Michael Webber

Category: Travel

  • COVID Sunsets

    COVID Sunsets

    My wife and I have been going on long weekend bike rides for several months now. The COVID pandemic has given us extra time in our busy family schedule to discover a new date night-exercise opportunity.

    We schedule our start time so that we’re arriving at Colt State Park just in time to see the sunset. Regardless of the weather conditions or cloud cover, that’s our goal.

    The East Bay Bike Path offers great views along the Rhode Island coastline, passing through various areas including an industrial seaport, small cottage home neighborhoods, parks, and large estate homes.

    Sunset at Colt State Park on December 28, 2020

    Some weeks the temperatures are extremely cold and we’ve had to pack hand and foot warmers. On other weeks the wind is the biggest challenge. We even attempted the trip when ice cover large sections of the route.

    Once we see the sunset at Colt, the ride back to East Providence is dark and temperatures drop fast. Views on the return trip switch to nighttime city lights.

    The rides have become a routine and something to look forward to on the weekends. We always take photos of the sunset regardless of the weather, we have a growing collection of photos that I hope to create an album with at some point.

    Colt State Park, January 23, 2021

  • Enjoying Fireworks at Niagara Falls

    We’re on a last minute road trip to Chicago for a conference, my wife and I decided Niagara Falls would be a good place for an overnight stay along the way. There is no question this landmark is a tourist trap, something this hiking/camping family usually avoids on our regular vacations. That said, the Niagara Falls are majestic, an amazing gift of nature. One of those place you feel the need to see sometime in your life.

    Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to get passports so we’re restricted to the New York/USA parks and attractions. There’s still plenty to do and some great views of the falls.

    Last night we enjoy a fireworks display next to the falls.

    Throughout the Summer season the Niagara Parks Commission (Ontario) puts on Fireworks near the falls. For 2012 the schedule was every Friday, Sunday & Holiday May 18 to September 2 at 10:00 p.m.

    This is a partial video clip from the Friday, July 27th Fireworks display, taken from the Niagara Falls State Park (New York). This is a great location, the Fireworks are across the river and you have great views this perspective, along with views of Canada and Ontario city lights in the background.