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Story and photos by Barb Rees
Ontario's Thousand Island Parkway - Where history and nature marry.
Leaving the frantic pace of the 401 we took exit 778 to Long Sault Parkway, an 11 km. peaceful drive that loops along the St. Lawrence River. Eleven islands were created in the 50s from high points of land left after flooding the river during construction of the Seaway. Bridges join Phillpots, Heriot, Hoople, Fraser, and McLaren islands. Mille Roches, Woodlands and McLaren have campsites. There’s a free sani-dump at Woodlands. How refreshing to pass by ponds, grassy areas and lush wooded areas not semi-trucks. For a list of campsites in the Parks of the St. Lawrence, visit www.stlawrenceparks.com.
Coming out at Ingleside put us on #2, the Heritage Parkway, historically considered Upper Canada. After the Upper Canada Historic Village it becomes Thousand Island Parkway. www.visit1000islands.com
As you drive this stretch of history and beautiful scenery along the St. Lawrence Seaway, prepare to be wowed. This is our fourth time yet still it tugs at our heart strings. Across the river at the Thousand Island International Bridge at Johnstown lies New York state.
The Battle of the Windmill Historic Site at New Wexford commemorates the 1838 Rebellious Battle. On November 1838 it was the scene of an invasion, when 200 American invaders took over the windmill. A few days later with no supplies and outnumbered, they surrendered. Were the outcome different we may have been a “republic of America.” As we pulled our 32 ft motorhome down into the parking lot by the river at Prescott, it felt like we’d come home. The Thousand Island National Park includes 21 islands and three mainland parks. The Chamber of Commerce in Gananoque provides information on various cruises. www.1000islandsgananoque.com
Driving out of town looking for a boondocking spot, we found an empty lot across from the river. Chris the owner of the lot who lives across the street, came over to question why we were camped there, but when he learned we were working our way around Canada and writing books about it, he allowed us to stay. After dinner, we drove into town for a walk along Prescott main-street with its magnificent buildings dating back to the mid 1800’s. Prescott was established in 1784. I pointed my camera up to the tops of the old buildings for the details along the roofs, windows and corners. A mural on a business wall called The Prescott People’s Place is made up of 3,000 local pictures forming one giant collage, which from a distance looks like one picture.
Back at our temporary home, with our million-dollar view of the river for free, the rustling of the trees and waves lapping on the shore created a peaceful mood.
When I opened the blind at 6 a.m. the next morning, to see the sun painting the sky over the river, all I could say was “Wow!” Out I went in my housecoat to take pictures.
We’d made arrangements to sell at their farmer’s market, as we have done all over Canada since 2003 to help pay for fuel. The Prescott market was established in the 1800’s and is the oldest farmer’s market in Canada. We set up facing the sidewalk surrounded by produce, preserves, crafts, and friendly people.
Later we drove into Brockville to unwind in the park by the river. Brockville, “City of The 1000 Islands and Birthplace of the Canadian Flag”, is rich in history along the main street by the river, but up the hill, modern box stores meet the freeway. We like the old section with its beautiful old buildings. It has its roots in displaced Loyalist refugees arriving in 1784. In 1808, it was named Elizabethtown and later renamed Brockville in 1812. Among the many things to visit would be the Brockville Railway Tunnel, which runs under the city starting at the waterfront.
One of the old mansions open to tours is Fulford Place. It is 1900 square metres of luxury built by the good doctor of “pink pills for pale people” George Fulford. The 50¢ box of pills, which made him a rich man, claimed to cure anything with a simple formula of iron, sugar, starch and arsenic. He built the mansion from 1899-1902 for his wife, sparing no expense. The opulence in the ornately carved ceilings, rich silk wallpaper, and gold plated dishes is simply astounding. The Brockville marina is a pleasant place to relax under the shade trees watching the people stroll while giant ocean trawlers rumble by, dwarfing pleasure craft.
The next day, my morning quote was from Norman Vincent Peale. “People become really remarkable when they start thinking they can do things. When they believe in themselves, they have the first secret of success.” We were heading home after being on the road for 87 days, reaching Newfoundland on very little money. We believed in the process and ourselves to make dreams come true.