In search of basil.

I've wanted to make pesto for some time but I need fresh basil and lots of it.  Since today is Farmers Market Day in Gravenhurst, we headed in to town to get the aforementioned herb.

When we got out of our vehicle, a giant Rottweiler lunged and barked viciously at us. It dragged it's owner across the parking lot and it took both he and his wife to get the dog under control and back into their car. A small car with a baby in the backseat!
Then when we wandered through the stalls, I causally mentioned to the local maple syrup dude that we tapped a few trees and made syrup in the spring. He was not impressed and went on to tell me my syrup would be weak because I was just small time. Hmmm. I think he has something that's weak hence his thinly veiled insults.
At the stall where I usually by basil, the owner said that because the spring was so wet he didn't have any. Come back in two weeks.

Today's trip to town for basil was a bust.

Not wanting to give up entirely on getting some basil, on the way back home in the hot vehicle we decided to take the boat to Port Carling and get basil at the vegetable market there. I saw some last weekend but it didn't look very fresh so passed it over. Surely they would have a new shipment?

So off we went in the boat and passed by some more Police boats in training.  They look like they're doing some sort of Ester Williams-like synchronized boating.

Lucy was hot and tired. It must feel good to yawn into the wind.

Smile for the camera!

At the rocks by the entrance to the Indian River gulls were sunning themselves.

I was able to get some basil at the market. It was a small bunch, smaller than usual but it was fresh. Perfect for making pesto.

On the way home we spotted this Coywolf decoy.  It's flat and probably used to scare off geese.

Apparently the scary Owl decoy had no effect on the gulls.

It was such a lovely day to go shopping for basil.  The sky as blue, the lake was fairly calm and the air was clear and warm.

When we slowed the boat down, the air was humid and hot. So we kept up a good speed and headed home.

So there you have it. An entire day devoted to getting a bunch of fresh basil, Muskoka style.
Life truly doesn't get better. (Except of course for the nasty dog and angry syrup dude encounters.)