SUNDAY, JULY 1, 2012
HAPPY CANADA DAY! Canada celebrates a holiday similar to
our 4th of July on July 1st. Chaffeys Lock, the Lock Office and all of the boats there were decorated with
Canadian flags, banners and bunting all the way down to the light poles and
lock gates. Gary and I even wore our red TRAVELLER shirts.
We had read that there was going to be a
barbeque to benefit the Lockmaster’s House Museum. We did our part and bought the $2.00 hotdogs (no hamburgers) and orange
drink. We talked to a gentleman
who said that the Canadians don’t use the word grilled. Everything they do on a grill is
barbeque. We’ll know better than
to expect ribs next time.
Gary and I did explore the Lockmaster’s
House Museum. Most of the museums
along the Rideau are free, but they put a donation jar out where everyone can
see it. I think it is good for people
to donate what they can afford.
The lockmaster’s house was originally
built in 1844 as a single-story, musket-proof stone structure. It was one of sixteen defensible
lockmaster’s house with a tin roof and loopholes for muskets on all four sides. It was strategically perched atop the
hill overlooking the lock and Lake Opinicon. It has been restored to its 1894 appearance.
The inside was filled with pictures and
accompanying articles about the lockmaster’s families that had lived there,
furniture, household articles, and other items from the times. It even had a portable forge.
We did enjoy talking to a French-Canadian
couple on a boat in front of us.
They were about our age and had just started on holiday (That’s what they
said.). Paul is a retired Royal
Canadian Mounted Police. I can’t
remember what Lucy said she does, but I know she still works. They were so easy to talk to. Lucy was so funny when she said she was
attracted to Paul in his red serge (uniform). She’s just put him on a diet, but I’m not sure it is going
very well. He seems to be
resisting. We gave them a boat
card. Maybe we’ll hear from them
later.
You didn't decorate Traveller in Canadian flags?
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