Lockport to Middleport; Sailing Canadians at last!

So, back to our story.....

Meet George and Carolyn, my friendly Canadian sailors:

The story of George and Carolyn -

So there I was, tired and sweaty and hoping the rain would hold off until I set up my tent, and suddenly I hear "Oh, now that's gotta be a good story." I look over, and there sits a couple resting in the stern (I think?) of their rather large sailboat (which I had somehow failed to see, I guess I must have been pretty focused on finding a good spot for my tent?).

I chatted with them for awhile, talking about where Anna and I were heading and where we'd been already. George informed me that they were heading out to a restaurant down the canal for their anniversary dinner, and then invited me along. I politely declined, and they told me to feel free to hop aboard if it started to rain or if I just wanted somewhere indoors to sit for awhile.

They changed and went off for their dinner, and I set up the tent for the night.

While they were out it did actually start to rain a bit, so I grabbed my journal, a snack, and Anna's leash and headed for the boat. Anna didn't think that was a good idea. Even with the lure of a cat on board! She got her front feet on and then freaked out and tried to get back to solid ground, almost falling into the canal in the process.

So Anna lounged by the boat, on solid ground and in the rain, and I sat under the shelter and enjoyed the oddness of sitting on a stranger's boat.

By the time George and Carolyn came back for dinner it was raining pretty steadily. Without too much protest on my part, they convinced me that it'd be much more comfortable to sleep in their spare cabin in the bow. I went and grabbed my sleeping gear, and with the help of Carolyn got Anna on board. Then, now with the help of George, actually got Anna inside the boat.

Once inside Anna settled down, and George and Carolyn and I stayed up for a bit chatting. Those of you who know me know I'm not all that great at chatting or having any kind of extended conversation with strangers....or friends and family, for that matter. Talking tires me out, and I have trouble actually thinking up things to chat about. But I must say I did rather well that night, and it didn't feel all that strained. This could be because I had spent so much time alone walking that I was pretty much chatting with anyone I saw at that point, or just that they were very friendly and easy to talk to. Whichever, it made for a nice relaxing night.

After awhile we all headed to bed. The cabin I was staying in was quite comforable, with a good sized bed and my own sink and mirror! The bed was a tad high and Anna had to be lifted up, but once there she settled in. We both enjoyed having a mattress for a night rather than the hard ground!

The next morning we were up early enough to grab a picture of the sunrise from the boat.

And after a light breakfast and some more chatting we all set off on our opposite ways. George and Carolyn offered me a ride, but unfortunately I was on my way back East along the canal and they were heading West to Canada. If only I had met them earlier along the canal!

My friendly sailing Canadians, sailing off into the West.

And that, my friends, is the story behind my friendly Canadian sailors. Tada!