When a Roadtrek Friend Comes to Visit

Living an RV life in a Roadtrek takes me a lot of places and I get to meet a lot of people. Owning a Roadtrek has also introduced me to a lot of great people. Holly has a 2002 Chevy 190P Roadtrek just like mine. Except she has a generator. I am so jealous. We met on a Roadtrek Facebook group about two years ago and last week we got to meet in person.

I got a message from Holly that she would be cutting through Canada on her way to Maine. She would cross in Detroit and come through Niagara. If I was in the area did I want to go for coffee? Luckily I was in Sharon at the Sharon Temple and on my way back to Niagara. I would meet her there. Send me a message when she was close.

I got a message from her asking where in Niagara she could go to sit back and rest for a few days. It was Thanksgiving weekend here and most of the parks are either full or closed already. As you all know I am not just a van owner but also a vanner. Yes they are different. Lol.

My friend Dan has a beautiful place near Lake Erie. I called him and asked if she could go there and I would meet her there the next morning. He said of course. He was not there at the moment but she could just pull in and sit and relax. I love my friends. I am so blessed to have them all in my life. I gave her the directions and told her I was having Thanksgiving dinner with my kids and I would be up the next day.

I had chatted with Holly on line many, many times. I was so excited to finally meet her.

Holly and myself and her little dogs too

We had all these plans to go touring in Niagara that day but instead we sat and chatted at Dan’s. It was a beautiful day for coffee and lawn chairs. Dan and Liz arrived later that day and cooked a beautiful meal. Did I mention what great friends I have!!!

I love being a tour guide. Niagara has so many beautiful places with Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-lake and some of the best wineries in the world. There is so much to see and do.

We set off on our tour of Niagara the next day. The perfect place to start is the Lakeside Park Carousel in Port Dalhousie. This historic carousel with the animals that were hand carved from 1898 to 1905 is still in operation and is still only 5 cents to ride.

On through St. Catharines to the Welland Canal. I was so hoping a ship would be coming through so she could see it. I took her to Lock 3 because I just think it is cool to watch a huge ship rise or be lowered by the power of water. Unfortunately there was no ship but the drive up the Canal was nice.

Ship coming out of a lock at Welland Canal

Driving down Niagara Parkway at any time of year is beautiful but the fall adds its own colour. Leaving Niagara-on-the-Lake towards Niagara Falls is whole lot of beauty and a whole lot of history. Driving past historical moments such as Fort George, Brock’s Monument in Queenston and the beauty of the lookouts over the Niagara River. There is so much to see.

She told me that she had thought I was kidding when I told her it was Thanksgiving, until she walked into Walmart and they were wishing her Happy Thanksgiving. In the United States Thanksgivinging is in November. I thought Thanksgiving dinner with the aliens would be a great way to end the day.

I love the Flying Saucer Restaraunt or as my grandkids call it “the outer space cafè” in Niagara Falls. Great food at affordable prices, wonderful service in a fun atmosphere. It is shaped like a flying saucer and filled with alien memorabilia. Even a few aliens! Lol.

After a great meal we toured Niagara Falls. Down Clifton Hill and then along the Niagara Parkway by the Falls.

We both decided we needed a shower and a place to chill for the night. I headed to the Husky Truckstop in Niagara-on-the-Lake. A great shower, some fuel and a nice place to park for the night. They also have a nice restaurant that I like to go to when I am in the area. A plan was put in place to visit Niagara-on-the-Lake, do the Parkway and stop at a few more things along the way, visit a Winery and see the falls at night. It was going to be a busy day.

We could not have asked for better weather in Southern Ontario in October. We headed for Niagara-on-the-Lake and went for a stroll along the main st. There are so many little shops and boutiques. A place where you can by a unique gift or a delicious chocolate covered apple. The old fashion candy store is one of my favorites while I am in town. One of my favorite parts of being a tour guide is I get to tell her all the stories. Niagara is not only filled with history and beauty but also ghosts. My favorite in Niagara-on-the-Lake is the ghost of Room 207 at the Prince of Wales Hotel. A beautiful place to stay with a spooky story.

Back down the Parkway stopping at a few places we did not before. We stopped at the Floral Clock. A beautiful park where the dogs could get out and walk for a little bit. It has a clock that is all made out of flowers. Very pretty. In the spring there is a Lilac Garden beside it in full bloom. What a lovely fragrance. The Winery we chose. Inniskillin Winery. I am not a wine drinker so when I asked Holly what she was looking for in particular, icewine was the answer. I have heard many good things about their icewines.

There is a gift shop and restaurant called Maple Leaf Place. In front of the complex is the World’s Largest Carved Moose. It is chainsaw carved by a man named Mike Winia in 2017. Interestingly it is carved from five logs from London Ontario. These trees were over 200 years old.

Niagara Falls is a wonder of beauty all its own. As many times as I have seen this, and it is a lot, I am still amazed at the power of that water going over the brink of the Falls.

A stroll along the Parkway and sitting and chatting as we enjoyed the view we decided to have dinner at the Table Rockhouse Restaurant and wait for night time to fall. Niagara Falls is a whole new world at night. The lights on the falls are something that people from all over the world come to see.