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by Rachel
L. Miller
As
our hour-long tour winds down on High Street, in view of the enormous Canadian
flag that marks the end of the street and beginning of beach, someone in our group
ventures the question I've been dying to ask.
"So,
Katherine, why aren't you wearing shoes?" She
offers a throaty chuckle and looks down at her feet, now sandy from our walk on
the beach. "I didn't have any shoes that matched." And
the other question we're thinking comes next: "And what's the story about
the stick?" "Well,
since we meet at the flag for each tour, I was wondering how people would know
who I was," she replies. "And so I had my aunt's boyfriend get me two
nice sticks from the beach. I tied on a couple of the keychains from the museum
and my Indian friend got me the feather." "Ohhh,"
we reply in unison. My
curiosity satisfied, I ask how visitors to Southampton can book tours through
her. "Meet
at the flag on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.," she answers simply. "In July
and August, I do tours on Tuesday and Thursday too. It costs five dollars." "There's
no number for them to call to make reservations?" I ask, amazed. "No.
Just meet at the flag." And,
trust me, you'll know who Katherine Leonard is when you see her.
 | | Designed
to be one of the tallest on the Great Lakes, the flag pole at the end of High
Street in Southampton is 135 feet tall, carrying a flag that measures 25 feet
by 50 feet. |
The
small-town feel and friendliness of Southampton, coupled with three kilometers
of sandy public beach, is what brings visitors up from busy cities like Toronto,
Detroit and Chicago. Add in the great exchange rate for the American dollar, and
you've got an inexpensive getaway for families and couples in nearby states like
Michigan and New York.
Best
yet are the great package deals offered by two Southampton bed and breakfast inns
- Chantry Breezes (located on High Street) and Solomon Knechtel House (a few blocks
away on Victoria Street). No matter your interests, there's a package to suit
you that includes activities like golfing, beachcombing, cycling, dogsledding,
snowshoeing, art classes and watching the world's second best sunsets (as rated
by National Geographic Magazine).(CONTINUE...)
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