Day 12 Fri- Sweet Anticipation!

Judy and I up early to set off for the US side of Niagara Falls area in Buffalo New York where we are meeting and staying with the other ladies that are doing an all night marathon drive after their plane flights got cancelled on route to meet us….
On waking uo the ladies Dawn and Bretta had left us Marco Polo messages to say they were still on route and doing well….

Once Judy I were packed we Poloed them to give updates and they too did the same….Judy and I knew once we hit the border I would lose reception and she wouldn’t have international roaming and we would have to find Wifi to communicate…

So back and forth trying to setup for them to be picked up….meanwhile Heather another one of our lovely ladies was messengering back and forth from New York where she lived..

The ladies from the road run worked out we would probably hit the US before Heather could get going , so we’re were given the mission ti find them at the Buffalo Airport where they had to drop off their hire car….

Our run to the border went pretty well, a couple of stops off the Hwy for cuppas and food…Judy had a 2 for one breakfast wrap from the Chainstore called Tim Horton’s ohh my goodness that was yummy….

Finally we made it to the border crossing only issue we had was the GPS took us to another border crossing Judy hasn’t crossed before and was unsure how good it would be there…but she gathered as we had to get to the Airport this one most likely made it easier….it did in the long run.
Just before we set off Paige the last of the 6 of us ladies poloed us laughing that she was witnessing a big sting being set up all the back and forth trying to setup picks for the girls…she is flying in in Sat from Alabama herself….so we are praying madly nothing like what has happened to Dawn and Bretta will happen to them….anyway she laughed and laughed at how it all sounded like a major sting to bring it all together….

Anyway we got to the US border and a huge multi lane line up of cars etc…so the waiting game until our turn and Judy was concerned as she wasn’t vaccinated for Covid but had, had it not long ago so was hoping that would help…I had all my paperwork for being an Alien 👽 and that I had had 4 Covid shots plus my ESTA a Visa system to get into the US, so thought all should be fine,

The Border patroL officer asked questions about did we know each other, why were we going ti the US….then he took my passport and paperwork and put it in a canister and opened up this end of a pipe thing next it was whooshed away….ohh no, it then proceeded to tell us we had to go to the Main Immigration office to have my passport stamped and checked….So we were directed to another are to lark then go in to get my passport….but before we left the officer at the first stop didn’t even mention Covid to Judy not a word….so she was flying high and relaxed…it as then my turn to get all stressed and I did very much while waiting to be called to be checked….
The officer we ended up with ended up being really lovely and a bit jokey especially when I asked about was my Covid paperwork all good, he joked he wasn’t worried but if it had been his work partner then it would have been tough…it was all in jest thank goodness, a huge sigh of relief once I went to lay my $6 entry fee….Praise God I can tell you we had both prayed non stop the whole way for all to go smoothly and it did..Our Lord certainly knows what we need and how we need it even when we don’t…

So now free off to the Airport we Speed….we did stop quickly at a free wifi area to both make calls…I called Tim on messenger so he could let John know I had made it across the border…and msgs back and forth to Dawn and Bretta trying to set up a liaison pick up point…..
Next stop Buffalo airport and getting the Sting to come together…which did pose a bit tricky, with trying to find the ladies….After a couple of times around the airport and me getting out to look….Judy eventually drove into the hire care area packed where you bring back the hire cars and set off on foot to find our missing pair….about 15 mins later they all arrived laughing 😝 and relieved it all come together….while I sat there waiting I started to get a bit antsie so done would come along to see why I was sitting there in a hire car….he he he it wasva crazy place with cars coming and going at a rate of knots….so luckily they were too busy to notice me….

The funny thing about meeting each other first time in person was in one way so natural as we knew each other from our online chatting, but seeing each other in the flesh….some we thought tall were short and Vice Versa…..it was just get to hug each other finally….

We were all a tight fit in Judy’s car but off we set for our final destination in the adventure our Old Rectory AirBnB…. The area had been described a getto type area with bordered up homes and closed down church’s….Our bnb was part of an old church next door to the rectory….and yes a lot of homes in disrepair but others being done up and starting to look new again….
Heather had made it to the Airbnb first so she had it opened and was the welcoming committee again hugs all around just so good to meet in person….
We quickly dropped off all our gear then set off to go in Heathers Minivan 🚐 to buy our groceries for the next 2 days……we had planned doing the Maid in the Mist boat tour yo the falls this afternoon but that was before the 2 girls had to drive 14 hrs straight ti get to us….they were had it and needed food and a rest….

So off to Aldi first….hmmm kinda the same but different….same concept but looked messer and not too many things the same with food wise…they cater each country to their specific style and tastes….It was fun shopping together….Ohh my goodness we have so much food….I am sure it will be for the next month not 2 days 🙄🤣🤣🤣🤣

Next stop Wegmans it is a chain of stores in the US a mix of Costco…..Woolies, Big W and hmmmm just a big store…We we’re greeted as you come through the entrance beautiful, beautiful flowers 💐 so pretty….so off to eat before we look around….my goodness big pieces of pizza and big baguettes loaded with food….once feed we could all think then off to explore…Heather has talked about Wegmans lots so it was crazy actually seeing it and being in it after she talked about it so much…. The displays of cheeses so many types all set out in what type they were and huge punnets of cherries, strawberries, blueberries etc ginormous in size….

So we had our fill of looking and back to unpack allow Bretta and Dawn a rest….We sat around chatting and laughing it as so wonderful to be in each other’s company…A walk in the later afternoon around the neighbourhood with Judy and Heather while the others slept….

It is mainly Afroamerican folk who live in the area….lots of kids out playing happily in the parks around us….we saw 5 church’s just in the Soave around our block…plus could see steppes further afield from our vantage stop…

A police car at one stage tore around the corner we are standing in an unmarked car with lights flashing, but no sirens 🚨 blazing….he was in a hurry….we said hello to the folk as we passed by….taking pics of the old church’s and homes…as many lived in as abandoned…..

Some housing development happening with an old Catholic school the looked like redevelopment into units….a look around the old church and building beside it even though our Airbnb book advises not to….we didn’t go into it just looking around the outside…

The girls finally awake we all, finally got a chance to chat and really catch up….I got them all dinner while they talked…then the joy of sharing a meal together and being thankful for the Lords blessing upon us all getting their safely and in person…. Great night of love shared….I did bring some little Aussie gifts to the girls, which I bought out after dinner…it was just so wonderful being able to give it to them in person…how blessed we all are in each other’s company…like old shoes we just all fit so well having known each other for only such a short time Online but it fells like we have always known each other….💗💗💗Okumaya devam et