Niagara Falls

For the past two years I have been dabbling in the dark art of squirt kayaking. It has been a frustrating experience because it is nearly impossible to find a used squirt boat, let alone one built for my size. I bit the bullet and had one made made by Murky Water Kayaks just over the border in Canada. At Murky Water Kayaks they can build just about anything you can dream up. They just require a sketch of your design and your measurements: height, weight, shoe size and inseam.

The best part of ordering a custom made squirt boat? The road trip to Canada, of course! Because the boat is custom made for your size and weight, it has to be float tested to ensure you have a level neutral buoyancy in the water. My girlfriend, Mandy and I took a couple days off to drive from Washington, DC to Hamilton, Ontario with a brief stop in Buffalo.

With her hotel connections, Mandy's sister hooked us up with inexpensive lodging for the night in Buffalo. Just before arriving in Buffalo I envisioned that every eatery in town
would claim that it was home to the original buffalo wing. I was very mistaken, and we walked a few blocks down the street to the first restaurant we saw, the Anchor Bar. Little did I know the treat I was about to have.

Inside was a three piece jazz band jamming away, a line out the door for take-out, and nameplates on the bar stools for patrons long passed. I popped myself down at the bar next to an old black fellow and asked him if the wings here are any good.

His reply, "Are they good? I tell you what, every Friday I take a bus across town to this place just so I can get their wings. This is the original wing house, none better." I have to tell you, he was right! They were by far the greatest buffalo wings I have ever had the pleasure of dineing on. I great risk of making a total pig out of myself I proceeded to devour an entire order's worth.

The next morning we were on to Niagara Falls. I found it comical that this was the location my parents chose to go to on their honeymoon so many years ago. Not much has changed in 35 years and it is easy to envision the place back in the 60's. The falls are very big, but I was more tantalized by the rapids just above and below the falls. If only paddling the gorge wasn't illegal...

We paid the park fee to enter the Cave of Winds, where you can take an elevator down to the base of the American falls and nearly walk right up to the curtain of water crashing down. Standing atop the 'Hurricane' platform you get a chance to really feel the force of the water, it is so strong it can regulary knock down unprepared tourists.