Masenna, NY & visits to Quebec - June 28 - July 9, 2011

Most outstanding location in Massena, NY is the Country Club!  I really do try to limit the number of golf photos but the views from Massena Golf and Country Club are too spectacular.  Most of the holes on the back nine run parallel to the Saint Lawrence Seaway - the photos can't begin to do it justice!

While we were in Massena, Kathy and Albert, friends from Palm Creek, invited us to dinner at their home in Coteau du Lac, Quebec.  Before dinner, Kathy took us to see the local landmark:

This site includes the vestiges of Canada's 1st fortified lock canal used in defending the inland waterway in the 18th and 19th centuries.  There is also a beautiful replica of the octagonal blockhouse which we toured.  You can see the original foundation as well as the view from the blockhouse.  It was fascinating!

!  After the tour we went back to Kathy and Albert's for wine and an amazing dinner including a wonderful pear torte made by Carol, who visited Kathy at Palm Creek last season.  Kathleen, Simon (also friends from Palm Creek) and Carol were a wonderful surprise!  The top two photos are examples of Kathy's artistic talent.  I just loved the golfer sculpture.  As Kathy is getting ready for a show she had set out an amazing collection of her lovely paintings.

Its the fourth of July and there is a fireworks display at the Mall that is less than a mile from our campground.  All we had to do was grab a chair right out side the coach and enjoy an amazing display!

Kathy and Albert are such great friends they invited us back to Quebec for a visit to Old Montreal.   First stop was for a scrumptious gelato!

Montreal is such a beautiful city with some amazing architecture.

But wait ... that's not all!   We took a ride up to Mont Royal (or Mount Royal to us from the US)- a very special place for me because it is where my parents honeymooned.   Located on the eastern side of Montreal Island, Mont Royal is the highest spot in the city.  From the top of the mountain you get a great view of the Olympic Stadium and the highest inclined tower in the world.  I also could not resist photos of these cute, but not cuddly racoons.

!I can't leave Montreal without a photo of Habitat 67 from Expo '67 - "Man & His World"  held in Montreal.   My girlfriends and I visited Expo '67 as high school seniors...its been a long time.  Although most of the buildings from Expo '67 are long gone, habitat is still occupied!  Ellen and Linda, this one is for you!!

Kathy and Albert know how to put the finishing touches on a wonderful day.  They packed  a picnic basket and took us to beautiful Vaudreuil Park. 

Last stop a drive by Kathleen and Simon's  Condo - its the one on the third floor with the umbrella.  Kathleen and Simon were not home but we at least saw their fabulous summer "digs" on a big beautiful waterway!

Aside from our visits into Canada, we played quite a bit of golf in Massena.  We met some new Canadian friends, Tom, Margie, Pat and Carolyn, in the Massena International Campground.   Sad to say I didn't get any photos but we really enjoyed getting to know them (they absolutely loved Gladys Olsen's Texas Hot Cracker Appetizer!) and playing golf with Tom and Pat.  We tried to convince them to come down to AZ when they retire. We hope to see them there!!!

Okay, that's it for Massena; its time for the big trip - crossing the border with the RV and a two week stay in Mont-Tremblant, Canada.