Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls
I was born and raised in Niagara Falls, often when I mention this fact someone will say I’ve been to Niagara Falls. So what’s the allure of this Natural wonder? I lived within few blocks of the cataracts when I was young; I’ve seen firsthand the powerful attraction this rushing water can have on people. There are often weddings held using it’s majesty as their backdrop. People from throughout the world find its Eden. Its sheer immensity is breathtaking to behold, but there is more than that; it’s indefinable but at the same time it engulfs you with its omnipresent sights, sounds; you feel the tremendous rush of water transmitted through your body much like soothing gentle the motion of a train hurdling down the tracks; you can even feel cooling mist welling up as step close to water’s edge and peer down in into basin below. As your eyes drill down you are reminded to hold on tight by your conscious mind while you subconscious is swept away free from its earthly bonds and traveling along on the water like a child on toboggan in the fresh laid snowy blanket. Your mind tries to fight the urge, but it’s no use you are under its spell, you’ve been brainwashed by it soothing come hither call. After gazing for a while you regain your composure and decide to stroll casually along rough carved edges of the mighty Niagara River that gives this falls its ferocious roar. You watch as endless amounts of water continue pass you as if late for something very important, and all the while still more water comes and goes, is there no end in sight?! No there isn’t, if history is to believed, not for millions of years. So you move forward to allow others to partake of its show of resilience. You cross the small bridge in front of you and your step foot onto Goat Island; you ponder, “How could goats have gotten on this island in the first place. Is it possible that they could fort the river? Not likely your surmise, If I can’t swim across a goat certainly could not, perhaps it’s myth. The story is: some brave soul put them (goats) on the island by boat and they thrived. Let’s enjoy the unspoiled beauty of the small uninhabited island. There are small trails that lead directly to the water’s edge; after all Goat Island is a median in the Niagara River channeling the water around it mass like an airfoil that gives an aircraft its lift. Goat Island creates a similar turbulence causing the rushing water to speed up along its short side and to slow down some, (by comparison) as it carves away its long shore. There are small inlets, a lagoon if you will, that are gentle enough for toddlers to enjoy natures show. The smooth polished rocks are makeshift seating for a picnic lunch or just a quiet session of contemplation. As you gaze at the beauty that surrounds you, you decide you need to capture it; so you take many pictures – but they do little to capture allure of this most wonderful place, Niagara Falls.
I’m glad you stopped by, if only in your imagination…..perhaps I’ll see you here some balmy day.