Home
Viva

Prescott, the St. Lawrence River, Thousand Islands National Park and Lake Erie



Perfect double rainbow over Lake Erie.

This is more of a random post as I didn't stay anywhere terribly long. I'm enamored with the St. Lawrence River to be sure as it has played a significant part in so many lives and changes throughout history. And surprised how much of it remains visible from the coastal highway. I drove close to it as far as I could. I stopped in the town of Prescott in Ontario, slipping past its small amphitheater built for Shakespeare play performances down to its charming riverwalk. An excellent place to drink my morning coffee, paying a thoughtful homage to the river.





Because it was a day of many episodes and because I prepared you for this, I'll insert photos of two gadgets I had not seen before this trip.  The first was in the National Parc de la Maurice.  The description follows the picture and I didn't use it so I have nothing to add, except to observe that it seems like a fine idea. Have you seen a Cooxy?


This second gadget I spied in Prescott. For bicycle repairs. How thoughtful is that?


Thousand Islands National Park is cool, but a very loud, busy highway intersecting and bordering it detracts from the charm. Nonetheless, it's a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and part of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve. So let's focus on that. The park itself stretches down the coast, interspersed with private and provincial properties. It's probably entertaining to kayak, or a fine place to picnic on the shores, but I wasn't interested in the logistics of finding a kayak to rent, so I just looked for the hiking trails to take in the flora and take in the view from a summit of the many islands.





This pond was on my hike and I really couldn't get enough of it, surprised with how far it extended, how clear it was and how much life it supports.


I was taken by the simple beauty of this bridge: how its railings were each made of a single sapling. 


And I wondered if this is really an owl's home as the small picket indicates.


This is why the the hike is called the Osprey Trail.

As I drove on, I became surprised with how beautiful and accessible Lake Erie is. And how was it even possible that I was the only one here? True, it had rained earlier and a few people arrived before I left, but I just keep wondering whether I am receiving special gifts.


And then, although it was a busy weekend, Canada Day, I was able to snag a campsite so close to the lake that I could hear the water lapping its shores as I too, like the life the water carried drifted. Drifted into sleep.  

But before sleep stole me away from another day of wonders... as I was standing on the beach in awe, absolutely over the moon about seeing this shimmering rainbow, I met a kindred spirit. 

Just when I thought life couldn't possibly get any richer. 

These meetings of undeniably kindred spirits give one pause. Perhaps because they bring an unshakeable feeling that something else is going on. The miracle limning the rainbow. The knowledge that we are all connected at a deeper level than we readily perceive. This perfect rainbow revealed the pot of gold.