A Kilted day in Niagara

**McMurdo** · 27th June 09, 05:59 AM

Yesterday Catherine and I decided to spend the day in Niagara Falls. She had wanted to go back since arriving in Canada last time, and yesterday afforded us the perfect day. We started early with a few wineries, the Niagara region is full of wineries, they have a wine route you can follow with tons of different wineries, as I do not drink I have no way of knowing how many there really are down there. We stopped at two the Marynissen Estate Wine and the much larger Inniskillin Winery.

The Marynissen Estate Winery came complete with it's own Calico Cat named Margret, I was told petting Margret was a do at your own risk activity, we got along fine, I've owned, or at least lived with a Calico before.

Catherine had never tried Ice Wine before there were a few Wine tastings, all at about 10 am. The proprietor was nice and got a picture of Catherine and I together in the winery

I remember the days when something like this would be considered a good start

Catherine with the wine barrel

The winery

Rows and rows of grapes

A close up

Inniskillin Winery next stop

**McMurdo** · 27th June 09, 06:09 AM

A wee drive down the road and we were at Inniskillin winery, this place was completely different than the smaller winery we had just come from, this has got to be one of the largest wineries in the country.

Catherine standing in front of the American Flag

The original barn which has been converted into a shop

The vineyards

Some of the garden on the property

Me with the sun in my eyes on the way to the car.

So after purchasing a bottle at each winery, that we are going to have to share with friends an family as they will never be drank here we hit the road again, this time with yours truly behind the wheel to continue our adventure. Next stop Brock's Monument and Queenston Heights.

**McMurdo** · 27th June 09, 06:18 AM

After being done with two wineries before noon, it was decided that I would drive the rest of the day. We drove along the Niagara river until we came to Queenston Heights and the Brock Memorial. Catherine being from the southern States had no idea who Brock was but was suitably impressed by the monument. I climbed the 235-step spiral staircase up the column which leads you to a small indoor platform underneath Brock's statue. Porthole windows provide views of the surrounding Niagara region and Lake Ontario, it is a hard climb in that it gets very stuffy up inside the monument and can get a wee bit claustrophobic, as soon as I said to myself "Will this never end?" I saw the top and got a few pictures.

When you get to the base of the monument you are greeted by a few people in period costume

Another view of the monument

The plaque on the monument

The view from the top

There was a dedication to fallen Native American veterans

The monument again

Me at the wall taking in the scenery

Then we continued down the road and found the floral clock, we just had to get some photos, those are next.

**McMurdo** · 27th June 09, 06:27 AM

So a little was away we turned into the parking lot for the Floral Clock, with my legs feeling a bit weak from the climb and the fact that it was at this point getting close to lunch. We did get a couple of shots of the floral clock though so here they are.

Coy in the pond in front of the clock

Catherine sitting in front of the clock

The lily pads in the pond

Once we left the clock we decided to get some lunch as Brock's Monument took it out of both of us, after lunch we thought we would go check out the Niagara Whirlpool, it was not as active as some days.

We went back to the car and saw this little fellow hanging out at the garbage can

After that we thought it was time for the Botanical Gardens, those photos and the Butterfly conservatory next.

**McMurdo** · 27th June 09, 06:34 AM

We thought as Catherine's foot began to bother her that we would take the horse and buggy ride around the 100 acres of the Botanical Gardens. First we went through the Arborium

More of this to come, and the butterfly conservatory.

**McMurdo** · 27th June 09, 06:59 AM

More from the Gardens

There are some birds on the grounds a Peacock who after seeing me in my kilted splendor decided not to unfurl his feathers

A couple of ducks can't remember their names

A turkey who can be quite vocal but was not in talkative mood yesterday

More to come form the gardens soon.

**ghostlight** · 27th June 09, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by McMurdo

...a Peacock who after seeing me in my kilted splendor decided not to unfurl his feathers

It appears 1 Plumage, 2 Looks just isn't cutting it for him -- and he knows it.

Another beautiful outing? I'm thinking a trip to Canada might be in order one day. Thank you for sharing with us!

**Mael Coluim** · 27th June 09, 07:09 AM

Superb pix, McMurdo! What a delightful excursion.

**Coinneach** · 27th June 09, 07:27 AM

It's just "all in a day," isn't it. What a lovely outing the two of you had; great pictures. Looks like the calico knew she could hold her own with you, but the other animals look like they were just feeling underdressed.