Victory I Great Lakes Cruise: Port Colborne

Related: Victory I's Cruise on the Great Lakes

By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life
Photos by Gerry and Pamela  Barker

Victory I's first stop after departing from Toronto is Port Colborne, a city of some 20,000 in Ontario, Canada near Lake Erie. To get here, we had to navigate the Welland Canal, which connects Lake Ontario with Lake Erie. The canal was created to allow ships to bypass Niagara Falls, and utilizes eight locks over its 27-mile length that move ships up or down the Niagara Escarpment's elevation difference of 326 feet.

---

​We have found the whole process of locks fascinating since our first river cruise in Germany, including two subsequent sailings into the Panama Canal. When we felt a little bump, we knew we were in the first Welland lock and left our stateroom to observe the process.

As we were docked, several giant tankers passed by our ship, on their way into Lake Erie or headed for Lake Ontario, up the St. Lawrence Seaway and into the Atlantic Ocean.

Our day in port was sunny and quiet, with several of the shops along the main street still closed. To get into town required a short walk across a lift drawbridge. It was fascinating to see its midsection go up and down like an elevator.

We had heard from some of the crew that a favorite spot in town was a bakery and coffee shop called Pie Guys, so that's where we set out for. It was only a few blocks, and business was booming. Everything in the display case looked fantastic, and we asked what the local favorite was. Answer: The lemon tart. And yes, it's a winner.

On the way back, Pam made a stop at a gift store to find a souvenir for our granddaughter, then spent some time in a thrift shop where she scored a jacket. Everywhere the Canadians were friendly and welcoming, which we had some concerns about given recent events in the news. But they coul;d not have been nicer.

While late April may be quiet, if you visit here in August you may encounter the Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival, an annual four-day festival celebrating Port Colborne's maritime heritage that brings over 60,000 people here.

Later today we'll take the motorcoach for a shore excursion to Niagara Falls. Read about the Falls, and The Tunnel, HERE.

Next stop: Cleveland.