It became hotter an hotter on this day in early September.
Our guests were so excited about the scenery that they decided to tour the "Niagara Glen Nature Reserve" after the brief but exciting trip across the Whirlpool in the cable car.
Because of my poor walking I could not join them and enjoyed an ice cream cone instead.
As we already knew the glenn can only be reached by climbing many steps in a metal tower. You should be free from giddiness to do that. Please do not be ashamed if that happens to you. One of our test pilots had problems on the CN-Tower!
You will find several marked hiking trails when you arrive on the ground of the gorge. Our visitors did not buy a card and I assume that they walked all of them, because I waited for hours.
The "Niagara Glen" is a Nature Reserve - please obey all the posted regulations.
Interesting rock formations created by erosion over many, many years, rare plants and little animals and birds are additional rewards for your efforts. The main attraction however, is the mighty Niagara River.

When our German visitors did not show up after two hours I knew that they loved this tour. I Had a good time too, by watching other visitors which came obviously back from a trip with one of the jet boats. Some of them were soaked, but nobody complained.
Finally, the hiking visitors came back. As expected they were excited but also a little bit exhausted. They were still sweating and I could see several mosquito bites.
They told me that they need to shower and change clothes before having dinner and that they took as requested pictures for me. I used a few of them for this web page.

I asked them about a ride in one of the jet boats. But they were only on a very brief business trip and time was running out. Hopefully, they can do this the next time when they come to Ontario.

When I discovered a very friendly looking gentleman, I asked him whether he is the artist who did all the carvings. He was the artist. Is he a Native or an Asian?

You must wear proper shoes to do this tour. It would be embarrassing to call a rescue team because of a broken ankle.
Also watch your children and be careful that you do not take a bath in the river. The results could be fatal!
Watch also the jet boats. Eventually, they inspire you to book such a trip. If you want to take pictures during such a ride protect your camera and be prepared to get wet.

Elizabeth, my wife, wanted to participate in such a tour since years. Friends of her did this and told her exciting stories about it. However, we never booked a tour after I was not allowed to take a picture of such a jet boat in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Similar stupid things happened also in Germany to me. Stupidity does not know any borders! I am getting used to that.
All the waiting time, I did not spend only with eating ice cream cones and watching people and flying helicopters.
In the store where I got my ice cream I discovered eye catching carvings which looked like the work of natives to me. unfortunately, it was forbidden to take pictures of this art work. I do not complain about that, because in most museums and galleries you can not do that either.
So I strolled a little bit around and explored the surroundings.

This "Wood Carving Park" was hidden behind a fence and obviously closed. Sneaky people did funny things to have a brief glance into it. The park was closed and I did not check whether it will be opened by appointment only or at specific times. It was already late afternoon.
The park is certainly the work ground of the shown artist who had disappeared in the store where I had purchased my ice cream.
The number of incoming visitors slowed down very fast. The high season for tourism was already over. Our visitors told me that they had a very good business lunch in one of the well known restaurants for a very moderate price and that the service was excellent, because of the decreased number of guests. Hopefully, also the airfare between Europe and Canada will go down soon. That will help to attract visitors from overseas, but Ontario and the tourist business have to do much more to fulfill the empty promise to be a all year long tourist destination.