September 1, 2001, Saturday- a new month and a new feel for the weather---feels like fall. Temps in the 60's, breezy, passing clouds. Refreshing. Great bike riding weather. After too long off the pedals, we did 20 miles around the Quinte's Isle area. Flat, water views everywhere. Great change. And, no need for the car today.
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In chatting with the management, it appears that Canada has an interesting rule as to swimming pools. They require a certain number of hours without human activity so that the water can circulate and go though the filters, and that the chemicals can do their thing. Thus, hours are only 10 to 8.
On Thursday when we arrived the park was about 5% full. Today, there isn't an empty space. But, as usual, the Canadians are polite and children well mannered. With 1000 acres of land, there is space for everyone.
September 2, 2001, Sunday- Lake Ontario is a mile and a half walk from our campsite along a private road. Twice today we stretched our legs to the lake and back. It felt great to get out and do some serious walking.
Mid day we drove into Picton, 10 miles away, and then to Glenora where the "Lake on the Mountain" is located. Definitely a geological anomaly that no one has figured out how it works. The lake, many acres in size, is about 300 feet deep. It's level is about 500 feet above the level of Lake Superior, and it's the top of a knoll. Nothing in the area is close to it's height. In the spring, with increased water flow, a waterfall cascades from the Lake on the Mountain into Lake Superior. No known water source has been found to feed the lake from beneath.
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At the Lake Superior level, the Glenora ferry, a free ferry, takes cars and motor homes from the peninsula back to the mainland, in a 15 minute crossing. Maybe Thursday.
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This weekend we've watched some of the US Open…and the tennis has been fast and furious. Many of the women were in the 125+MPH service, and the men in the 140-145 range. Imagine that tennis ball coming at you faster then the planes I used to fly!!
September 3, 2001, Monday- happy labor day……At 9 AM our campground was full. By noon it was 95% empty as the families headed home, kids in tow, for the start of school tomorrow. We did a few more power walks today, an hour and a half. It felt good, but by this afternoon I felt a puffiness in my lower right cheek/jaw, and by mid evening, my left knee had tightened up, similar to last week's right knee. I took some prednisone and hope that the symptoms leave by morning.
September 4, 2001, Tuesday- by morning my knee was back to okay, but it took all day for the majority of puffiness to recede. Down to three RV's left in Quinte Isle. Definitely a family oriented destination resort. Headed into Toronto for our Mama Mia performance and parked right next to the theater. Rates for 5 PM to 7 AM were a flat amount of $20. Converted back into US, $13. Not bad for right next to the theater. Self park, first space, great for Hobbes to watch the goings on. The show was wonderful. Based on the music of ABBA, this love story on the Greek Isles was 2.5 hours of action packed singing and dancing. Driving home we hit the highway at 11 PM and arrived back at the campground at 1:30. A long day!
Mazel Tov for Debi. Spoke to her before entering the theater and she reached a deal on a wonderful condo that she'd been negotiating for. A one bedroom two level condo with secured garage and courtyard at 1140 or so square feet. Closing on the 25th of the month. Best of luck.
September 5, 2001 , Wednesday- drove 2 hours east to Ivy Lea, at the Thousand Island area of Ontario and NY to meet our American Coach friends and fellow Pelican Lake owners, Hank and Linda and Dick and Judy. Catching up on their experiences and sharing ours filled the afternoon and this evening's dinner.
September 6, 2001, Thursday- a perfect day for a boat cruise around the 1000 Island area. First, a misnomer, the "1000 Islands". Based on the definition of an island having a minimum of 6 square feet and 2 trees, the official count of the area is 1865 islands. I guess that doesn't sound as romantic, "1865 Islands". Our tour boat on the "Gananoque Boat Line", was on a three decked 100 foot long, 30' wide vessel. Islands range from tiny to large, undeveloped to millionaire rows. Accompanying water vessels also included tiny to monstrous. This summer water playground has hosted families of the upper classes, as we passed homes of Irving Berlin, Kate Smith, corporate magnets of the Lifesaver inventor to dot com money, but mostly "old money".
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We passed by "Boldt Castle", a copy of a 1700's German castle. Started in 1900 as a display of his love for his wife, 300 workers worked on this 125 room stone mansion, complete with tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian Gardens, and a drawbridge. Boldt was the proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. In 1904 a telegram was received that the wife died and all work must stop. For the next 73 years it stood empty, and in 1978 the "1000 Island Bridge Authority" assumed the land and worked on finishing the castle, which is now a tourist stop.
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The area, part of the St. Lawrence Seaway, divides Canada and the US. In 1793 the border was agreed upon, and no island was divided by the two countries. We passed by the smallest "International Bridge" dividing Canada and the US, attaching two close by islands. During prohibition, the numerous islands provided the rum runners lots of latitude in bringing the booze from Canada, where it was legal, into the US. Many of the smugglers used "gunny sacks" to hold the hooch, and if the US Coast Guard was spotted, the sacks were cut and found their way 250 down to the bottom of the river.
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Dinner also included Hank, Linda, Judy and Dick at the Gananoque Inn, a quaint little dining facility. Yum!
September 7, 2001, Friday- after a two-hour jaunt, our three American Eagles arrived in a campground just south of Ottawa. It took an hour plus to get things set up….all three needed to be able to get the satellite dish, level, and enough power to run the coach. Dick elected for the easy back-in space, but after 45 minutes of not getting sufficient power from the box, he had to mosey over to another site to get more then 100 volts.
Dinner with Hank and Linda at our place, then dessert and Shabbat candles at their coach.
Ugly stock market again. 400 points down in two days and five 100 point or more losses in the last two weeks. Yuk!
September 8, 2001, Saturday- Hank and Linda were busy (read Hank), with a Michigan football game. So, Dick, Judy, Susan and I headed towards Ottawa. As we approached the city we noticed a yuppie type of area with sidewalk cafes, boutiques, and oh yes, she-she hair salons. Susan did a detour and the next thing we knew, she was getting the full color and cut treatment. Meanwhile, Dick, Judy and I did lunch at a sidewalk pub. Haven't had pot pies like this in a long time.
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Next, off to the capital complex. Not like the US….we drove right up to the Parliament building and parked adjacent to the structure. It's an impressive set of buildings, but we arrived after the tours finished. Maybe tomorrow we can do the walkthrough.
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The Cathedral of Notre Dame we next on the tour agenda, and this magnificent house of worship was rich in history and ornamentation. Impressive to say the least.
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September 9, 2001, Sunday- our daily stuff later…..the big news was a phone call from Steve and Becky announcing their engagement. Wonderful news. Great catch for Steve. We love Becky (and naturally, Steve). Can't wait to hear the details and share in the wedding planning. Maybe next September. YEA!
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We drove with Dick and Judy back to the Parliament complex in downtown Ottawa. Again, park right next to the building. Toured the clock tower 300 feet above the ground, fantastic views of the city. Next, a one hour tour of the Parliament building. Carvings, stonework, paintings, history galore. Viewed the House of Commons in green and the Senate Chamber in royal reds. Interesting comparisons with the US congress. Here the senators are appointed by the Prime Minister-for life (actually only until age 75). No reelections, no campaigning, and obviously, beholden to nobody for votes or money. The senators represent a cross section of Canada, and include social workers, educators, foresters, and even former hockey players….(Frank Mahavolich).
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Tomorrow back into the states.
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