Niagara Falls Foliage Tour 10/4/08

[randyzimmer]

Time: October 4, 2008 at 10am
Location: Lewiston Landing Park
Lewiston Landing Park Lewiston, NY 14092 - Google Maps
I propose we meet Saturday 10/4/08 in the AM (10ish) on the US side in Lewiston, hang around and visit, then go along the river to the lake @ Fort Niagara, then up the escarpment to the upper Rapids, past the Falls and back to Lewiston, we'd be done by 1 PM. That'd leave lots of time for more visiting and the rest of the weekend to spend on your own or in new-found groups. Perhaps back to ride the train around the Falls, Maid of the Mist, Rapids Boat Ride? Suggestions?

[randyzimmer]

I just talked to Jeff at Barton Hill Hotel
Barton Hill Hotel website
and he'd be happy to give a smart car
20% discount to anyone arriving
10/3/08 for the tour.
The Hotel overlooks the river and the Landing
where we plan to meet.
I am working on some more special treats.
rz

[randyzimmer]

I have just about finalized the route for the tour.
The roads have a little of everything;
rural, residential, commercial, and all interesting.
Be sure to bring an extra battery and memory chip
for your camera.
Even local residents may be surprised what they see.

The tour will last about 1.5 hours minus stops.
You can then tour Niagara Falls on your own or
continue on a lap of Grand Island if you wish.

Meet at 10AM Saturday 10/04/2008 at Lewiston Landing Park Lewiston, NY 14092
Reservation Gas will be available on the route so a couple chits
will be all you need when we start out.

[BigWarpGuy]

Here is the site for Niagara Falls. I used to live not far from it in Hamburg NY. It is a beautiful area.

[randyzimmer]

Don from Ontario, Canada asks,
"I am interested in the tour on Saturday Oct 4. Do we have to register for it? any more details you can give me would be great."

No registration is necessary but my wife asks every day if we'll be the only ones there or not.

The plan is to meet at 10AM (or before) and mingle until everyone that is thought to be coming has arrived (hopefully 10:30 to 11:00) then start a parade out to Fort Niagara, Ransomville Speedway, the Indian reservation, Bell Aerospace, Love Canal, Goat Island and end at the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center.

If all goes well, the time will be close to 12 Noon leaving the rest of the day/weekend for "personal discovery".
There's a great road around Grand Island to drive on if anyone's interested in continuing.

rz

[randyzimmer]

Here's the route courtesy of Google Maps.
(Items in (Parenthesis) I've added to explain or describe landmarks)

Driving directions to Ransomville Speedway
16.9 mi – about 38 mins
Via Oak St, Old Lake Rd, Lake Rd/RT-18, Lake Rd/RT-18

start at: Center St & N Water St, Lewiston, NY 14092
1. Head east on Center St toward S 1st St
276 ft
2. Turn left at N 1st St
(up steep hill) 0.2 mi
3. Turn left at Oak St
0.2 mi
4. Turn left at N 2nd St/RT-18F Continue to follow RT-18F
5.6 mi
5. Continue on Porter Ave
0.6 mi
6. At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto Old Lake Rd
(into soccer fields and parking) 0.6 mi
7. Make a U-turn
(view Fort Niagara and Lighthouse) 0.4 mi
8. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto Robert Moses State Pkwy Spur
0.1 mi
9. Take the Hwy 18F exit toward Youngstown
0.3 mi
10. Turn left at Lake Rd/RT-18F (signs for WILSON)
2.4 mi
11. Turn left at Lake Rd/RT-18/RT-18F Continue to follow Lake Rd/RT-18
3.7 mi
12. Turn right at Dickersonville Rd
2.3 mi
13. Slight left at Braley Rd
(follow Braley to left at both Y's) 0.6 mi
arrive:
Ransomville Speedway
2315 Braley Rd
Ransomville, NY 14131

Driving directions to and around Goat Island
28.8 mi – about 1 hour 22 mins
Via Ransomville Rd, Walmore Rd, Cayuga Dr Ext/Niagara Rd, Cayuga Dr, Cayuga Dr/RT-265,
Lindbergh Ave, 102nd St, Buffalo Ave/RT-384, E Rivershore Dr, Buffalo Ave/RT-384,
Buffalo Ave/RT-384, Goat Island Loop Rd, Goat Island Loop Rd

