May 31-June 1, Brockville, ON

We awoke this morning to rain and a 52 degrees to start our day. The tour of the Castle began at 10 am and, probably because of the rain, we were the only tourists on the island so we got a private tour.

Linda is ready for our tour

Singer Castle

Spring is arriving

Singer Castle from the grounds

KOKOMO II from the castle

The Singer Castle tour was interesting. It is a beautifully crafted "hunting lodge" used usually only two weeks a year. There are many neat features but the most interesting were the many secret passages allowing the staff to do their work unobserved by the family and family guests. The property has been purchased for $1.5 million by a European investment group who have opened it to the public and are offering it for sale at a new price of over $22 million. No takers so far.

We left the Castle about 11 am just as the first tour boat was approaching. Good timing. The sky is clearing and we have clear skies for now with temperatures of 65 degrees. We motored about 10 miles in front of and then behind a large freighter. Interesting. We ended our day in Brockville, Ontario, and are at the Brockville City Marina.

New condominiums across from the marina at Brockville

Scuba divers prepare for a wreck dive in the St Lawrence Seaway. This is fertile ground for shipwreck diving. But cold.

Brockville marks the end of the region of the 1000 Islands. Brockville is one of the oldest Canadian settlements in this area, settled by loyalists after the American Revolutionary War. The town founders Buell and Jones both wanted the town named after themselves and a controversy raged. Soon outsiders gave it the nickname "Snarlingtown". This was finally resolved when a regional dignitary was asked to settle the dispute in 1812. And so Sir Isaac Brock named the town ...... Brockville.

Downtown Brockville has some attractive old buildings

Beautiful Church

Older homes speak of a wealthy past for the town

Downtown is nearby the marina about 10 blocks long with some beautiful public buildings, several good restaurants and two bookstores. At least a half dozen stores are empty and the town looks a little tired. We are enjoying our weekend here.

Sunday in Brockville we walked to the Fulford House and took a tour of this grand home built around the turn of the century and now owned and restored by an agency of the Canadian Government. Fulford was a local boy who made and distributed worldwide a "PINK PILL for pale people" that cured whatever ails you. Made a fortune. Beautiful home.

Fulford House

Another pretty home on the water