Buffalo was our first CouchSurfing experience so we were a little apprehensive when we arrived. We needn't have been as we were greeted at the door with a beer, a sure sign of good hosting in any part of the world.
Our first CouchSurfOur hosts, Mike and Maura, were great company. On our first night, Mike took us for a bike ride to show us the local area (and his local pub for a beer). We were given a couple of old style 'Cruiser' bikes (like those used by American kids in 1980's movies). These bikes were a little older though, mine being around since the early 40's.
If you aren't familiar with these style of bicycles, they have no brakes on the handlebars which I failed to notice when I first took off Luckily, I hadn't left the driveway where Mike was nearby to shout stopping instructions at me "Peddle Backwards!" - seems logical.
A short ride down the road and with the first junction approaching, I managed to steadily come to a hault in time...Richard did not.
In his moment of panic at realising the breaks aren't where they used to be, he decides the best method to stop for the junction, was to ride into the back of Mike who was waiting patiently for a gap in the traffic. HA! Great mockings over a pint later.
Journey to the Falls.
The convinient thing with being in Buffalo was its proximity to Niagara and thus, the falls, and so on our only full day we had there, I went for some tourist fun.
The weather was shit on the day (the day prior had been beautiful - such is my luck) and I ended up getting wetter on the way to the falls than on Maid of the Mist. Moan aside, the falls were spectacular and I don't think any picture can do it justice. I'll throw one in anyway.
Maid Idiot of the Mist
If you aren't familiar with these style of bicycles, they have no brakes on the handlebars which I failed to notice when I first took off Luckily, I hadn't left the driveway where Mike was nearby to shout stopping instructions at me "Peddle Backwards!" - seems logical.
A short ride down the road and with the first junction approaching, I managed to steadily come to a hault in time...Richard did not.
In his moment of panic at realising the breaks aren't where they used to be, he decides the best method to stop for the junction, was to ride into the back of Mike who was waiting patiently for a gap in the traffic. HA! Great mockings over a pint later.
Journey to the Falls.
The convinient thing with being in Buffalo was its proximity to Niagara and thus, the falls, and so on our only full day we had there, I went for some tourist fun.
The weather was shit on the day (the day prior had been beautiful - such is my luck) and I ended up getting wetter on the way to the falls than on Maid of the Mist. Moan aside, the falls were spectacular and I don't think any picture can do it justice. I'll throw one in anyway.
Another Canadian/US border crossing (which I had to cross to see the falls from the Canadian side - argued to be the best) caused much confusion and of course, discourtesy from border patrol who were confused as to why I had just come back into the states the day before. This happened on both the US and Canadian sides....I hate them all.
Walking the bridge to freedom?
That night we were taken to sample some of 'the best Buffalo wings' at a pub nearby. It is fair to say, they were bloody good wings. The sauces ranged from mild to Suicide. We figured it was too early in the trip to die, so went for a slightly less intense sauce, 'Atomic'!
And that just about wraps up our short stay in Bufflao. The next day we were destined for Chicago with an 11 hour Greyhound to look forward to.
Idiot out.
Walking the bridge to freedom?And that just about wraps up our short stay in Bufflao. The next day we were destined for Chicago with an 11 hour Greyhound to look forward to.
Idiot out.
No comments:
Post a Comment