Sunday - July 21

 Sunday started out cool and very cloudy after a nice overnight rain.    We walked downtown to the Village Bean Coffee House after wiping down the bridge cushions and swabbing the deck!    Yesterday we enjoyed some ice cream (chocolate for Mark and maple walnut for me) at the Downtowne Ice Cream Shop plus the Mercantile grocery store.

Elaborate display of flowers (artificial) over a storefront in Merrickville

And a pretty flower box near the coffee shop

Neat little shop and we got there a few minutes before 7 and she was open!   2 of the locals were already there and we had a nice chat.    Got our coffees and 2 apple fritters to go and back to the boat.   We left the dock at 7:20.   We got to our first lock (Kilmarnock) with 4 boats waiting to lock thru - they were biggies, so we had to wait 1 hour till our turn with the FL and MT folks.   Big day for we nomads cruising 52.8 miles and going thru 11 locks ending with "Davis".  😉

The Captain and I decided that Poonamalie (poon a ma lee) was our favorite lock with so many pretty flowers (most of the locks have no blooms).   It's hard to take pics when we're in the  locks - too busy with securing lines, holding on, etc.

Just a few of many pretty flowers in Poonamalie

We were bundled up in our hoodies and long pants.   Yesterday we traveled with 3 young French-speaking couples who were barefoot and dressed for a hot day!   One of the guys was shirtless which is not uncommon for the Quebec folks, but geez.....it's chilly when we're underway at least in the morning!

Today was another story as we were with 2 boats from the states - "Destination" from Jupiter, FL (saw them the other day) and "At Last" from Missoula, MT all in our age group.    We went into the first lock all bundled up.....sun came out around 11 and was cloudy off and on (a nice reprieve from the hot sun).   Destination stayed at Smiths Falls and At Last, planned to anchor out.

Ferry taking folks across the narrow channel in Newboro Lake

Pretty setting along the water - yellow chairs are pretty sharp, too!  😉

Our 2nd lock today - very pretty at Edmunds

Lock house/office at Poonamalie

Another type of lock office

Once again, so impressed with the friendliness and helpfulness of all the lock staff.   One of the lock gals' husband and 2 little girls came by to say hello to Mommy when we were locking thru.

We are anchoring out tonight off Birmingham Island on Sand Lake  - pretty and quiet and icy cold beverages were a nice start to our tranquil setting followed by Mark grilling out cheeseburgers.   Boy they hit the spot along with baked beans and pasta salad.

Birmingham Island

uninhabited

Another awesome day on the (Ree doe) and serene setting at anchor

Zoom tonight was with 9 siblings - vacation coming up for Jim and Lydia to Michigan in their RV, school starting August 12th for Karen, Tom recovering from his hernia surgery, Theresa and Mike in Indiana at a friend's lake home, Beth certified to be a yoga/faith instructor, etc.   Missed Marilyn and Janet.

We'll see what our anchor looks like tomorrow when we bring it up - can't be any worse than Morton Bay!   😐

Wishing you all a great week!    The good ole summertime is rollin' along!😎