As we reach Rockport the guide asked passengers for $15 each to purchase tickets for the Thousand Island cruise. (Yes, we were on an inevitable guided tour since our visiting grandchildren had only a few days in Canada and I couldn't drive since my driver's licence was not valid in the country). Having had the shore excursions experience ( considerably more expensive) with cruise lines, we opt out, thinking that we could buy the tickets directly and thereby, perhaps, save some money. So we hop off the bus with great confidence and approach the ticket counter. They refuse us tickets because, as part of a tour group, we can only buy tickets through the agent. How absurd! What would happen to people who drive up for the day? Perhaps the groups were numbered and the tags given out had a specific number to identify the members and get them back together within a time frame set by the guide.
Our spirits cannot be easily dampened! We sit down at a picnic bench that the sun has toasted and savour our sandwiches as the autumn leaves rustle and float by.Then we walk stroll down the main street of Rockport when we notice a sign in the local store that said boats were for hire. The lady at the counter graciously said it would cost us $90 and she would call up the driver. She rang him up but he was driving to some other place for the day and he was miles away! Well, we tried! So the next best thing was to enjoy the autumn foliage as we walk through the village and the trail through the woods.
The grandchildren had a blast climbing the rocks. We had great views of the islands and then we walked up the other side of the village which was a little uphill. A church commanded the view at the top. The views were stunning and we had fantastic photo shots. nded the view at the top.
What did we miss? The 'thousand' islands that dot the lake that borders Canada and the US? The opulent homes on the larger islands? Owners of islands have built either cottages or castles on them depending on how big the land is. So the cruise would have shown us from a shorter distance how the wealthy Americans live. We could go down to Miami or Los Angeles for that. Cottages on the smaller islands would presumably be exclusive too. Apparently there's s a bridge (or several) on the US side that connects to the islands..
Interestingly, one of the "castle" owners who frequently hosted dinners had a chef who concocted a sensational dressing. And that's right - it was the ever-so-popular Thousand Island Dressing!
We left Rockfort for Montreal driving along the 1000 Island Parkway and got glimpses of what we would have seen had we taken the boat. The tiniest islands with a small cottage and boat house evoked images of Robinson Crusoe's adventures. Some islands were so small that if there was a surge in the waters they would disappear in a flash. And, therefore, to be considered an island, the patch has to stay above water 365 days a year and support a living tree.
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