Gananoque, Ontario

Friday morning early, New York turned on a spectacular thunderstorm - great sheets of lightning, but fortunately by the time we came to walk to Penn station, the rain had stopped. It was a slow train to Montreal but a pleasant comfortable journey.

Saturday we picked up a Dodge Avenger at Montreal Airport and headed west stopping at a Quebec supermarket to stock up on beer and wine (Quebec has more liberal alcohol rules than Ontario.)

Sunday was a good day to go to Upper Canada Village as there were no school parties. When the St Lawrence Seaway was constructed a large area of settled land was flooded and so many old buildings were moved to this site and a typical 1860s village of 1860 Ontario or Upper Canada as it was then known was created. The staff in period costume were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. As at all such historic sites it is very quiet - steam and/or water driven machines are so much quieter than petrol or diesel. It is interesting to compare and contrast the different development in Canada and Australia - the climates are so different and we did not have a string of wars.
 
Monday, the weather was still perfect and we came to Gananoque and took a cruise through the Thousand Islands. I forgot the sunscreen again, but it was a good trip although I don't think much has changed since we were last here in 1989.

General view of the sawmill in Upper Canada Village. 

The water driven saw is pretty impressive, although apparently during the spring thaw when there is more water it goes much faster.

 The broom maker is kept busy supplying the village. They are made from sorghum, which came to America with the slaves.

Drunkard's Path in one of the cottages

Note the ornate stove. An enormous quantity of wood was burnt each winter. For example, the Lutheran pastor's stipend included 15 cords of wood. One cord is 4 ft x 4 ft x 8 ft.

The baker hard at work, using flour ground in the village mill.

A 1 HP scow in the canal.

Note the Surrey with the fringe on top in front of the barn.

Very young cabinetmaker!

Not sure how effective the fire engine would be!!

Fancy your own island getaway? There are actually over 1800 islands in the Thousand Islands area, but to be an island it must have a minimum of two trees and an area of ? To build a house now on a Canadian island it must be at least two acres.

 

Out of focus HMV icon in the garden of Irving Berlin's summer house.

Boldt's Castle - the grandest island home.

The world's smallest International bridge.

Eagles do not need a 2 acre island to make a home!