123.8/29 The Thousand Islands Parkway

As we headed southwest toward the United States on autoroute 401, we left the Province of Quebec and entered Ontario Province. The Welcome Center had intriguing literature and we remembered photographs Jean’s sister and brother-in-law had shown us on Thousand Islands area in the St. Lawrence River. Deciding to spend a leisurely day along the Thousand Islands Parkway, we swung off the 401 just past Brockville and found ourselves on a lightly trafficked two-lane road within sight of the river.

Orange jewel-weed with pods,
Impatiens capensis

We stopped at many pleasant spots along the water. In wet places, jewelweed, Impatiens capensis, grew prolifically. Jean had first photographed it in Connecticut while on a genealogical expedition with our friend Diane Alexander. As all Impatiens, it is a touch-me-not, with fat oblong pods that pop and disperse their seeds when touched or pinched.

Orange jewel-weed, Impatiens capensis

This dainty orange-yellow flower is found in the U.S. from Florida to Nebraska, and in the northwestern states. and in southern Canada from Newfoundland to Saskatchewan. The old fashioned species that grew in grandmother’s garden, Impatiens balfourii, is pink and white. The lovely garden balsam in a myriad of colors is Impatiens balsamina. In Malawi Jean collected several magenta flowered species and a tall white one with red spots at the edge of a Nyika Plateau rain forest.

St Brendan Church
Rockport, Ontario

We particularly enjoyed the town of Rockport with its little St. Brendan church overlooking Rockport harbor from which boat tours are launched into the Thousand Islands region. St. Brendan is the patron of sailors and navigators. (I wonder if that includes GPS Navigators like our own Millie and her cousin Nellie.)

1000 Islands Skydeck on Hill Island

A few miles further south, we turned southeast toward the U.S. and went part way across the Thousand Island International Bridge toward New York, getting off on Hill Island, still in Canada. Passing by the duty-free shops, our goal was the Skydeck, a 400 foot viewing tower. The elevator was quite amazing: it did the 400 feet in 40 seconds, yet the acceleration and deceleration were barely perceptible

Views From the Top of Skydeck Tower

The Thousand Island International Bridge

Thousands of Islands

Most of the islands seem to be inhabited—
do you want to buy an island for your very own?

Mallory Landing framed by colorful sumac.

Staghorn sumac, Rhus typhina

Staghorn sumac, Rhus typhina, grows throughout eastern North America to the Missouri River, in South Dakota, Kansas and Utah. The shrub or small tree has conspicuous red “candles” (clusters of small fruits). The leaves turn scarlet and crimson a little earlier than other fall color before they fall off.

This night we opted for a KOA campground
rather than a Wal*Mart camping place.

An interesting highway phenomenon along the 401 highway was very large billboards set well off the road in strategic spots.