Summer starts today

That fact is so much more true in Canada than in the States both in terms of weather and activities. In the States, Memorial Day is the beginning of Summer and we assumed that perspective was shared everywhere. Wrong, very wrong. Our time on the Rideau, which has been roughly 3 weeks (can be done in 3-4 days, often done in 7 days) has been frequently cold, rainy and windy. One day last week, we were under a tornado watch for several hours. Where does one go when they are on a boat in the middle of Canada’s Cottage Country and tornado potential is high?

(interesting side note. That same t-storm system dump so much rain on the Trent Severn Waterway, where we originally planned to be at this time, that they closed the system ‘for at least a week’. Stuck in place for a week on a boat in very rural Canada can present challenges ;-))

Weather alone does not define summer. Activities do. Outdoor activities. Canada has those, but not until the Summer Solstice…. Before that, as referenced in many conversations and experiences we have had, it’s still spring. Stores are not yet open or just starting the stock up for the summer. Few, if any, farmers markets. Street festivals? Um, no.

It would be understandable, but unfortunate, if one were to take away from this description of the late Canadian Spring that we must be miserable. That could not be further from the truth. We have had great cruising days, stunning anchoring locations, interesting towns to explore and even today, as the rain lightly falls in Ottawa, we will take in the Canadian National Galley, the Byward Market and some fine dining (not to belittle in any way what we have been able to cook on board, but that will have to wait for another blog post) at Whalesbone.