland. Buffalo was one of the last stops on the Underground Railroad, a symbol of hope for runaway slaves seeking freedom on the far side of the Niagara River. Battles were fought here, the city put to the torch by British loyalists during the War of 1812. Fortunes were made here by William G. Fargo, founder of American Express and Wells Fargo. In 1901, William McKinley a President was assassinated here. Another President Theodore Roosevelt inaugurated the Wilcox Mansion on the city's grand boulevard, Delaware Avenue. Buffalo also sent two of its sons - Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland -to Washington as Presidents. We experienced 19th century life on the Niagara Frontier at the Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village and Museum.

In 1678, Louis Hennepin was the first European to describe the mighty Falls. This area was in the Buffalo Niagara region. The tourists started coming in bulk after the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825. Today, millions of tourists from around the world continue to come by plane, train and automobile to experience the grandeur of Niagara Falls.

The world famous Maid of the Mist cruises right to the base of the American Falls, then to the basin of the magnificent Falls. It's a fantastic journey through the crashing waters, surrounded by massive rock formations. The rocks have got cut by the powerful fast moving waters for millions of years. Observation elevator offers a dramatic view of the Falls. Elevators descend to the Maid of the Mist boat dock.

When we stepped aboard the legendary Maid of the Mist, we experienced the power and majesty of the combined waters of four Great Lakes. We were ferried to the base of the Falls and felt the rush of the water as it pounds the rocks below. From the moment we put on our giant blue poncho we knew we were going to have a wonderful experience.

Old Fort Niagara has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Niagara area, featuring the oldest buildings in the Great Lakes, spectacular scenery, and exciting special events. The spectacular views, the thundering roar the delicate mists and shimmering rainbows of this true national treasure. World-class attractions like the Maid of the Mist and the Cave of the Winds was a great attraction. It was an unforgettable 30 minute tour. Niagara Falls is sure to take our breath away. We hopefully travelled several other places at Buffalo, enjoyed some shows and after four days halt; we arrived back to Austin by air.