Some days out of the United States.. Two days at Niagara Falls

Among the many trips that a camper dream is to cross the U.S. from coast to coast, the Caravan Club Italy, has organized and we have joined. It was a long time since we talked about it with friends, others, or alone with other organizations, there had been, but always in very limited locations: California, Nevada and Utah, no one knew that we had made the "coast to coast . Given the program, we noticed that was very broad, but limited in time, in a nutshell: you had to run, but could be done. After two meetings in Bologna, home of the club and one in Bergamo, where we had all the details and final costs, and you decide to go. The cost, inclusive (unfortunately not the case) was set at € 12,500. Twenty days before departure there was a balance in favor or against, the value of the dollar / euro and this then has not come true, for about € 400. It 'was decided to do the same for all cost for the camper even though they were of different sizes because not everyone could have the small ones, so it was chosen by lot. The maximum of the participants had to be 20 campers with two executives, would have made two groups, unfortunately one of the two animals for health reasons had to give up, we were asked if we wanted to start with a single charge and we all agreed, however, the cost of the second person had been charged and has not been repaid to the various participants. Many have requested a refund but there was no response.
To enter multiple photos and make reading faster, I wanted to mention this trip is divided into states, each group in addition to related photos, we will be the diary of the days associated with that state.

 

From Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Grand Island, New York km. 480

Leaving at 7, we can expect a transfer day.
You can not make the highway, long and monotonous, but through boundless fields and forests with significant extensions of oak, hickory, maple, chestnut, beech and ash. We arrive on the east coast of Lake Erie, where begins the Niagara River that connects Lake Ontario.
Late afternoon we arrive at the Niagara Falls KOA Kampground, where they stay for two nights. It 's a beautiful campsite clean and tidy, spacious pitches with associated services.
Experts now connect the various tubes and drain safely
Camping Niagara Falls Koa - N 43 W 01 55 78 58 20.

Camping Niagara Falls Koa – N 43 01 55 W 78 58 20.

