Lunch in Napanee

 While it is Gramma Camp, and we had an epic trip to Mill of Kintail on Wednesday, I shall have to curate photos! I am behind anyway! This is from last week.

August 19th, we set off for lunch about 2 hours away! What the heck. Our friend Robert lives in Port Hope. We hadn't seen him in 3 years. His wife is managing some issues and couldn't come. This was a sort of middle point. It was a beautiful day for it. The puffy clouds were welcomed. There were lots of people on the roads. We left at 11 a.m. for a 1 p.m. date. 

Note the licence: POWERZZ3,
lauding their car's name. 

We arrived to find a new parking situation. They have room for only about 10 cars down below, the rest is devoted to vehicles using the boat launch. When I drove in, we had to park up top. I think I snagged the last spot. The restaurant is usually full when we go. 

We passed several people coming up, as they were told it would be a 45 minute wait to be seated. What could we do? We'd driven a long way to get there. They have a lovely set of benches where we could wait our 45 minutes out, watching for Robert. 

Robert showed up, and we'd barely chatted, when we noticed the other people waiting were getting seated, and our turn came. It was about 10 minutes! 

Our phone isn't great, with a cracked screen, but I took a selfie and texted Caitlin our location. It turns out they were headed to Picton to visit a friend. With the electric car they had to recharge twice, but no worries! 

It was 33 C., and the odd time the clouds gave us a break, but just way too hot.

JB drove us home and I took drive-by photos. The clouds were rolling in. The homes look so pretty, with lots of hanging baskets on covered porches. 

I noticed a lot of trees changing colour due to the drought. It's early for this, but triggered by hot, dry weather. The sumac was particularly lovely!

The best part, I think, is seeing the creeks, swamps, rivers, and lakes. The wetland water levels are very low, with massive numbers of water lilies. Just so pretty.

This dude decided that he had to pass 3 or 4 cars, carrying a chair in his truck. I hope he made it to his destination and didn't hurt anyone! 

There was a reminder to renew your licence plate, since it is now free, but they don't send reminders. Our noodlehead premier refunded our money, to the tune of a billion in revenues. To quote my late Dad, "It's all going to hell!"

There was a lot of traffic on a summer Friday afternoon, and a lot of people with campers and the like. Silver Lake campgrounds showed someone fishing, with tents up and ready for the weekend.

We were happy to be home. 

Out to lunch!

Yes, we were out to lunch! I tried to do a workout, which I do almost every day at 10:00 a.m., and my foot wa having spasms. "OK," says I," let's go." We stopped first in Smiths Falls. First for some retail therapy. I snagged a new top, leggings and a summer cotton dress for $34. The second activity I'll tell you about later!

Off we went. The farms are very busy. Hay to bring in. Corn and veggies at the market stands. Life is good.



Of course, it is construction season. We chose highway #401, which is a faster drive.


I love the water.


Past Kingston, with its sedimentary rock, blasted to put the highway through. You can see the vertical marks, where they drilled to blast.


We made it! Napanee. The gardens are at their peak.
I liked that flowering plant. It looks like something grafted on a tree. It looks popular. Anyone know for sure??!!

We arrived at 2:30. It's a bit late for lunch, but they were full. We sat to wait for a table.


We sat by the garden. Isn't it peaceful??
Waterfront Pub & Terrace from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.


The pub has a long history. Water was the transportation route back in the day. Businesses built beside the water.

Waterfront River Pub and Terrace!

"It was originally built as a brewery by Mr. Thomas Taylor, a brewer from Belleville, in 1857"

I tried to clean my camera. It didn't go well!


I am always happy that the servers run from the kitchen, along the patio to us at the water.


"Relax and unwind – you're on patio time!"


 I like people watching! This was a gorgeous woman, well-dressed. These are some shoes. I never could wear such, and especially not these days!!!


Selfies and photo-ops!


Across the canal is the Greater Napanee Conservation Park. It's a popular spot. Three boats pulled in, and they all seemed to know one another.


They have a lovely long line of gazebos, tables and chairs. The pub can seat 150.


The servers are really good about taking photos. This table held both hosts, and visitors who'd been visiting for two weeks. (One cannot help but overhear!)


It's a delightful spot. I'm glad we made our annual trek there. We had lots of choices for a route. On the way back, we took the more northerly route. More on that later!