Picture shows the 'Maid of the Mist' up close under Niagara Falls

View more pics at https://picasaweb.google.com/yacht.quilcene

Well Quilcene is finally lifted and stored in a safe yard at Green Cove Sprigs, so we set off on our travels. We hired a car and drove first to St Augustine, Florida where we immediately crashed out at the hotel to recover from the exertions of sorting out the boat in the 90+ F heat. (Hope it's cooler on our return!)

Once rested we became tourists for a day, wandering through the interesting old city; St Augustine is the oldest European-established settlement in the continental United States and dates back to 1565. It has been in Spanish, British and finally American hands during its history. Consequently the streets are lined with some lovely historic houses from various periods; Spanish colonial, as well as 19th-century architecture.

One of the best things we found there was live music; many of the bars and restaurants have free entertainment and we picked out where to go by following the music we heard as we wandered around. ..and later we took a cooling swim and relaxed by the hotel pool.

Next we headed to Orlando where we spent the night in a lovely hotel before flying to Toronto to see Kits brother Peter who he hadn't seen for 11 years. It was so good to see Peter, Pat and their family and Ontario is great in June; thankfully cooler than Florida, around 20-23C (yes, Centrigrade is used here; around 73-80F) with warm sunshine that we can actually bear to sit out in! Peter and Pat live very close to the shores of Lake Ontario and a yacht club so we felt quite at home looking at the yachts!

Peter drove us to Niagara - Wow, it is so impressive to see the falls for real and not just a picture! After a good look at the falls we headed down to Niagara on the Lake, a pretty town on the lakeside where the Niagara River issues into Lake Ontario. ..and of course like so many places there is a nice Irish Pub to have lunch in!

Kit & I took the local 'Go' train and a spent a day walking our socks off around the big city of Toronto - a lively place with lots going on. I was fascinated by reflections in the glass of the tall buildings (see Picasa pics). We wandered through the Chinatown and Little Italy districts, enjoying their 'Bohemian' feel after the busy downtown business and shopping areas.

Whilst at Peters I was so pleased to have a visit from my late cousin Vernon's wife Ruth. When Vernon and Ruth retired from teaching in Canada they enjoyed many years of cruising the Caribbean, particularly in the BVI's, on their yacht 'Sea Dream 1'. I was always inspired by their adventurous spirit and hoped to do something similar if ever I had the opportunity - and of course here I am doing it!

Ruth wrote an amazing story about a yachting incident from their cruising days, and with her permission I have included a link to the article below;

http://www.womenandcruising.com/blog/2013/08/it-aint-over-outstanding-story-from-caribbean-compass/

Now we're about to fly back to the UK, leaving Quilcene for quite a long break. Devon here we come - after London and Coventry!