Bridge In The Sky . . .

We're halfway home from Niagara Falls - it's not far, about a couple of hours from door to Falls with a stop at the bookstore in St Catharine's - when we pass over the James N. Allan Skyway at Burlington. The bridge, on the Queen Elizabeth Highway, is 118ft high at its peak and crosses the harbour bar separating Burlington Bay from Lake Ontario.

When the wind blows across the bridge, on wintry days like today, motorists have to take special care to avoid the swaying load-shifting giant tractor-trailers that zoom up and down the highway. It's hard to argue with a 12-wheeler at high speed when you're up in the clouds.

The area's also memorable for the harsh pong emanating from the steelworks and numerous chemical plants inside the harbour. On the opposite side of the road, beside the lake, is an enclave of new houses. Great view, pity about the aroma . . .