The Canadians are Coming. The Canadians are Coming.

Well, first it was the British, and now it's Canada's turn to invade the US. However, these people are dressed as tourists.

From a Northwest Herald article from July 18 titled "Canadian tourists pour into US" by David Sharp of the Associated Press.

Motels in Old Orchard Beach, near Portland, Maine, fly Canadian flags alongside the Stars and Stripes. Desk workers speak French, and fries are also offered Canadian style with vinegar, or gravy and cheese (sounds pretty close to a horseshoe to me).

Old Orchard has long been a destination for tourists from Quebec as it is an easy drive. However, this year, it is even more popular than ever.

The reason is the freefall of the US dollar's value on the international currency market. Right now the dollar is essentially on par with the Canadian dollar, making it more affordable than ever. Five years ago the "loonie", as Canadian dollar coins are called, were just 62 cents. (In case you're wondering, they get their name from the loon on the back of the coin.)

Plus, gas is a dollar more a gallon in Canada than in the US.

Canadians have always like the Coney Island feel of Old Orchard, which is known for its seven-mile stretch of sandy beach, pier, and carnival-like atmosphere.

We liked it so much, that Liz and I ended up staying an unplanned day at Old Orchard Beach several years ago on our coastal road trip along the coast from Boston to Lebec, Maine. We had a great time.

One other beach we've encountered large numbers of Quebec folk is Hollywood Beach between Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach in Florida during spring break. These people really know how to have a good time.

Bring us Your Loonies. --RoadDog

We don't EVEN want to discuss the relative merits of the Euro and Pound vs. the Dollar.