Merrickville
– the Jewel of the Rideau
A
village that lives up to its name! There is a good reason why the docks at
Merrickville are full early most days.
This town is compact yet overflowing with restored homes and businesses
from its heyday in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries. We also found all the essentials for boaters i.e. good coffee – with
WIFI, well stocked grocery, an abundance of restaurants, and even unique shops.
For extra diversion, there is a museum in the biggest block house on the Rideau
and a park with museum and ruins of Merrickville’s industrial past. Between further
varnishing of the railing, napping, and reading, we had more than enough to
keep us busy for a couple of days. While
on the dock back at Clayton, NY we met, Debbie, Mike and Keegan who are
planning to do the full loop when Keegan finishes his stint in NC State. This summer they are doing the Rideau so we
knew our paths might cross along this route and luckily we met again in M’ville. It was so pleasant to relax away an evening
comparing notes and resources at the Swan and Gridiron Pub in Merrickville.
sitting above the road
Mike, Debbie and Keegan aboard
We
spent our first night there in The Pond – above the three Merrickville locks –
tied along the road which actually was below the boat. Since it was a main thoroughfare,
truck noise disturbed our early morning snooze, so for the second night, we
moved through all three locks and got the only space at the bottom in a quieter
park like setting. We shared this park
with Ruth and Patrick who arrived by canoe after 23 kilometers paddling on the
water. Our life seems a little decadent
and lazy by comparison – we have to get off the boat for exercise and have every
creature comfort on board, yet we all seemed to share a spirit of adventure and
enjoy the beauty around us on the Rideau. Our evening quickly slipped by as we
once again enjoyed the companionship of congenial fellow travelers. Truly the
people we meet and meet once again enrich our days afloat.
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