Iroquois lock is a treasure box of memories for me

We cleared Iroquois Lock early Saturday morning. I looked out my forward facing window on the Spruceglen when I woke and we were just in the Lock. Iroquois holds so many wonderful memories for me and I took a moment to gaze out the window. There was a little snow on the ground. Years ago, day or night, rain or snow, my parents would make the 45 minute drive from Brockville to visit. They would walk along the lock wall to meet the ship and we would have a visit as the ship slowly made its way into the lock, stopping briefly to  lower or raise just a few feet and then continue on. The visits would always include treats (including three dozen Tim Hortons  doughnuts for the crew) The treats were brought onboard in a bucket, when we stopped. The deckhand would lower the bucket over the ship's side to my mom and dad and after they filled it (sometimes it would need to go over twice if there were extra goodies) he would pull the bucket full of treats back up. There was always lots of laughter and conversation during these visits as my parents would fill me in on the latest news. I have many wonderful memories of my parents and think of them often, but there is something extra special when I pass through Iroquois lock. There are hills on both sides of Iroquois lock and when the ship is in position and the gates close at both ends we are stopped for a few moments. It's almost like spending a moment in a long keepsake or jewelry box. A place where you keep your most special items for safe keeping. Then the gate opens and the engines break the moments I spend in my memories and we continue on our way, the echoes of the conversations and laughter with my parents fading away until I return. Each time I pass through Iroquois Lock I am surrounded and reminded of these cherished moments. I love taking trips down the St Lawrence River, as we maneuver through the 1,000 islands, pass my hometown of Brockville, and then enter Iroquois Lock.

Early morning in Iroquois. You can see that there are hills on both sides of the lock.

Late 80’s, my mom and the neighbor visiting Lorraine on the Algowood in Iroquois

1982, my mom and dad visiting me at Iroquois lock with a package. That’s me with short hair walking on the deck. My mom was always so beautiful.

It was so much fun when my parents would visit. My dad was there behind the camera.

When we have a trip down the seaway I usually  have two chances to pass during daylight hours, either on the way down or the way back up. I knew that we would miss the 1000 islands and pass Brockville very early in the morning because we left the Welland canal after lunch Friday, so the timing was not good for a Saturday daylight passing. You can calculate your time in the seaway by the time you Leave the Welland Canal. We were through the canal Friday and by the time I got up we were already by the Lock 7 webcam. I put my raincoat on when we were at Lock 3 to go out for a moment. There was no one out on the observation deck to wave at but I took a moment to  look over to the gift shop at the St Catharine's Museum & Welland Canals Center Gift Shop and imagine the books that I wrote are sitting on their gift shop shelves.

Looking out my forward facing window. We were in Lock 7

I put on my raincoat to go wave at the observation deck at lock 3 and look over to the gift shop where my two books are.

As we came up to one of the locks (I think Lock 1) we had to wait for a ship to come out before we went in. (I got a cool video through the porthole) When we went under the lift bridge there was a long line of traffic. They had to wait for the one ship to leave and wait for us to enter. It's one of those hurry up and wait situations. 

There was a long line of traffic. They had to wait for one ship to leave and then us to come in.

I went out once more as we were past Lock 1 in the little stretch before entering Lake Ontario. I looked over at the bench where I have sat in the past. It's such a nice place to sit and watch the ships. Before long the benches will be hard to see when they are hidden by the new leaves but Saturday they were easy to spot and I smiled when I saw a woman with her two children sitting watching the ships. I waved and got an enthusiastic wave back from them.

There are three sets of benches and easy to see this time of year

I am not making the trip back up through the seaway during the daylight hours because I will be getting off the ship by the 10th so that I can make my way to Algonac, MI for the book signing/Meet and Greet. Both Lorraine (my sister, best friend and publisher) and I are looking forward to the road trip and event. We are starting to plan other events for the upcoming months and will keep you posted when they are confirmed. Lorraine asked me to remind you to bring your books to Algonac, MI to be signed and that we will also have the original cookbook "Recipes and Stories as I Sail Through My Day" and the Children's book "The Stowaway Adventures" at the Algonac event for purchase. We will not have the new book "More Recipes and Stories as We Navigate Healthier Eating" at the Algonac Event. It is currently only available for pre-order. We are taking pre-orders until June 1st so that we know how many books to have printed. We are excited to release the new book "More Recipes and Stories as we Navigate Healthier Eating and will place the order with the printer beginning of June. We will mail them out as soon as they are printed (this usually takes 5 weeks). It's an exciting time.

The new book “More Recipes and Stories as we Navigate Healthier Eating

Click on the following link

More Recipes & Stories As We Navigate Healthier Eating – Ship to Shore Chef

As I was writing to you this morning Facebook sent me some photo memories from the beginning of April 2023. I was working on the Algoterra. I took numerous photos of the Rt Hon Paul J Martin. She was coming out of the river and still in the shipping channel so she was close to us. One of the photos from that day is actually the photo that we chose for the cover of the new book. The sky and water were such a beautiful color and the ship was close enough. We have not had a sample cover printed yet but I am hopeful that it comes out clear and that we can use that photo. Writing the cookbook is fun for me. I like the process of selecting the photos and I like to choose recipes that I think you will enjoy making and eating. I am looking at the time on the bottom right hand corner of my laptop screen. It's cinnamon bun Sunday and I have to start my dough. I have just enough time to load the photos. I have lots of food pictures from the meals I prepared over the last few days. Have a lovely day. 

This is the picture we selected for the cover of the new book. It came up as a Facebook photo memory yesterday.

The crew love Mexican food. I made my own Tortilla bowls with my Tortilla bowl maker below

This is what I use to bake the tortilla bowls.

I always say the sandwiches are best on homemade bread however I make an exception to include a sandwich made on a croissant. It’s hard to beat.

I made pecan pie for Easter Monday but they didn’t eat it all so I took the filling from the pecan pie and made a coffee cake. it came out really delicious

I came out from the starboard door which is closest to the gally to capture this photo off.

Directly across from the previous photo is Windsor off our port side

One of the crew said it was the best chicken a la king he ever had and he said he thought his was good.

I love guacamole and set some out for the crew to help themselves.

One of the crew said he had trouble turning down this coconut cream boat. He said it was delicious.

Chicken noodle soup is a favorite

I love that this crew member jumped in for a photo.

We look forward to seeing you in Algonac. Bring your books with you to be signed. These two books will be available for purchase in Algonac. If you cannot attend the event in Algonac you can order online and we will be happy to ship them out to you.