“Now that we’re safely settled in and rested from the journey, there is one thing I am determined to do before I get too busy for any trips.”  Thus Joey Maynard at the breakfast table shortly after her arrival in Toronto.  Jo and Jack, her husband, had only recently arrived in Canada with their children, Len and Con  (two of the triplet girls with which they had started their long family), Stephen and Charles, to join Jo’s sister Madge, her husband Jem Russell, their daughters Sybil and Josette, and the third Maynard triplet, Margot, who had all been living in Toronto for the past year.  Margot’s health had been a constant source of worry, but the months in the crisp dry air of Canada had done wonders, and all worry was now, humanly speaking, a thing of the past.
“What might that be?” asked Jack warily.  He knew his Jo of old.
“I want to take the girls, Stephen and Charles to visit Niagara Falls.  We are so close here that it would be criminal to miss them.  Mike is too small to appreciate the trip, and could stay here with Anna” said Jo.
Madge spoke quickly before Jack could reply.  “I think it an excellent idea.  Sybs and Josette would enjoy it too, as would I.  We should be able to manage between us.”
“If you’re sure” said Jack.  “I don’t want Jo to tire herself unnecessarily.”

So the decision was taken, and Jo and Madge settled down with maps to plan the trip, which would take place on the next fine day.
“I vote we head for the Whirlpool first” suggested Jo.  “Look, it has this cable0car affair crossing the gorge.  The views will be spectacular.  We can then have lunch, and take the ‘Maid of the Mist’ trip right to the foot of the Falls.  If we have tea before we go back, that will make a very god day of it.”
 

The Niagara Spanish Aero Car, which has been in operation since 1916, spans the whirlpool high above the waters.

“Please can we go across, Mamma?” pleaded Len, the eldest triplet.
“If you are all very good, and promise to stand still and not jump around.” Said Jo.  “No messing about or we shall go straight home, and you will miss the Falls”
A chorus of solemn promises arose, and after the tickets had been purchased the whole party filled on board the car.  When it was full it swayed out over the roaring water, tumbling and swirling far below.
“Has the water really carved this deep gorge all by itself?” asked Sybil.
“Oh yes.” replied Madge. “You can see the power of it yourself, and they divert some of the water to make electricity these days.  Water is a very powerful force, and the erosion is approximately three feet every year.”
All too soon they stood on Terra Firma once more.  Lunch was now the order of the day, and the whole party settled down in the nearby public gardens to partake of the delicious picnic lunch prepared for them by Anna.  There were crusty rolls filled with meat and salad.  These were followed by the wonderful little cakes that were Anna’s speciality, and which melted in the mouth.  Fresh fruit finished the repast, and the whole was washed won by Anna’s patent fruit drink.  After lunch the whole party rested for half an hour.  Jo and Madge talked quietly, while some of the small fry frankly fell asleep.  After a quiet half hour, they all climbed back into the car and set off again towards the Falls themselves.  Leaving the car, they walked to the railings which border the river above the Falls.
“Be very careful, and don’t lean over” warned Madge.  They all looked over very carefully.  The water flowed past in a green torrent, but it was possible to see the bottom through the clear water.  Rainbows danced in the spray that climbed high above the Falls.  The party moved slowly along the bank until they could turn and gaze at the amazing site of the Falls.  A solid wall of water fell 170 feet in a great horse-shoe shaped curve.

The party moved further down stream, and after purchasing their tickets, they were taken to a small building where they were kitted out with long waterproof capes and hats.  The party was a sight to behold, and Len dug out her Kodak the record the event for posterity.  Then they all trooped on board, and presently the boat cast off from the shore and headed for the Falls.  The engine roared to hold its own against the force of the water, but it gradually made headway against the current.  The noise of the water almost drowned the engine noise as the boat edged closer to the great Falls, and presently found itself with the arms of the horseshoe.  The spray from the Falls fell like a very heavy cloudburst, and all were thankful for the protective clothing they wore.  The whole boat shook with the effort needed to keep it in place, and the noise was deafening.
At length the boat turned. The engines throttled back, and she shot downstream towards the landing stage.  Once on dry land, the party returned their borrowed waterproofs, and headed back up to the top of the cliff.

“That is an experience I shall remember for the rest of my life” declared Con.  “Thank you Mamma and Auntie Madge for giving us the treat.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.  I vote we find a restaurant and have our tea” suggested Jo.

They headed for the Victoria Park restaurant, and settled in the Outdoor Terrace, with it’s wonderful view of the Falls.  There they partook of delightful cakes and tea, before heading back to the car in a leisurely fashion, and from thence returned to Toronto.  As Jo said to Jack that night as they prepared for bed  “It was a truly memorable day.  Not the least because not one of the kids misbehaved the whole time!”

Very nicely done, Pat - having been to Niagra recently myself (last November), I could picture it very clearly - and how nice to have a family outing without the alarms that normally follow the Maynard clan!

Ray *didn't take the Maids of the Mist tour*

*grins* There were two reasons for not taking Maids of the Mist. First and foremost, they'd closed for the season, although you could still do the walk to the bottom of the cliff and look at the falls that way. Secondly, and only slightly less important, the day my friend and I were in Niagra, it was *snowing*. NOT really the weather for it. Although I did get some very dramatic photies of the falls with the odd lazy flake drifting down.

Ray *developed a whole new sense of 'cold' that day*

What would you have me do to them?  Send someone over the Falls?! :o :o

Nononono! I like KB was waiting for something to happen (like the Maids of the Mist breaking down or the cablecar suddenly stopping mid-trip) and it was VERY nice to see that it didn't :)

Ray *perishing the thought of someone going over the falls*

But I bet it would be much more stressful to take seven children on a day trip if they weren't all obediant Maynards :o

I went years ago when I was only 5 and there was torrential rain! My only memory of it is being very, very wet! But I would like to go again ...

(Just as well Mike Maynard was too wee to go or there would have been an incident!!)

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