We were last here in 1968. Bob and I had been dating a year, lived in downstate New York and wanted a summer vacation adventure. Problem was that I was very Catholic back then, thought that a lightning bolt would surely strike me dead if I ran away with Bob, and the knowledge of it would definitely kill my Irish Catholic mother. I am happy to report that love triumphed over guilt and we headed north to the 1,000 Islands for a weekend rendezvous. I had never been camping before and brought a huge suitcase of coordinated outfits and a 20 lb. bouffant hairdryer! I can still see the wide-eyed look of amazement on Bob’s face as he was tried to figure out how to tell me to jettison the baggage without spoiling the romantic mood.
Most of the islands are now private but Parks Canada has established a 20 island park with camping, docks and some mooring buoys. The hard rocky bottom makes it difficult to anchor here so boaters are all competing for dock space and mooring balls. We entered the fray on Friday morning and finding a dock was like a quest for the Holy Grail. We found some docks being saved by jet skis and other docks completely full by 10am. We rounded the corner of Camelot Island, saw a sailboat leaving a mooring ball and quickly snagged it.
Camelot Island is a delightful spot with a hiking trail, coves for dinking around, a picnic shelter, compost toilet, regular docks and a dinghy dock. Morning is announced by songbirds and an owl heralds bedtime. Just jump in the fresh cool water and get refreshed on a hot day. We did not have to slay a dragon here but did have a snake onboard. My Lancelot deftly used a boat hook and threw it back in the water. Do we go back in the water now? I can report that when it’s hot and you do not have air conditioning, you will overcome your fear of snakes.
Most of the islands are now private but Parks Canada has established a 20 island park with camping, docks and some mooring buoys. The hard rocky bottom makes it difficult to anchor here so boaters are all competing for dock space and mooring balls. We entered the fray on Friday morning and finding a dock was like a quest for the Holy Grail. We found some docks being saved by jet skis and other docks completely full by 10am. We rounded the corner of Camelot Island, saw a sailboat leaving a mooring ball and quickly snagged it.
Camelot Island is a delightful spot with a hiking trail, coves for dinking around, a picnic shelter, compost toilet, regular docks and a dinghy dock. Morning is announced by songbirds and an owl heralds bedtime. Just jump in the fresh cool water and get refreshed on a hot day. We did not have to slay a dragon here but did have a snake onboard. My Lancelot deftly used a boat hook and threw it back in the water. Do we go back in the water now? I can report that when it’s hot and you do not have air conditioning, you will overcome your fear of snakes.