1. Head northeast on Braley Rd toward Ransomville Rd
0.9 mi
2. Turn right at Ransomville Rd
4.3 mi
3. Turn right at Ridge Rd/RT-104
0.9 mi
4. Turn left at Dickersonville Rd/Lower Mountain Rd/ follow Lower Mountain Rd
0.5 mi
5. Turn right at Black Nose Spring Rd
(acute uphill turn!) 1.2 mi
6. Turn right at Upper Mountain Rd
0.7 mi
7. Turn left at Walmore Rd
(gas stop past stop sign and school on right. Diesel available too!) 3.9 mi
8. Turn left at Lockport Rd
0.2 mi
9. Turn right at Walmore Rd
1.5 mi
10. Turn right at Niagara Rd/Cayuga Rd
0.9 mi
11. Continue on Cayuga Dr
1.1 mi
12. Turn left to stay on Cayuga Dr
0.5 mi
13. Turn left at Lindbergh Ave
0.2 mi
14. Turn left at 91st St
410 ft
15. Turn right at Luick Ave
0.1 mi
16. Continue on Colvin Blvd
0.5 mi
17. Turn right at 102nd St
0.8 mi
18. Turn right at Buffalo Ave/RT-265/RT-384 Continue to follow Buffalo Ave/RT-384
0.9 mi
19. Turn left to stay on Buffalo Ave/RT-384
0.2 mi
20. Turn left at S 86th St
(island loop, stay to right and follow roads on perimeter back to S 86th bridge #26) 0.3 mi
21. Slight left at E Rivershore Dr
427 ft
22. Turn right to stay on E Rivershore Dr
0.5 mi
23. E Rivershore Dr turns slightly left and becomes Council St
0.2 mi
24. Council St turns slightly left and becomes Joliet Ave
0.4 mi
25. Slight right at Griffon Ave
98 ft
26. Turn right at S 86th St
0.2 mi
27. Turn left at Buffalo Ave/RT-384
1.6 mi
28. Turn left onto the ramp to AMERICAN Falls
0.2 mi
29. Merge onto Robert Moses State Pkwy W
2.8 mi
30. Exit onto Robert Moses State Pkwy
(continue straight while others exit) 0.4 mi
31. Turn right at 4th St (signs for 4TH St)
0.1 mi
32. Turn left at Buffalo Ave
0.3 mi
33. Turn left at Goat Island Bridge
(loop of Goat Island, stay right to follow perimeter, continue back to bridge #43) 0.2 mi
34. Continue on Goat Island
0.2 mi
35. Slight left at Goat Island Loop Rd
0.2 mi
36. Turn left to stay on Goat Island Loop Rd
0.8 mi
37. Turn left at Goat Island Rd
92 ft
38. Turn left to stay on Goat Island Rd
0.1 mi
39. Slight right at Goat Island Loop Rd
0.3 mi
40. Turn right at Exit Way
0.1 mi
41. Slight right to stay on Exit Way
213 ft
42. Slight right at Niagara Reservation State Park
0.2 mi
43. Continue onto Goat Island Bridge
56 ft

Driving directions to Niagara Gorge Discovery Center
1.1 mi – about 9 mins
Via Prospect St/Robert Moses State Pkwy, Unknown road - remove all

1. Head northeast on Goat Island Bridge toward Buffalo Ave
0.2 mi
2. Turn left at Buffalo Ave
(very slow, many pedestrians. We will go toward mouth of Rainbow Bridge,
cross the bridge traffic lanes and look for Pkwy entrance) 0.1 mi
3. Slight right at Robert Moses Pkwy W/Robert Moses State Pkwy
Continue to follow Robert Moses State Pkwy
0.3 mi
4. Turn left at Rainbow Blvd S/Robert Moses State Pkwy/RT-384
367 ft
5. Turn right at Main St/Robert Moses Pkwy/RT-104
486 ft
6. Turn left at 1st St/Rainbow Blvd N/Robert Moses Pkwy/RT-384
Continue to follow Robert Moses Pkwy/Robert Moses State Pkwy
0.2 mi
7. Turn left toward Robert Moses Pkwy/Robert Moses State Pkwy
131 ft
8. Turn left toward Niagara Gorge Discovery Center and parking lot
0.2

[randyzimmer]

Things are working out perfectly for Saturday.
The weather is cooler and downright cold at night for the next few days.
The colors won't be at peak but they won't be boring either.
The temperature should be cool enough to leave the roof shade open
but warm enough to roll the top back and crank up the heater.
Debi and I should arrive at the landing sometime around 9AM
(he said hopefully)
rz

[jwight]

Randy, should be a fun tour; sorry we can't make it but have other commitments for this weekend. Post lots of photos!

[randyzimmer]

Here's the weather for Saturday in Youngstown.

Looks pretty nice - just like fall should be.
The trees have been turning and the temp around 60F.
See you in Lewiston!

[randyzimmer]

Just a bump to get more eyeballs on it.
See you tomorrow.