When I was a little girl, my family and I traveled to Canada, at one point we went to Niagara Falls. That was an extremely long but memorable day. Some details are still quite clear for me but other moments I find to be as mysterious as the mist that floats around that impressive fall of water. We headed up to Niagara Falls from Lake Muskoka, leaving extremely early to make it to our destination. My first impression of the falls was how big they were.
I remember we walked around the tourist areas and visited the gift shops but what I remember most is standing at the overlook off to the side of the falls and wandering through the tunnels that went up to the water. At the entry to the tunnels we were handed blue disposable ponchos to wear as protection from the mist. The roar as we headed through the tunnels was deafening, we had to shout to one another to be heard. As we neared the water I kept wanting to move closer. We had a limit as to how close we could get, the railings kept us back a little. I remember the amazing power of the falling water and was mesmerized by the constant motion. It was just beautiful.
We stayed all day and as the sun began to sink an amazing thing happened. Lights turned on and illuminated the water as it poured over the edge. I couldn't look away. My family was ready to move on but I never wanted to leave. The constant pour of surging water. The powerful roar of the falls. The cool misty air that fell over me. All pulled me, called out to me and tugged at my very core. Still today, nearly 30 years later, I can picture the falls and feel the strength within me. One day I hope to return and view the beauty of the falls from new angles. Perhaps I'll even take a tour on the Maid of the Mist at the base of the falls, or take a tour of the river upstream. One day though, I want to go back.
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