Having just returned from a slap-happy drive through three counties (Lanark, United Leeds and Grenville and Carleton) and a succession of hamlets (Rideau Ferry, Lombardy, Portland, Crosby, Elgin, Seely’s Bay, Gananoque, Halstead’s Bay, Ivy Lea, Mallorytown Landing, Maitland and Wexford) leading to the St. Lawrence Seaway, we have nicely recovered our weekend stability notwithstanding the blustery weather.
The highlight of our adventure today was a stop at Katarina’s Coffee Shop at Kelly’s Bay in Prescott along the extension of the Thousand Islands Parkway, It is not the first time we have made this venue a destination of choice. Nor shall it be the last,
The place was packed upon arrival – not only the outdoor parking but also the indoor seating (though fortuitously we secured an empty table by a window). Our more notable victory was to have resisted temptation. There were so many ambrosial goodies displayed in the multiple enclosed glass counters! While we limited our immediate intake to a discerning cappuccino and espresso, we pointedly opted for take-out of two toothsome sandwiches and equally luscious homemade desserts.
But the winning gusto of our coffee shop sojourn was an animated chat with Proprietor Nicole who, in spite of the flurry of activity at the counter, generously made time to share with us a welcome greeting. In addition to a brief and candid summary of business, she happily informed us of the well-being of her infant son.
The coffee shop – not unlike most of the retail businesses in this riverfront area – is subject to the mercurial alterations wrought by the change of season. Evidently – that is, judging by today’s crowd – the advent of springtime and the prospect of summer has measurably enhanced commercial activity. I recall (about six years ago) that the previous owner of the coffee shop (a woman probably named Katarina) was from Argentina, South America where I believe she regularly wintered prior to re-activating the shop each year. Nicole mentioned the on-going expansion of business appeal to include catering – a contribution which I find increasingly persuasive among septuagenarians. The production of food for the table is best left to the professionals! I am constantly amazed at the talent within our orbit.
Spirited by this unforeseen social encounter, we directed ourselves homeward to Mississippi Mills. Forgive me, dear Reader, for the vulgarity of mentioning at this stage – an automobile. I cannot resist commenting upon the agreeable nature of the 2026 Cadillac Optiq. Aside from one (largely irrelevant) issue (which I suspect will be cured at the dealership within the next ten days), there is nothing about this vehicle which perturbs me. This may sound to be a small compliment from one such as I (who is egregiously un-mechanical); but what I lack in engineering savvy, I regain from the knowledge derived from the plurality of automobiles I have owned.
Being an unrepentant advocate of Henry Ford et al., I have regularly accustomed myself to critical examination of the product. It is a scrutiny taken from outside as well as inside; it involves an examination of all critical buttons and handles; no flaw is dismissed or overlooked. The only mechanical observations I am entitled to make are these: the wheels are straight and aligned; the seats are divine; the appearance is smooth; the windows and doors work well; the sound system is great. Though I don’t make a habit of speeding, the car is capable of a smart acceleration.
These seemingly superfluous assertions are nonetheless meaningful to me because it requires considerable attention on my part to accommodate prolonged contest. And that’s what every new car is: a contest. It’s a contest to see how long you can go before confronting your first repair; it’s a contest to see whether you can convince yourself it was the right choice; it’s a contest of philosophic arguments regarding capitalism and materialism; and, it’s a contest to discover who is the biggest fool.