Four days and a 1500 miles. We had to have some fun along the way. So we made our first layover at Niagara Falls. We got a great rate at a hotel right near the falls (Fallside Hotel and Conference Center) and soon discovered why =). You could tell that this hotel had seen it’s better days and that at one time it was probably a quality hotel. Unfortunately those days are now long behind. I was prepared for this as I did some research prior to our trip. I figured we are monks accustomed to living simply and the trade off of being so close to the falls was worth a cheap and possibly funky room. Sure enough the rooms were both cheap and funky. What I was unprepared for though was finding out that the heaters in both rooms did not work and the temperature was getting into the 20s. Never fear – the young, undaunted desk clerk handed me one small portable heater to heat both our rooms. We had adjoining rooms so I could open the door and place the heater where it could blow into both rooms. The important thing he had to tell me as that I could not us the high setting (1500 watts) as it could blow the circuits in the room. So we had a small heater at the low setting of 1300 watts to blow a little warm air as we clung to our sleeping bags, with sweatshirts, and extra blankets. I know what you are thing and there was no huddling. Fortunately it did not come to that.

We woke up the next day to the discovery of black ice on the parking lot. This I discovered very personally with my bottom as I was carrying the luggage out to the van. It was a beautiful layer of ice so clear you could see the blacktop right through it. So we all just semi-skated across it ever some gracefully and headed over to the Falls.

The sight of Niagara Falls was well worth our efforts. Even though it was cold, the sun came out for a few minutes and we were greeted by an incredible, radiant, huge rainbow. This was the first time I had have seen them and the falls are truly spectacular. There are actually 3 falls – American, Bridal Veil, and Horseshoe. In the middle of the falls is Goat Island. This is were we went so we could see all the falls. It was a wonderful and I wish we had more time, but “every minute is a mile” and we needed to head on down the road.

Down the road we were greeted by “lake effect” snow storms. We even had a little time to get out and play. I will post a couple of pictures below.

After the cheap, funky, cold hotel, we got a cheap, quality, warm hotel with a indoor pool and hot tub that the monks made quick use of. This was a sight! We had the whole pool and spa area to ourselves and they reminded of my elementary school pool party days. The were telling me to get the camera, but I assured them that would be unadvisable, and besides, I don’t think I ever want to see that sight again.

The rest of the journey was pretty much business as usual and we arrived on time in Lincoln, Nebraska on November 19th.

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