Day 22: CANADA DAY!!!!!

WOW....another absolutely great weather day, today!!!!! And, it couldn't have been better for the Canadian "4th of July".......only it is the 1st of July.

We were up and going by 8AM this morning....morning rituals completed....and after our morning Fr Roast coffee...and her cup of hot tea.....we were soon getting our Passports, the truck title, and driving the couple of miles to the "Bridge to the USA". It took about 25 minutes to get through the immigration/passport control.....and we had a very nice guy who was pleasant to talk with....and not quite as "formal" as we have had at other border crossings during this trip.

We drove onto Massena, NY.....and went first to the Post Office where I had a large envelope waiting for me to pick up.......some bills, and most importantly, a three month supply of my plumbing problem pills!! Goldie gathered our mail at the home P.O. and then sent it to me at General Delivery in Massena.

From there it was out to the Super Walmart.....a fairly new facility and it was such a pleasure to shop there. After about an hour of shopping, during which time I managed to get a haircut at WM.....we left there. Stopped in a small wine shop and picked up four bottles of not-so-expensive wine....and then returned to Canada.

We did a few odd chores around TheHowserHouse.....and then took our dirty laundry...(not a very good visual, is it?)......and went to Charlie and Katherine's to use their washer and dryer. That took a couple of hours.......came back here to THH....and an hour later, they picked us up to go to dinner.

As I mentioned....this is CANADA DAY here.....and very few places were open...even WALMART was closed!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone was flying the bright red and white flag with the maple leaf on it.....wherever we went! Wonderful to be here on this day........great fun!!

So, we dined on the patio of Kelsey's......a bar and grill much like Applebee's back in the states. Our conversation turned quickly to the discussion of traveling......and for way over an hour we traded stories of our travels around the world with Charlie and Katherine's travel stories of their trips around the world. Such fun....such interesting tales........and such good food and drinks.....to help celebrate this special day in this wonderful country!

Then it was off to the city park along the St. Lawrence River.....and we found the place overflowing with people. Everyone had their lawn chairs, blankets, coolers, children......a very fun evening as we sat and listened to the live band performing in the Band Shell on the edge of the river. And then.....

GREAT FIREWORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW...WOW!!!!! Some of the most unique and beautiful fireworks I do believe that I have ever seen......amazing. And they were all shot off over the river so that the river reflected the colors and the light from the display being exploded overhead. A wonderful ending to an exciting day!!!!!

Tomorrow morning we four will be going into Montreal...about 70 miles from here. Just a day trip to see the city...and Old Montreal. The weather is supposed to be good.......and should be fun to immerse ourselves in the Canadian French culture......with French being the language of the Quebec Province! And soooooo, how else can it be anything other than..........

LIFE IS SOOOOOO REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!