Western New York

Welcome to Western New York, specifically Colden, New York. We arrived Sunday afternoon and enjoyed our week. Once again, we had rain, but only one day, so that was good. 

Our site for the week.

The geese are enjoying the rain.

Overview of where we stayed.

Colden was founded by a man named Richard Buffum. He left Rhode Island with his children and some others to move west in order to find a new home. They carried everything in an ox cart. They settled in what is present day Colden. Buffum purchased 2,000 acres of land from the Holland Purchase Company.

This was also the 2nd site for the post office.

On April 2, 1828, the town was organized. It contained 22,704 acres and Silas Lewis was the first supervisor. The first post office was established in 1830 in Leander J. Robert’s house and was called Colden After Cadwalder D. Colden, who was a State Senator. Three years later, the post office was moved to Buffum’s Mills, and Buffum became the postmaster. The post office kept the name Colden, and gradually, the settlement accepted the name.

Colden Fire Department, couldn't find a date.

While driving to Niagara Falls, I was able to take a picture of the hills. Truly this picture doesn't do justice to God's creation. "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him." Colossians 1:16 (NASB)

Western New York.

I must say that we probably would have never gone to Niagara Falls if we weren't full time RVing. It is so beautiful and so worth seeing. GPS took us to Canada, so we just parked there for the day and walked to the U.S. side to ride Maid of the Mist. I had already bought tickets and never even knew the Canada side had a boat tour as well. It was fun and we were able to get in our steps for the day. "Keeping it real" I haven't had over 13,000 steps in one day in a very long time. This week we also walked our 7500 steps, but only one day. So, I need to start getting better with consistency.

Canada up ahead.

The boarder.

So glad they were open for business.

Downtown.

Miss not being able to have chocolate made with sugar.

I just thought we looked cute.

First look at Niagara Falls. 

The Niagara River flows at approximately 35 miles per hour.

Walking across the Rainbow Bridge. New York on the left and Canada on the right.

This is truly an amazing boat ride.

Funny, but this is our 3rd boat ride in the past 3 months.

Fun fact: Annie Taylor "Queen of the Mist" , a school teacher from

Bay City, Michigan was first person to travel over the Falls in a barrel on October 24, 1901

Falls were formed when melting glaciers formed massive fresh-water lakes (the Great Lakes) one of which (Lake Erie) ran downhill toward another (Lake Ontario). The rushing waters carved out a river in their descent and at one point passed over a steep cliff like formation (the Niagara escarpment). From the original falls going over the Niagara Escarpment, the water began to wear its way back up the river. The path that it left is known today as the Niagara Gorge (a deeply cut and very scenic river path).

There are actually two waterfalls in Niagara, the American Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.

"Grace is finding a waterfall when you were only looking for a stream." Vanessa Hunt.

See the large bubble? 

The bird is trying to be sneaky.

He got what he wanted.

This is $20 Canadian and it feels sort of like plastic.

The $10 was very wrinkled, but hubby helped me out. 

He has a future as a hand model, don't you think?

 Another new state! Here are the state bird, tree, flower and motto for New York.

 
*New York: Eastern Bluebird (Bird), Sugar Maple (Tree), Rose (Flower), and "Excelsior" which means "Ever Upward and E pluribus unum" which means "Out of many one" (Motto).

Eastern Bluebird

Sugar Maple in the Spring

Rose

Yesterday, we arrived in Lake Arial, Pennsylvania. We are about 15 minutes from our friends Art and Caroline. We will be here for two weeks and can't wait to enjoy the area with them.

If there is something special you would like me to take a picture of, please let me know!
 
Drop a comment for me and let me know your thoughts on the blog.
 
God, the RV & me...