Greater Napanee is greater for many reasons and #11 is our downtown Tim Hortons! That’s right! You may not realize it but back in 1993 Tim Horton’s coffee was an urban drink and Napanee showed that rural communities could have it too! Belleville got store #13 and Kingston got store #15 but those are big urban centres. It was only when we went to the city that we got our double-double just like on “Royal Canadian Air Farce.” But Napanee showed small communities everywhere that they deserved fancy coffee too.
Napanee got store #741 which means Tim Hortons built 103 stores before getting to number #844 in Picton. Communities like Bath and Yarker are still waiting on their Tim’s and Wellington, despite being full of fancy city people, only gets a Tim’s attached to a gas station. You’re welcome, Picton! High five!
My first time going to the Napanee Tim Hortons was in 1994 with my boyfriend Dwayne. We were going to go fishing in his boat and wanted to get breakfast. We thought: why not try Tim’s? We got large double-doubles and I got a Boston cream donut and he got an apple fritter. It was delicious and not just because it was Tim’s but because it was our Tim’s. Dwayne had never been through a drive-thru before and he almost got the boat stuck on the speaker. It was a good thing it was light because we could just get out and lift it.
I remember sitting in the front of the boat skimming across the water as the sun came out, drinking that coffee, and feeling so luxurious. I have aged like fine wine but let me tell you that I was beautiful that day. I remember watching Dwayne as he piloted the boat out of the river, his long hair blowing in the wind and his moustache looking very handsome. In those days men wore jean jackets with the arms cut off and it made him look so strong and masculine. He was almost as handsome as Bryan Adams. I just wanted him to cuddle me but I knew he was looking at me too and it was the Tim’s that kept me from wrapping myself in a blanket. I know Dwayne was very happy for that!
It was one of the most romantic dates I have ever been on. We caught three pickerel and Dwayne even caught a giant catfish. It was so scary and I know it was one of God’s creatures but Dwayne protected me anyway with one of his empty beer bottles. Even today his chivalry makes me quiver. Let me tell you that fish is not all Duane caught that day! But I can’t tell you any more or things would get pretty steamy!
I love Tim Hortons. It is so nice that premium coffee chains want to support small towns too. A few years ago another fancy city coffee chain came to town, I think it was called fragrance or something. They’re closed now. I was sad that they closed but that’s what they get for competing with Tim’s. It’s too good and let’s not forget that it’s Canada’s coffee shop! I am so glad that we could lead the way for small places like Madoc and even international locations like Watertown to have great coffee too.
-Brenda
