Steven and I are preparing for a 3-day, 1500 mile drive from Florida to Canada with our 2 dogs Asia & Chloe, our boat Chelsea and two canoes! The 2-person Peterborough canoe my dad made will go on the roof of our Subaru. This ensures that Steve and I can take some beautiful canoeing trips together, most likely with the dogs in the boat too - they don't like to be left behind! Steven's small one-man sailing canoe he rigged himself will fit inside our boat Chelsea. We'll be trailering Chelsea behind the Subaru. With the little sailing canoe he'll have the opportunity to explore on his own . . . and with it's tuned-up lawn mower engine, Chelsea can take all of us lots of places - even across the river to Kingston! Remember, we are going to be on an island! Since the family cottage is directly on the St. Lawrence River - mouth of Lake Ontario, the availability of boats is a high priority for Steven.

This is a family farm with many cottages that Steven grew up going to in the summer. Every year he would go to Wolfe Island with his family and later on his own. His grandmother was born in the 'big house' on the property and between that big house and all the cottages on the property, Steven would see various cousins, Aunts and Uncles every year. He has a very large extended family with about 140 relatives! The first time I went to Wolfe Island was in 2005 after we married. The impression it left on me was that it was such a beautiful and peaceful place. Wolfe Island is very rural, in fact Steven's family still owns farm fields there. We went there together every summer until after we moved from Connecticut to Florida in late 2009. We did not want to leave town while my dad was ill with cancer. Dad passed away October 1, 2011 and we decided this year to make the long drive in August and stay for 3 weeks. Here is why I love it so . . . these photos are from our last trip there in 2009. Steven is walking towards the 'big house' and the Oats Barn. If you click on it you may be able to see the widow's walk on top. The St. Lawrence and the boat docks are down the hill to the left. The 'big house' where Steven's grandmother was born. The Deming's Dock was originally constructed by Steven's great grandfather and updated by his Dad in the 1960's. Kingston, Ontario is across the way.

Looking from the big house - that is the drive shed. The cottage we share with Steve's brothers is on the other side of it and Steven's grandmother's garden at the big house.

Looking from the big house across the river to Kingston.

Something new in 2009 was added to the farmer's cow fields - wind turbines! Walking down Third Line road . . . I had just taught Asia how to do a "High 10!"

The cottage steps that look out over the river, towards Kingston - 3 1/2 miles away. Getting our boat "Buzzy's" motor ready and you can see Asia and Chloe keeping their distance!!

such cutie pies... they are sitting in one of our driveways! The motor is ready so off we go! Steven has had this boat since he was a kid.

You can tell Asia hates boating, huh?

The family property as seen from Buzzy . . . Love this!!! In 2009 we trailered the melonseed sailboat my dad built up to Canada. Here is Steven paddling it around the dock to where we can get in, take off and go sailing.