Gananoque, Fall and Camp

October has been  another busy month for us. It started with the Markham Fair which runs for 4 days. It is a mini Waroona Show. The pumpkin in the photo came in first and weighed 319lbs (144.6kgs). We spent a couple of hours looking around early on Sunday morning.

In Canada, Thanksgiving long weekend is the second Monday in October, we took the opportunity to do a boat cruise around The Thousand Islands in Gananoque (Gan-an-ock-way). Yes, Thousand Island dressing was reportedly invented here. There are actually 1864 islands in the Saint Lawrence River on the borders of Canada and USA. To be classified as an island, the land must remain above the water all year round and have at least 1 tree. The cruise was for 5 hours with a 2 hour stopover at Boldt Castle, which is located on Heart Island inside the USA border. Boldt Castle stands today as George Boldt, a millionaire hotel magnate loved his wife Louise so much he thought she should live in a castle. In 1900 building commenced on the six story, 120 room castle, complete with tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a drawbridge, alster tower (children’s playhouse) and a dove cote.  Sadly Louise passed away suddenly in January 1904. George was devastated and could not imagine his castle with Louise, he ordered all construction on the castle to cease immediately.  It remained as it stood for 73 years until The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority purchased the ruins in 1977 and commenced restoration and rehabilitation of the castle and Heart Island. The castle/home has never been inhabited.

Zavikon Island is home to the worlds shortest international bridge. The bridge is 32 feet long. One island is in Canada the other in America.

Gannets on a rock and a pair of Bald Eagles

Geese flying almost in a V, a gannet and a Seagull

George Boldt, an organ and a hand carved pillar

The kitchen

George's bedroom and Louise's bedroom

Some of the exterior of the Castle

Fall has arrived. The colours are intense and changing everyday.

Newton went on the annual Year 7 camp at Medeba Adventure Centre, West Guildford which is held over 3 days. 4 staff and 32 students had an awesome time in near freezing weather.

 Winter is on its way. An extremely foggy afternoon which is unusual for us as we are used to fog in the mornings.

We drove the car though a laser car wash. Looks like we ran into a Unicorn.

  is only a week away.