Words from Lynn

IThis Canada trip has been wonderful.  You never hear directly from me, so I felt like giving you my highlights.
 
I know one thing.  I am spoiled with being able to tie up each evening, get off the boat, walk around.  Each evening?  Actually most days were short distances, even with the locks we rarely tied up past 2pm.  So we had plenty of exploring time.
 
The canals and locks were fun, once we got the hang of the boat handling/line handling. I really appreciated the great duplex microphones we wear to communicate. Makes life a lot simpler and to outsiders we appear so cool since we are not yelling to be heard from stern to bow over the noise of the engines.
 
The countryside has been lovely. It rained most of the trip up the Hudson so I’ll look forward to actually seeing that on the way south.  The fun really started about June 3 being tied up at Waterford NY entering the Erie Canal and hasn’t quit. A fantastic two months.
 
Highlights:  Locks, locks, locks.   Wildflowers (they don’t grow ‘em like that in Florida or Arizona)  Castles in the 1000 Islands built by 19th century barons, swimming in the clear waters,  French women who are secure in their femininity no matter their size – we American women could take lessons. The camaraderie of the boaters each evening tied to the lock walls or the city docks.  The sounds of bagpipes especially as the RMCP’s march each morning for the changing of the guard in Ottawa .  Oh, don’t forget the By Ward outdoor market in Ottawa   - fresh flowers, fruits, veggies, and the breads, pastries, cheeses.  Wow.  And locals stopping by our boat constantly asking  “You bring this all the way from Florida?  How can you get here?”
 
Most of the trip the weather has been great.  We had a couple of 93 degree days with high humidity – memories of Florida summers. Canadian summers are beautiful if this one is any example. 
 
The people and small towns along the way have been special.  I came away feeling I was edging into a 1957 time warp.  Life seems simpler here, people less frantic, calmer.  Maybe it is this huge country and only 33 million souls.  Maybe it’s the deep winter that cleanses and refreshes the spirit.  Do Canadians live longer than Americans?
 
Our 5 hour one way, bus, subway, railroad trip to Quebec City was a gas! We managed to be in this old world-look walled city during their annual festival celebrating New France. Thousand of visitors, exhibits, so many people in period costumes, walking miles! Just not to be missed.
 
And so, in a day or two, we will leave here and start what will be the ending of our Canadian adventure. I’m a little sad about that. It will only take a week or so to be in Lake Champlain, back in the good ol’ USofA.  Anchoring out, some big water traveling, planning our Trawlerfest  presentation, making plans for winter and boat maintenance.    These are not complaints. I know how very lucky we are to be living this life.  But would I do this trip again?  You bet!

Wayne & Lynn Flatt