Arrival Day. I joined the Assiniboine on Sunday afternoon (the 26th), but the process of joining a ship for me began over a week before. I accepted this relief chief cook job on May 17th. Lorraine (my sister best friend and publisher) and I were taking a beautiful spring walk on the trail Petit Train Du Nord. It is a 200km bike trail, and we had driven to a section we have not walked on before. We parked the car, and just before we got out, my phone rang, and I read the words Thorold Union Hall. I was a little surprised. I knew I would be getting a call for a summer job, but it was 16h50, 10 minutes before the Union Hall closed for the long weekend. When the Union agent explained the job, I hesitated to think of all the things I still wanted to accomplish before leaving home for 90 days. I accepted the job, and with that, the timer started to run. I had 10 days before I was expected to join the ship. After hanging up the phone, there was a little doubt creeping in. Did I make the right decision? I was expecting to leave on June 1st, but accepting this job meant I was joining 5 days earlier. Lorraine reminded me that knowing where and when I was going was good. She's right. When it's time for me to go back to work on a ship, I spend too much time wondering where and when, so we decided it was a good thing. I am a planner, and now I have a plan.

One of my favorite places to walk in Tremblant. It is 21 km north from the trail Lorraine and I drove to for our walk the day the Union called.

As I am writing to you this morning, I see the date in the bottom right-hand corner of my laptop screen, and it is May 27th. I am already onboard, and we are in Lake Erie, making our way to Milwaukee with a load of slag. I joined early. I was a little excited when the office called me on Friday and mentioned the ship was ahead of schedule (a rare occurrence) and that the crew change would be delayed until the beginning of June. My heart lept with joy, and in the seconds that it took to hear these words, I was already planning what I would do with these extra days. Then the following sentence was, "But the chief cook has a family event, would you still be able to come for the 26th?" I agreed, knowing that if it was me, I would want someone to come a few days early so that I could attend a special event. My last week at home went quickly. We enjoyed a walk with neighbor Susan, and I watched the new episodes of Bridgeton. I will have to wait until I get home to watch the final four episodes.

Taking a walk together is a great way to catch up on the news. We then visited my mom’s peonies that neighbor Susan is caring for.

It is now May 28th, and we are making our way on Lake Huron. The first few days are always a whirlwind, making it difficult to complete this story. I generally like to try and join a ship at the end of the day but the Assiniboine was making very good time loading in Nanticoke and waiting until 18h00 on Sunday was perhaps taking my chances, so I contacted the ship and said I would be there at 16h00. The second cook here is lovely, and she had already reached out to me a few days before, so I had a little insight. I was happy to have someone to quiz about the ingredients in the pantry. I carry many of my own seasonings and often stop by a grocery store to pick up fresh herbs on the way to join a ship. It was nice to know that some of these items were already onboard, and I did not have to bring them. My new suitcases are so easy to pack that I rearranged and took out some of the items I didn't need quickly. Lorraine drove me to the ship Sunday afternoon; we were referring to Sunday as August. We left Tremblant on Friday, and since I was leaving for 3 months, the entire summer, we referred to the next three days as my 3-day summer vacation. Friday (June) Saturday (July) and Sunday (August) was so much fun, and I shared a video of our little detour to Iroquois Lock on Friday, where we spotted the Assiniboine in the lock.

What are the chances that we would see the Assiniboine at Iroquois lock. We just drove there to park for a minute and look up the directions for a book delivery. My phone was frozen and needed a minute to recover. We were meant to be there.

This was our first look and we saw the CSL stack and we were thinking what are the chances.

The weather was beautiful, and we took the scenic route along the St Lawrence all the way from Iroquois to The 1000 Island Bridge, stopping briefly to say hello to a friend. We had some books to deliver to The American Narrows in Alexandria Bay (A-Bay, as we affectionately refer to it) and a stop at the US post office to mail some books. When we crossed over the 1000 Island Bridge. (I always search for ships in the distance), made our deliveries, and then continued on our way.

I have been over and under this bridge numerous times.

In the far distance is a ship. It is so beautiful sailing through the 1000 islands.

The NY welcome center when you cross over the second bridge. Lorraine and I have stopped there a couple of times and had a picnic. It’s a beautiful building.

Main street A-Bay. We made many trips over to A-Bay with our friends. It was always fun.

We stopped at the post office to mail books.

Whenever I join a ship, and if possible, we choose to drive the route south of Lake Ontario to avoid driving through Toronto. If the timing is good, these trips always include a stop in Syracuse at Delmonico's. Delmonicos is famous for its steaks, but we go for its Gorgonzola cheese wedge salad. It is so delicious. We ordered from the appetizer menu and shared their Mushroom parmesan, Utica greens, stuffed peppers, and two meatballs. It was the perfect combo, and we left full. We arrived in St Cathartines late Friday (June).

Delmonico in Syracuse has the most delicious gorgonzola wedge salad

Saturday (July), the middle of my three-day summer vacation, was a lazy day. I love to go to Niagara Falls, and in the late afternoon, we made our way there, taking a detour to drive beside the Welland Canal from Lock Seven down to Lock One. We laughed as we caught a glimpse of the Assiniboine as she left Lock Seven. As suspected, Niagara Falls was very busy. We decided to pop over to the US side and go to a little spot I have visited before and have wings. It was a nice way to end my Saturday (July).

We caught a glimpse of the Assiniboine just as she was leaving Lock 7. We were on our way to Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls was so busy. I popped over to the US side and went for chicken wings. The last sit down meal until September. When I work on the ship I eat while I am working.

Sunday, the last day of my three-day summer vacation, started off much like Saturday, but in the back of my mind, knowing that I was returning to work, that lazy feeling didn't last long. The drive to Nanticoke was beautiful, and I was so excited to see daisies, irises, and peonies in full bloom. When we left Tremblant, the trees were in bloom, but no flowers yet. I really felt like I was taking a drive through summer. It was the perfect ending to my three-day summer vacation.

When we left Tremblant on Friday Lorraine took a little detour I love this farm. It looks so pretty year round.

Sunday the end of my three day summer vacation. We only had to wait a few minutes before the car service came and took me to the ship.

We arrived at the Nanticoke gate, and it wasn't long before the car service arranged to pick up the cook came alongside. We had arranged for him to drive me and all my luggage in. I said goodbye to Lorraine and was on my way. As we drove through Stelco, turning here and there, I could finally see the water. I spotted two tankers over on my left.

I have been over to the other dock where the two tankers are sitting many times. If I was joining there, Lorraine would have been able to easily drive right up to the ship.

A few moments later, I spotted two self-unloaders ahead of me. I knew the Assiniboine was on the right, but I searched for the ship's name on the left. As we got closer I could make out the letters, CSL Laurentian. That made me smile. my old friend, the Louis R Desmarais. I sailed on her for 5 years. Lots of memories.

I knew the Assiniboine was on the right but it took a few minutes to make out the name of the CSL Laurentien. The old Louis R Desmarais where I spent five years.

The old Louis R. I have many fond memories from my five years working on her.

The CSL Laurentien was unloading and the Assiniboine was loading.

The cook was waiting on the dock, and on the ship's deck, I got a friendly wave from the second cook. I was back at work and ready to start my next adventure. Don't forget to pre-order the new book "More Recipes and Stories as We Navigate Healthier Eating.