Grenville Park and Prescott

 

We left Niagara region and battled our way around Toronto on the infamous 401.  It took forever --  Or so it seemed. I don’t think I could get used to this kind of traffic.  So many trucks, even when the highway wasn’t the 8 lane freeway. We like the country roads, although with a trailer although pulling a trailer you feel every bump and pothole. 

It took us all day to get to the campground.  We arrived just before the campground’s office was about to close (at 5 p.m.).  They were already checking to see if we’d get there.  “Yes, yes – 15 km to go!”

Grenville Park in Johnstown is an absolutely beautiful place right along the St Lawrence River, alongside a bridge to the U.S.  What a lovely spot to camp and fish.  Dave had his fishing line in the river as soon as he could.   Other campers had boats pulled right up to their campsites.  Perfect.

Our reason for coming to this area was to spend a few days with some friends from Leduc who’d moved to Prescott to be closer to their family.  It was great to see them again and renew our friendship; and they were so happy to get visitors from Alberta.

We had a wonderful time, despite the weather being too hot to spend much time walking around outdoors.  In fact, they invited us to join them at a neighbour’s pool.  Picture the four of us, strolling down the street in swim gear.  Then, picture us again, a few hours later, hurrying home, still in swim gear, during a downpour!  We got showered after the swim.  Definitely refreshing!

We took a drive along the St. Lawrence River all the way down to Cornwall.  It was nice to go for a drive with someone else as driver and navigator.  Just outside of Cornwall is the Moses-Saunders Power Dam straddling the border between Canada and the US.  By creating this dam, rapids were flooded over which made the river more navigable for larger ships as part of the St. Lawrence Seaway.  To be able to generate power, a head lake, Lake St. Lawrence, was created by the dams.  This had a great impact had on the geography of the waterway.  By raising the water level, islands were buried and heights of land now became other islands.  Six communities of about 6,500 people were displaced.  Some of their houses were moved to higher land and new communities were built, but it wasn’t the same.  The people were relocated, but the history of their communities has been buried under water forever. 

Don and Mary were wonderful hosts.  We were treated to delicious meals and every night, cake and ice cream on the deck in the evening shade.  What a wonderful short visit together.