US-Canada 2024-16: Au revoir, Canada
July 24-28, 2024
Our time in Canada was coming to an end. After our last morning in Montreal, we headed west and soon crossed the Ottawa River from Quebec Province to Ontario Province. It did not take us long to leave the freeway and find the Blue Highways that took us as close as possible to the St Lawrence River.
A few hours of meandering later, we stopped at Lamoureux Park on the banks of the St Lawrence River in Cornwall, Ontario.
A multitude of islands sits in the St Lawrence, some in the US, some in Canada. Cornwall Island is largely part of the Akwesasne Mohawk Tribe territory, which includes parts of the US, Quebec, and Ontario. Seaway International Bridge from Ontario to New York has an exit on the island specifically for the Akwesasne Reservation.
The next morning we continued to meander roads near the St Lawrence River, then Lake Ontario. We stopped for the night at Bronte Creek Provincial Park, not far from Niagara Falls.
It was a short drive to Niagara Falls the next morning. It took us about as long to find a parking spot as it had to get there.
Marilyn naively expected the Canadian side of Niagara Falls to be a completely unspoiled view of a wonder of nature. Doug, on the other hand, loved the energy and people who were drawn to not only the falls but the other attractions of the town as well.
Doug went on the Voyage to the Falls boat tour (the Canadian version of the US Maid of the Mist), but Marilyn opted to stay on land.
Tickets in hand, we were each given a red poncho and soon were packed on the boat. We all wore our ponchos—and big smiles—well.
It was hot, so once away from the falls, off came the ponchos, but the smiles remained. What a boat ride! Thanks, Lew.
And may I add, a big thank you to ALL the people we met in Canada. They were so friendly and went out of their way to help us, even when it was obvious that I did not speak French. A smile and hand signals enabled many an experience.
From Niagara Falls we drove south to follow along the shore of Lake Erie. The drive took us through beautiful farmland. We were amazed at the amount of land in Canada devoted to agriculture.
We stopped for the night at Selkirk Provincial Park on Lake Erie.
While plotting our route—not that we always or often stick to it—Marilyn had found a small car ferry to return from Canada to the US. To our joy, our time in Canada would end as it had started: by ferry.
So the next day, our last in Canada—for now—we continued along Lake Erie as long as possible before turning northwest toward Lake St Clair and the ferry.
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The Walpole Island-Algonac Ferry crosses the St Clair River from Walpole Island, Ontario, to Algonac Michigan.
It's operated by the Walpole Island First Nation, which occupies a large island in Lake St Clair.
The ferry runs every day of the year, weather and river conditions permitting.
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Arrived at US Customs in Algonac, MI, the agent asked if we had anything to declare. Doug held up a bag of fresh tomatoes we had recently purchased at a fruit stand. The agent gave Doug a unique stare and said, "Proceed."
And so our 7-week sojourn in Eastern Canada had come to an end...
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...but we weren't yet done meandering.
Our time in Canada was coming to an end. After our last morning in Montreal, we headed west and soon crossed the Ottawa River from Quebec Province to Ontario Province. It did not take us long to leave the freeway and find the Blue Highways that took us as close as possible to the St Lawrence River.
Ontario farm.
A few hours of meandering later, we stopped at Lamoureux Park on the banks of the St Lawrence River in Cornwall, Ontario.
A large parking lot at Lamoureux ("the Lover") Park in Cornwall ON provided us a spot on the St Lawrence River for the night.
Cormorants, ducks, & geese lounging in the St Lawrence.
Geese guarded us during an awesome thunder storm.
Correction to video narration: Cornwall Island is in Ontario, not Quebec.
A multitude of islands sits in the St Lawrence, some in the US, some in Canada. Cornwall Island is largely part of the Akwesasne Mohawk Tribe territory, which includes parts of the US, Quebec, and Ontario. Seaway International Bridge from Ontario to New York has an exit on the island specifically for the Akwesasne Reservation.
