CANALSIDE and more: 8/31/17

Marlene had a great idea:  to drive to Buffalo and park in the "park and ride" lot at UB and take the subway (Buffalo Metro Rail) all the way to the end and get off and explore CANALSIDE.  I had been to CANALSIDE once before with Peggy, to take a boat tour, but had not explored it.

When we arrived, we noticed a group of people gathered, so we headed over and found that there was a ceremony going on.  I think we arrived close to the end of the ceremony.

It had to do with BUFFALO NIAGARA WATERKEEPERS.   I think the ceremony signified the name change from BUFFALO NIAGARA RIVERKEEPERS to BUFFALO NIAGARA WATERKEEPERS.  At the end, the dignitaries and visitors signed their names to this:

Marlene and I signed it!  I found this picture online, which show my signature in the top right and Marlene's down in the bottom right.

and then we walked along the SHORELINE TRAIL.  We passed the METRO STATION

and saw this old building: 

which is the MIAMI STREET FREIGHTHOUSE.   We also saw the Buffalo Fire Department Boat:  The EDWARD M. COTTER: 

It is so large that I could not get the whole boat in the picture.  

After walking a while, we noticed a building which we thought might be a restaurant:

It is the TEWKSBURY LODGE, a very nice restaurant.  We had fried bologna sandwiches and salad, and then we headed back towards CANALSIDE.    We saw this along the way:

We saw a TAE KWON DO demonstration (actually, maybe these kids were just practicing) going on, so we sat and watched it for a few minutes.

We continued walking back towards where we had started, checking things out along the way.  

When I suggested that we take the BIKE FERRY across to the other side, Marlene hesitated, but we decided to do it.  We had trouble with this ticket machine,

and an employee helped us, but she had difficulty, also.  I had to use my credit card and we finally got our tickets.....each round trip is only two dollars.

Once we arrived on the other side, we walked to the park where the BUFFALO LIGHTHOUSE is, but the area is under construction, so we could not go past the coast guards gates and see it.  

So we turned around and walked the other way.  We came up an area that looked interesting, the TIMES BEACH NATURE PRESERVE.  

Marlene said she was concerned about ticks and did not want to go on the trail.  I suggested we walk down a little way, and she agreed and led the way.   After several yards, I told her to let me know when she was ready to turn back.  She kept going and I am so glad of that.  We continued and walking this trail was the HIGHLIGHT of the day.  The scenery is SO beautiful and included some wildlife:  

 much of the trail was boardwalk:

and  a real bonus was the views of the lighthouse that we saw along the way:  

 too bad this fence is in the way!

We took the ferry back to the other side and checked out the kiddie area where there are paddle boats (not to mention that there was a small but nice ladies room available)

these pools(or canals) are used as ice skating rinks in the winter.  There is more that we saw, and we spoke to several people (usually asking directions or for ideas of where to go). 

We  took the METRO back to UB.  We went to Wendy's for a cold drink and then headed back to Lockport.  My complete set of pictures can be seen here:  www.flickr.com/photos/juneny/albums/72157684732357322

It was a wonderful way to spend the last day of August!