Over the River LXXXII
September 4, 2024
Highlights and lowlights from my 82nd two-wheeled trek to the Great State of New York:
1. Free water bottle at the Fairview Mall bus stop . . .
2. A black dude who got off the GO bus with his bike was carrying an air pump with him as he was wheeling his bike down the platform. As if he was expecting a flat tire. And I think I’m paranoid.
3. During a long layover, Tim, the driver of a 314 St. Catharines bus, was bellyaching to a mechanic named Kenny about the mechanism inside the fare box Kenny was replacing. “I had the same bus yesterday and it was giving me trouble,” Tim said. “I called it in, and they didn’t fix it.” A heavy smoker, Tim went on to say that he’s got four months before retirement. Kenny wondered how Tim was going to fill the time, but Tim said he’d find a way. “I’ve got to,” he said.
4. A black woman seated at the end of the platform spent several minutes tearing pages out of a book and placing them on the seat next to her before putting the book down and checking her phone.
5. The driver of the regional transit bus that took me to the Falls was telling departing passengers, “Have a great day, eh!”
6. New attraction near the bridge in Niagara Falls, NY. This is the site of the former Three Sisters Trading Post.
7. The site of the former McDonald’s location in the City of Tonawanda where I had visited a few times in years past. No loss to the world.
8. Guud & Evul . . .
9. An American Legion post with Old Glory proudly displayed in the window was promoting . . . Molson Canadian.
10. Nearby was a trio of loudmouths sitting on a bench talking about how bumble bees are like tuna fish.
11. Scenes at the Tonawandas Gateway Harbor:
12. Home of the mighty Wurlitzer . . .
13. Eerie tales . . .
14. While seated at the Coffee & Stone Cafe in North Tonawanda, some old guy at the back was eyeing me up as if I had green ears or something. Maybe there is something about me that makes me stand out as a foreigner.
15. Interestingly, they were selling tank tops featuring their logo for $25. They should be paying customers that much to advertise for them.
16. The fireplace is a nice feature, but it hardly needed to be on at this time of year.
17. Also while there, something foul was burning in the kitchen.
18. Not teachickens, but teapigs . . .
19. One of their customers generously offered to stress-test the chairs . . .
20. Have a free tire while visiting downtown North Tonawanda . . .
21. View of Tonawanda Island:
22. Not 12 or 14, but 13 . . .
23. Keep it “rael” . . .
24. At LaSalle Waterfront Park, a pair of cyclists coming from the falls stopped me and asked where the trail continued. From the signage, it’s certainly not clear. The sign on the left directs Shoreline Trail traffic back where they came from, while the one on the right just points in both directions. So as always, I was able to help.
25. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this guy towing a large trailer parked in front of the low underpass with a state trooper behind him.
For those not familiar with the area, let’s count how many signs this yahoo blew off before getting there. The first one is on Grand Island warning of the 12’-0” clearance at the next exit on the other side of the bridge:
A similar sign is there when taking the exit off northbound I-190:
Once off the interstate, there are two more signs at the exit to the Niagara Scenic Parkway:
Finally, there are two more signs at eye level right at the exit. The one on the left is a flashing message instructing all RVs and trucks to keep left, and the one on the right is yet another warning about the upcoming low bridges.
I certainly hope there’s a hefty fine in this guy’s future, if only as a service fee for the trooper’s time.
26. Words of wisdom . . .
27. For when your gay appliances need to be serviced . . .
28. Um, whatever . . .
29. On the left is the new vending machine at the Niagara Falls (Canada) bus terminal, which offers charging docks at the rate of $2 for every 30 minutes. Or you could turn around and use an outlet for free.
30. Inside the washroom, there was a bum using the hand dryer to dry his shirt. Then he asked me if I smelled skunk because he got sprayed in the tent he was sleeping in last night.
31. Following a layover, the chunky driverette came waddling back to the GO bus with an armful of chocolate bars and other assorted junk food she must have purchased from one or more of the vending machines.
32. Boarding at 420 & Stanley was a guy from Toronto who flashed his WEGO card at the driver, figuring that would get him on. No dice. So he dug out his Presto card and used that instead.
33. Boarding at Niagara College was a guy from Brampton wearing a T-shirt with the message, “Fried chicken is the universal language.”
34. Following him was an older guy who asked the driver of a bus with a big lighted BURLINGTON CARPOOL sign out front if she was going to Niagara Falls. Once again, stop me if you’ve seen this movie before.
35. The last passenger at Niagara College was a younger woman from Mississauga whose Presto card was declined. The driver asked if she had a debit or credit card. She didn’t, but she had some cash on her. So the driver directed her to the machine at the other end of the platform and waited for her as she fiddled around for several minutes with this apparently ultra-complicated piece of machinery. At long last, she came back, flashed her ticket and took a seat. Apparently it was beneath her to thank the driver for waiting, something she didn’t have to do. As I’ve heard other drivers tell passengers, this is public transit, not a taxi service.
| Previous post | Next post |