Today was a short travel day, but through six more locks.  First thing this morning, I used the laundromat at the Lock 17 Bistro -- no one was there at 7:30 AM so I asked the cherubs to keep an eye out for any car that pulled into the parking lot since the restaurant doesn't open until 11:00 AM.  Lo and behold, the owner just happened to stop in about 15 minutes later -- he graciously opened the laundromat for me so I was able to do the laundry in the early morning!  Hooray!!  Two other folks needed to do wash too, so it worked out nicely for them as well.


So....while I was busy with the wash, Betsy got strong-armed to cut Ralph's hair.  He has been threatening to do it himself if I refused (which I did and told him to go to a real barber somewhere).  Betsy said she was "willing to try" -- so using the #2 blade of the dog clippers -- she set to work.  She did a great job -- and received accolades from all of us, including the Captain!  

We were fortunate to get a slip at Lock 23 in Merrickville -- voted Canada's most beautiful town eight years ago -- and it surely is with all it's quaint little shops and beautiful buildings.  We had a picnic lunch and the cherubs were busy trying to catch sunnies and crappies off a little floating dock.  Jack caught one in his bare hands with a brick hard baguette!  He's so funny...they had a great time.  We took a walk through town -- Pop Pop gave the cherubs some spending money, but they didn't make a decision on anything to buy today -- maybe tomorrow.  However, we did pick up some wonderful fudge and a few things at the grocery store.  Here are a few of today's photos:

The cherubs are sleeping in the main salon on sleeping bags -- Striper hopped on with Reese this AM.

And let the haircut begin!

Betsy did a great job -- now she finishes up!

"I can't look!"  says Reesie Pie

Locking through the last 3 locks at Merrickville, Ontario

Sitting outside at a little cafe having iced tea

The cherubs loved being on this little dock catching (and feeding) the fish.  Betsy's looking for dragonflies...