Lac Sir John
When we got the reply from Warren’s grandkids that they weren’t renting out Hedgehog this year we were sad and at a loss. That island proved itself perfect for Ricky (eighteen years) and last year for Stella and Louie.
Penny finds Donnacona
I knew I could count on Penny when she sets her mind to a search; she found this early on in the spring but initially we thought it was too much.
Life changes
A while later, after a life-changing event (of which most of you are aware) we said screw it; if they’re okay with cats let’s do it. And see if they’ll break the rules and let us just take two weeks: and here we are!
Wet start 🌧️
A drive here in the rain, crossing to the island in the rain then a few more days…in the rain. Not complaining as we got out for a paddle and I think both of us needed some quiet time with books.
No gas motors!
Penny knew this but I was unaware – there are no noisy gasoline motors allowed on the lake, and it really changes things. When swimming there’s no concern about fast-moving boats not seeing us. It’s so quiet and on the weekend there were so many people out on:
- Paddle boards
- Kayaks
- Canoes
- Peddle board
- And this:
The only thing upsetting this utopic scene is Highway 158. It’s remarkable how that noise so easily reaches the island. Baby steps.
The bakery
Our host mentioned that there’s a very good bakery in Lachute so I did some research to determine which one he was referring. It’s only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Off we went on our bikes to check it out on Friday. Closed – with a sign saying sorry. We’ll go Sunday then. Still closed, this time with a sign saying he tried but couldn’t do it.
Fortunately there’s a roadside fruit stand just up the road so we got some fruit, bagels and cookies. I asked about the owner about the bakery being closed and was told that he’d broken his leg.
Is it insensitive to hope that this weekend they’ll be open?
Wood stoves
The only oven in the cottage was a modern wood stove and since I’d brought up the fixins for pizza I was going to have to figure this out and see if I could get it hit enough. Let’s say I got it close and we ‘enjoyed’ a tepid, chewy pizza.
Pizza’s not why I brought up wood stoves though; there was an older, ornamental stove in the living room that seemed somewhat benign — until Stella discovered the old flue.
Dare we compare?
It’s hard not to, and also not really necessary. Charleston Lake is huge and more complex. Sir John is way more tranquil. Hedgehog is larger for hikes with the kittens, here we have a more comfortable cottage and a dock that I can sit on and read all day.
We’re going to explore a hiking trail to a lookout from where we’re told one can see Montreal. And we may bike to the hydro dam to see it from the top. Here it is from the lake:
Dam
I have to do some research to see if or how this dam is producing hydro electricity. It’s so much higher more massive than I thought.
Time to go
Over the last couple of days the cats have been saying it’s time to go home – and we agree. It’s a wonderful location but hey, it’s an island and kind of isolating. More so than Charleston where you can hike on the island or at the Park.
Verdict
This will likely not be a repeat for future years. Hard to explain: at Killenbec it was a small lot, close neighbours and plain cottage but we left after four days and felt so rejuvenated.