Looking across from Cornwall, Ontario, to Cornwall Island in the St Lawrence River.
The next morning we continued to meander roads near the St Lawrence River, then Lake Ontario. We stopped for the night at Bronte Creek Provincial Park, not far from Niagara Falls.
As it was warm, we cooked dinner outside.
Marilyn was able to feed her fascination with flowers.
It was a short drive to Niagara Falls the next morning. It took us about as long to find a parking spot as it had to get there.
Niagara Falls: American Falls & Bridalveil Falls in the US & Horseshoe Falls in Canada. Foreground: Table Rock Centre, Niagara Falls ON.
Marilyn naively expected the Canadian side of Niagara Falls to be a completely unspoiled view of a wonder of nature. Doug, on the other hand, loved the energy and people who were drawn to not only the falls but the other attractions of the town as well.
Doug (in hat), Niagara Falls ON.
Rainbow Bridge across Niagara River from Canada to US.
Looking from Table Rock Centre by falls to town.
Tour boat at Horseshoe Falls.
Even from Table Rock Centre, the falls are magnificent.
Doug recounts the experience:
My friend Lew said I needed to take the boat tour of Niagara Falls. Oh, was he right! Though I had to stand in line for a while, the people around me were friendly and interesting, so the time went quickly.
View from Voyage to the Falls line.
Tickets in hand, we were each given a red poncho and soon were packed on the boat. We all wore our ponchos—and big smiles—well.
As Doug says, he's the one in red...
L-R: American & Bridal Veil Falls: Arriving near the falls.
The crowd was joyous & cheers went up. The energy was contagious, & the closer we got to the falls the louder & wetter we got.
Horseshoe Falls: It was an awesome experience of people enjoying the power & splendor of nature.
Up close with Doug at Niagara Falls.
And may I add, a big thank you to ALL the people we met in Canada. They were so friendly and went out of their way to help us, even when it was obvious that I did not speak French. A smile and hand signals enabled many an experience.
Ontario agriculture. Note wind machine.
From Niagara Falls we drove south to follow along the shore of Lake Erie. The drive took us through beautiful farmland. We were amazed at the amount of land in Canada devoted to agriculture.
On both sides of the road were fields of grain, corn, and row crops.
While plotting our route—not that we always or often stick to it—Marilyn had found a small car ferry to return from Canada to the US. To our joy, our time in Canada would end as it had started: by ferry.
More agriculture: rolled straw ready for storage.
So the next day, our last in Canada—for now—we continued along Lake Erie as long as possible before turning northwest toward Lake St Clair and the ferry.
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Sign in Port Dover, ON.
The Walpole Island-Algonac Ferry crosses the St Clair River from Walpole Island, Ontario, to Algonac Michigan.
Our route (in red) from Montreal, QC to Walpole Island, ON ferry from Canada to US.
It's operated by the Walpole Island First Nation, which occupies a large island in Lake St Clair.
Driving along the St Clair River to the Walpole Island-Algonac Ferry.
The ferry runs every day of the year, weather and river conditions permitting.
Walpole Island ferry terminal.
Freighter heading from Lake Huron to Lake Erie. Ships travel the St Clair River from Lake Huron to Lake St Clair & continue on the Detroit River to Lake Erie.
The ferry can hold up to 6 vehicles. On our crossing there were 3, including us.
Approaching Russell Island, Michigan, in the St Clair River.
A short 10 minutes after leaving Canada, we arrived back in the US, as we had left 7 weeks before, by ferry.
Arrived at US Customs in Algonac, MI, the agent asked if we had anything to declare. Doug held up a bag of fresh tomatoes we had recently purchased at a fruit stand. The agent gave Doug a unique stare and said, "Proceed."
And so our 7-week sojourn in Eastern Canada had come to an end...
Our trip in Eastern Canada began in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, on June 9, & ended on July 27, at Walpole Island, Ontario, 7 weeks & 5,001 miles later.
...but we weren't yet done meandering.
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