Thursday 26th August

Up to say sad goodbyes to Alison and Ian (Ken left for work at 5.00am – so we said goodbye last night). They have been fantastic hosts, really easy to get on with and looking after us all the way.  Hopefully we’ve done enough with Ken to make sure that they come over to the UK next year.  Alison draws us a map of Ottawa to show where a market is (I think), but it turns into a whole city map!

We leave Newmarket, only stopping at the hospital to pay the bill for Jack’s arm – over $900 for two visits and a waterproof cast.  Thank goodness for travel insurance!

This is the longest days travel we will have – 4 hours to Gananoque, stopping en route at three Tim’s – although at one, I learn that he died in a car crash in 1974 while still a hockey player – what a bombshell – I’ve always thought that he retired and founded the chain of coffee and donut shops that bear his name and was still with us!  A bit of research and I can confirm he did found the chain and was died aged 44.

Gananoque is a lovely town – tree lined streets and the B & B we’ve booked into is on the street down to the water.  We arrive a little early for check in and there is no one around, so we walk down to the dock where the cruise boats leave.  There is a 2.5 hour cruise of the Thousand Islands leaving at 3.30, so we book onto that and go back to the B & B to book in. Tristram (I think – she’s a girl) shows us round.  It’s got real character and we have the attic room – low ceilinged staircase, but really quite big with 5 beds.  For once Jack and Ellie won’t be able to kick each other!  There is a claw foot batch so H is happy.

The thousand island cruise is great.  Really picturesque and I’m surprised that there are so many cottages, houses, mansions and castles on the islands (there is really one castle).  Even tiny islands only 20 feet across have a boat house and cottage. This is where the millionaires of New York come to relax.  We spend over 30 minutes in the US, but don’t stop so don’t need out passports.

Back to the Manse Lane B & B.  J & E go swimming, I blog and H has a bath.  Then out to find somewhere to eat Moroni’s Family Restaurant – specialising in Greek, Italian and Canadian cuisine.