The appointment was scheduled for today's 9:00 in the office of the campsite where a chauffeur speaking guide in Italian, should have come to take us to start the tour "Ultimate Niagara Falls Experience". Unfortunately it never arrived, after waiting in vain for two hours and several phone calls Pierluigi, we discover that the bus was waiting for us at the campsite at Niagara Falls Koa, but in Canada, good reading among the documents we found that there was a letter the Hotelplan, the agency that booked the various tours and camps, said that clearly the meeting place for the trip. Unfortunately PL booked camping Niagara Falls Koa in America and Canada. In haste we took six campers, including mine, and we went to the meeting point, the Koa in Canada to do this we sorbitol passing through customs between the U.S. and Canada, but was not fast enough. Finally settled on the bus, the interpreter, a beautiful woman of Italian descent, tells us that we can not make the tour set for the delay, we will see only the most important destinations.
Once in Niagara Falls, the bus park to park near the Queen Victoria, with manicured gardens until you reach the front of the falls. The sound is like thunder and saw a sweet inspiration. Niagara Falls (Niagara Falls), between Canada and the U.S., are considered for their breadth and their spectacular scenery of the most famous in the world, although in reality their jump is only 52 meters. Formed by a complex of three distinct waterfalls although originating from the same river, the Niagara. In the Canadian side are the Horseshoe Falls (Horseshoe), so called for their semi-circular, sometimes also known as Canadian Falls, separated from the American Falls on the U.S. side, from Goat Island (Island goats). They both always end in American soil the smaller Bridal Veil Falls (waterfall bridal veil). Famous worldwide for their beauty and their energy production. Notoriety was given to this place from the movie "Niagara" was filmed in 1953 with the actress Marilyn Monroe. We begin our tour at the Visitor Centre, right next to Table Rock Falls. The noise is very strong. Let's first look. Beside the entrance of the building to fall below the waterfall, Journey Behind the Falls. We deliver a kind of yellow plastic that will act as waterproof and take the lift to come down for 150 meters. the rock. Exit the elevator path and a tunnel on a platform we are almost at the river at the foot of the waterfall. Another tunnel runs from behind the falls occasionally interrupted by a series of small Scenic Tunnels, an impressive vantage points that let you see the wall of falling water. The camera view and the activity is limited by significant water spray. Basically we are behind the waterfall called Horseshoe. The show is extraordinary. Lifts and we find ourselves in the gift shop of the Table Rock complex. Once outside we resume our journey. Unforgettable is the skyline seen from Queen Victoria Park encounter on foot along the Niagara River (the Indian name means narrow). Nearby is also the Skylon Tower, visit this afternoon. To the north of the falls we embark on the boat that leads under the jump of the Maid of the Mist. As soon as we boarded assigned to him by a kind of waterproof plastic (blue, this time) that should protect against splashes. We will pass by the waterfall for a spectacular (if not intense), close encounters with water. So close that it is difficult to keep my eyes open to how much water we have around. It seems that time suddenly becomes tedious, as one day's time. In fact, we find ourselves in the mist and rain while looking back, you see the sun reflecting on the River. Strange feeling. Descend below deck for a moment. It seems that the above is just raining in torrents.
Landed decide you take the elevator to the 158 meters. Skylock the Tower, to the summit of which a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape. We have a fantastic view of the complex is big and spectacular waterfalls. Before us the Rainbow Bridge straddles the river banks. After falling back photographs of ritual and move campers from the campground koa in a parking lot near a restaurant spotted in the evening. Some of the group prefer to return to camp in the USA, two campers are detached from the company and return to American koa. Before dinner you walk in the city with its magnificent hotels and casinos surrounded by parks and gardens well kept. Towards evening we return to the restaurant indicated above, primarily ate pizza and steaks, unfortunately the pizza was not good but the meat, according to those who ate was excellent, the account was divided equally among everyone who has eaten pizza complained for having paid the cost of which cost much more. Detail of this restaurant were the service with a unique sink: one for many taps formed from a single sheet of glass tilted.
Begins to get dark when we return to the top of Skylock Tower, are turning the lights on the waterfall which will remain lit until midnight. It 's a complex of 21 Xenon lights, each 76 cm. in diameter. 18 are located at the Tower and three are below street level in the throat in front of American Falls. Each of xenon has a brightness of 250 million candlepower. All around there is the luminous splendor of the water from the many and colorful lights. The show that is offered and which astonished seeing is unique: it seems the scene of a film. A wonderful blaze. The camera seems to be a gun. Shoot one frame after another ad infinitum, unfortunately I have with me the tripod, many pictures will move.
Reading the daily program of the visit, we see what we could not see: the Rainbow Bridge, near the bridge that joins the Canadian side, America, the Whirlpool Rapids, consisting of 4 km of waves 3 to 5 meters , making this stretch of white water known as the most beautiful series of standing waves in North America, resulting from obstacles or rocks on the river bottom but caused by the sheer force (volume and velocity) in which the water is in this point forced by the narrowing of the gorge, the Whirlpool Aero Car, a kind of old aerial cable car that runs on the river for a mile, allows visitors to appreciate the sudden change of direction of the river, thus, creates one of natural phenomena called mesmerizing scary times (fascinating), thereby making it possible for tourists to see up close the largest and giant vortex, the Butterfly Conservatory to see the attraction of working magic over 2000 tropical butterflies floating freely among lush greenery and exotic flowers a rain forest with paths wind, with a pond and a waterfall.
We also covered the camp.

From Grand Island, New York to Ypsilanti, Michigan km. 445

Leaving at 7
Redo for the third time the Customs USA / Canada and take a highway that runs along the border will take us back to the U.S. in Michigan, a beautiful road and beautiful scenery.
To the Customs for the return in the U.S., the leading group pulls back to the trucks and lose much time for customs clearance for media precede them, perceiving the error you enter the queue in the lane right in a short time in USA, proceed towards the camp and here we wait for the arrival of others.
Camping Detroit Greenfield Koa N 42 W 11 48 83 33 45.

The end

Many efforts and hard work for this trip that gave us emotions difficult to describe. Every day was unique, unmissable, extraordinary, thanks to the dedication and the willingness of all our fellow adventurers. What we remember most? Hard to say. Every place of its kind, it was wonderful. This trip will be memorable. Our thoughts, in order, rushing to the charm of Niagara Falls, the gullies of the Badlands, the faces of presidents carved into the mountain, the magnificent Dewil Tower, Old Faithful and all the exciting dell'Yellowstone Park (although we did not see Yogi Bear and Booboo), Monument Valley, and its delicate arches and its spire, the light filtered through Antelope Canyon Lake Powell with the legendary Glen Canyon Dam, the proud, the great, the beautiful, the stunning Grand Canyon, lights, sounds of Las Vegas to Badwater in Death Valley hot, very big and the old General Sherman and the unexpected snowfall in Sequoia National Park, the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge and the skyline of San Francisco saw the romantic Sausalito, and finally, the great New York, its skyscrapers, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty (Distant View). There were many other things to tell that we have not included in this text. Others that we could say but who are in all the guidebooks. Still others, such as feelings and deepest emotions. ... That can never describe but which will remain trapped forever in us. Now it is all over. It 's time to go home, review my friends, to continue our life forever, waiting for another wonderful trip to enjoy together.