It seemed like a good idea, retracing a trip my sister and I made with Mom and Dad when I was around 5 years old. We picked up Dad last weekend and drove off to the Thousand Islands. We were heading for the Robert Moses State Park near Massena, New York, way up north near Canada. I wanted to see the Eisenhower Locks and the dams on Barnhart Island again. We rented a cabin there, one with some amenities. Last time we went camping the tent was too much. So this time we had hot water, a shower, and kitchen gear.
It had a nice deck, too, and wildlife. This little guy was noisy as hell, chattering away his displeasure at us.
There seemed to be lots of deer around, some with fuzz-horns like this one.
The park was quite beautiful, green and very well tended. It happens to span the 45th parallel, too. Hmmm, standing on an unknown point on an imaginary line halfway between two other imaginary places. Wonder what that means.
There are a lot of camping spots in this park, everything from tents to buses to cabins. But the most amazing thing here is watching a ship float over a road.
This is the Eisenhower Lock system. It is part of the set of locks that allow shipping to traverse the Great Lakes. This one drops (or raises) ships around 30 feet to move them along the St. Lawrence Seaway. One minute you will see the ship high on the water.
In the next 7 minutes it will drop to the lower level. That's really fast, a deck disappears while you watch!
After we were done with that much, we had exhausted the park. About all that is left is to see Massena, Let's all say Massena Arena five times fast. That and the grocery were about everything of interest here.
So when Dad became sick we headed home. It turned out he needed the emergency room with a bad case of bronchitis. He is 86 now, and cussid enough not to be very vocal when he is miserable. It was like pulling teeth to understand that he was in trouble. Nothing that antibiotic couldn't take care of, but who knows when someone is getting a bit frail.
Then we had the excitement of East Steamburg, New York and environs. Breakfast in a diner with no sign, tucked away around a corner from the main road, invisible to passers-by. Good breakfast, though.
Then we got a chance to see Dad's old dog trick, from his clowning days. This thing used to piss all over kids along a parade route when dad squeezed a bulb.
Some chestnuts were in pretty good fettle, getting ready to drop and break open. These are a hybrid, not as prone to disease as the originals.
This is probably the only place you can see walnut being split for firewood (when the maul handle doesn't break, anyway). Dad still splits wood at the age of 86. He has outlasted his father, who had to quit at age 75.
It's also the only place you can see a Dad self-portrait. This is very antique. His current lady-friend does not allow any whiskers. Anyway, I think it is kind of whimsical, in a sort of French way.
Well, with Dad somewhat cured and with all the excitement over, we returned home for more cleaning, painting, etc. Well, anyway, that is what E returned for. I promised to help, though, and I am (a little).
It had a nice deck, too, and wildlife. This little guy was noisy as hell, chattering away his displeasure at us.
There seemed to be lots of deer around, some with fuzz-horns like this one.
The park was quite beautiful, green and very well tended. It happens to span the 45th parallel, too. Hmmm, standing on an unknown point on an imaginary line halfway between two other imaginary places. Wonder what that means.
There are a lot of camping spots in this park, everything from tents to buses to cabins. But the most amazing thing here is watching a ship float over a road.
This is the Eisenhower Lock system. It is part of the set of locks that allow shipping to traverse the Great Lakes. This one drops (or raises) ships around 30 feet to move them along the St. Lawrence Seaway. One minute you will see the ship high on the water.
In the next 7 minutes it will drop to the lower level. That's really fast, a deck disappears while you watch!
After we were done with that much, we had exhausted the park. About all that is left is to see Massena, Let's all say Massena Arena five times fast. That and the grocery were about everything of interest here.
So when Dad became sick we headed home. It turned out he needed the emergency room with a bad case of bronchitis. He is 86 now, and cussid enough not to be very vocal when he is miserable. It was like pulling teeth to understand that he was in trouble. Nothing that antibiotic couldn't take care of, but who knows when someone is getting a bit frail.
Then we had the excitement of East Steamburg, New York and environs. Breakfast in a diner with no sign, tucked away around a corner from the main road, invisible to passers-by. Good breakfast, though.
Then we got a chance to see Dad's old dog trick, from his clowning days. This thing used to piss all over kids along a parade route when dad squeezed a bulb.
Some chestnuts were in pretty good fettle, getting ready to drop and break open. These are a hybrid, not as prone to disease as the originals.
This is probably the only place you can see walnut being split for firewood (when the maul handle doesn't break, anyway). Dad still splits wood at the age of 86. He has outlasted his father, who had to quit at age 75.
It's also the only place you can see a Dad self-portrait. This is very antique. His current lady-friend does not allow any whiskers. Anyway, I think it is kind of whimsical, in a sort of French way.
Well, with Dad somewhat cured and with all the excitement over, we returned home for more cleaning, painting, etc. Well, anyway, that is what E returned for. I promised to help, though, and I am (a little).
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