Our Vacation

Ok, so I've been slacking in the blogging department.  Sometimes I have so many ideas about things I want to write about, and I have half a dozen drafts of things waiting in the wings but this blogging business isn't as easy as it looks.

Anyway, in August, we went to Wellesley Island up in The Thousand Islands to the state park to camp.  Camping for me is a 27 ft trailer with running water, electricity and an indoor bathroom and shower.  I've done the tent thing, and trust me, there is no glamour in tent camping.  And it's a darn good thing we didn't camp with a tent.  The first night we were there, there were torrential rains and further on down our row of camp sites, the poor tenters were flooded.  I wish I had gotten pictures of that, but I felt sorry for them.

So, it was a 5 hour drive for us.  We invited my husband's sister Bonnie and her Significant Other, Joey.     They also have a large trailer, and our sites were diagonally across from each other, close enough to be together, but not close enough to "be together", if you catch my drift.  I love Bonnie and Joe with all my heart, but in small doses.  And dang if I didn't get pictures of them, or our campsites or any of that stuff.  Come to think of it, I didn't get a lot of pictures, except of the scenery, which is worth it in one respect, but not so great in the story-telling department. Oh, did I mention that Bonnie has a fear of bridges?

Oh Bonnie.......did you see the view from the bridge?

My daughter Kayle brought her friend Cassie along.

We arrived and set up camp around 3pm.  My husband, with his years of truck driving experience, backed into our site on the first try.  Joey, on the other hand, even with my husband directing him took about a half hour of back and forth, in and out to finally get situated.  The first night is kind of a blur, we ate, it rained, we watched TV, yes, my husband bought a new flat screen TV and hooked up satellite dish for our convenience.  Yes, I am spoiled.

The next morning, the sun shone and we headed off the island to Alexandria Bay.  It's a neat little town filled with tourist shops and restaurants, and you can also take river excursions and visit Boldt Castle, situated on an island.  We didn't do the castle tour this time, we did it years ago when my daughter was in a wheelchair with a broken ankle, thanks to her older brother.  That's another story though.  Suffice it to say, once was enough.  The memory of pushing that wheelchair all over the island, in and out of buildings is permanently burned into my brain as something I don't want to relive, ever.  However, I did take some pretty spectacular pictures of the island with Boldt Castle on it.

It was "Bill Johnston's Pirate Days" during our visit.  Bill Johnston was a renegade after the patriots war, who blew up the British steamer, Sir Robert Peel, hid among the 1000 Islands, and was hunted by both U.S. and Canadian authorities. The annual Bill Johnston's Pirates Days celebration commemorates some of his exploits.  There were all sorts of things going on, reenactments, a pirate ship and people dressed in pirate garb all over the place.  We didn't really see much in the way of entertainment, but we managed to catch the pirate ship.

We walked through the town, and Kayle and Cassie bought some cute t-shirts, we ate ice cream and just kind of soaked in the sun and enjoyed the day.  Bonnie found some wine glasses for Joey's collection to commemorate their visit.  I didn't buy anything, my favorite thing to do their is just sit by the water and take in the view.  The islands dotting the St Lawrence are just so beautiful, and I love to imagine what it must be like to live on one.  Bonnie wanted a picture of one of the ferry's that gave tours, so here's one for you sistah:

 

When we arrived to the campgrounds, we noticed this huge, huge nest atop a power pole.  My hubs and Cassie went back to take pictures:

WE thought it was an eagle nest, but later learned it was an osprey nest.  I don't know much about this bird, but luckily there was a sign with some great information right there!

While hubs and Cassie were investigating the bird nest, they decided to take a look around another part of the Island.  Well, the hubs decided and Cassie went along for the ride.  They found a boat dock area (how exciting), and thought the approaching sunset was photo worthy.

 

And then discovered Eel Bay, and took another picture of the sun setting.

 

 All in all, we had a nice little vacation.  I really love our new trailer, and I look forward to using it again, most likely, next summer.  I think though, I'll plan a little earlier next time, this was kind of a spur of the moment getaway for 4 days, and it would have been nice to be able to stay a little longer.

To end this blog post, I'll leave you with a beautiful picture.  I have no idea where it was taken or who took it, but it is a fitting tribute to the beautiful area we visited.