After every wonderful adventure, the hills of Clayton County always look beautiful and inviting. We got home about noon on Wednesday October 1 which was not a coincidence, since it was men's day and my foursome teed off at two. The house survived admirably, with no furnace, water or sewer problems. Even our prairie seemed to greet us, with the big blue stem waving Hello and a bunch of purple Asters blooming. After how many years of trying to start them, the effort paid off.
We return with many wonderful memories; of rocky coastlines, lobster nets, Niagara Falls, the Erie Canal, and best of all, so many kind people.
I was probably most impressed with the history and engineering of the Erie Canal, especially the locks. Seeing a cruise ship drop forty feet in just a few minutes was a treat. But maybe best of all was the seafood - great quantities of lobster, scallops, haddock, and much more, apparently harvested in a sustainable manner, with strict seasons and limits.
The biggest surprise for me was the accessibility and busyness of Acadia National Park. I naively expected it to be in the wilderness of northern Maine, a bit like the Boundary Waters. In fact it is the second busiest park in the country, and is within a day's drive of twenty five percent of the population of North America. Thankfully, it was preserved when it was and stands as a very visible sign of the wisdom of protecting such unique and beautiful places.
Finally, and most impressive to me was the kindness of the Canadian people we met. Everything seems substantially more expensive there; the taxes are sky high; and they remain laid back and outwardly happy. Many people were very helpful when we were lost or needed something, and seemed to go out of their way to assist us. In addition, almost every town had a tourist information center with a staff that would not only give us ideas about what to do and see, but who volunteered to call and make reservations when necessary.
Life on the road is always unpredictable and who knows where we will go next time, so stay tuned. Thanks for sharing our adventure.
John and Sue
