Today didn’t quite go as planned.

We started off early from camp, aiming to hit the road by 7:30 am. The weather was gorgeous, not a cloud in sight. Despite Mike’s reluctance, I was feeling pretty good about getting an early start. We’d heard a lot about Watkins Glen and its beauty, so we figured an early arrival was essential to beat the crowds.

The drive was supposed to be about 1.5 hours, but with stops for gas and a few other errands, it stretched to 2 hours. We couldn’t resist a pit stop at Dollar General for some $1 chocolate treats before finally reaching Watkins Glen around 10:30 am.

However, it seemed like everyone else had the same idea. The place was packed, likely due to a couple of tour groups that had also arrived.

Watkins Glen itself is a natural marvel nestled in New York’s Finger Lakes region, boasting 19 stunning waterfalls cascading over a 2.3 km stretch of the Genesee River. Though the scenery was undoubtedly breathtaking, the touristy vibe dampened the experience. The paved paths and crowds made it feel more like a theme park than a serene nature walk, quite unlike the peaceful trails we’d enjoyed at Ricketts Glen the day prior.

Feeling a bit disappointed, we decided to take the less crowded north rim trail back, where we met a friendly couple from Pennsylvania who shared our sentiment about the crowds. They gave us some great tips for our journey to Connecticut as we walked back to our cars.

Eager to escape the hustle and bustle, we headed towards Niagara Falls, arriving later than expected due to traffic. Unfortunately, finding a camping spot proved to be a challenge. Despite hearing about 24-hour carparks where we could camp, we couldn’t locate them.

As we were exploring on foot, a local warned us of impending thunderstorms, urging us to seek shelter. Unable to find a suitable camping spot and not wanting to brave the storm, we ended up splurging on a pricey hotel room in Canada with a stunning view of the falls and front-row seats for the evening fireworks display.

Despite the unexpected turn of events, we’re excited for our adventures in Canada tomorrow!