Watertown to Niagara Falls
Hwy. 81, 104 via Oswego, Mexico, Rochester to Lewiston

We are off to an absolutely serene country churchyard, resting on a knoll, surrounded by acreages under the plow, broken by woods, as far as the eye can see. Here we photograph each Curry headstone before retreating to the "mansion" and a walkabout with the camera. Locals advise that at least two families have thrown big dollars at restoration efforts, which remain incomplete. We are also told that the last Curry vanished with a meal on the table and a fire in the hearth!

With a friendly and helpful visit early in the day at the Township office, we return to South Glengarry and Mario's Pizza because...there is a computer business located inside the restaurant. True, and Jaques LeBlanc (who also builds the pizzas) is a saviour. Soon (Rick's perspective) the digital photos are loaded up, zipped and sent to Pooh Central. During the hours this took, Elaine is off about town and into the library to uncover source material, where I find her between thunderstorm "drops".

At 4 p.m. we are off for Thousand Islands and the crossing at Rockport into New York State. The Parkway offers visually stunning and intimate views of the islands, cottages, boatsheds...a world unlike any other we have known. Soon Rockport appears and at 6 p.m. we cross quickly through customs and immigration into the United States. Free from stormy weather, Sackett's Harbour lures us off the highway, for supper and a walkabout at the war of 1812-14 battlefield (U.S. fleet destroyed). An early indication of a spectacular sunset draws the 35mm camera out...we'll see later.

Very pleasantly surprised by the 'country lane' aspects of Hwy. 3, we stay off the major route and head west around Lake Ontario. It is a beautiful evening, with motel vacancies, until...it darkens, we run out of motels and the night wears on. You will just have to believe that the south shore of Lake Ontario can be driven comfortably on Hwy. 3 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. We did stop and look in Rochester about midnight...very few motels, vacancies in vastly overpriced or seedy and overpriced. We pressed on to nearly Lewiston, opposite Queenston Heights in Ontario, before resting our heads in the clean, affordable Paterson's Motel, with an owner-manager happy to do business at 2:30 a.m.

During the night-time run, I noticed a slight misfire, which I originally ascribed to bad fuel from a brand outlet that did NOT accept brand credit card! Pooh will get a look in the morning.