Cross Canada and Back, Part 48

Old Fort Henry

22nd of August 2011, Day 99, Monday

Yesterday it was raining cats and dogs all day, so we simply stayed in and listened to the rain.

Today we are dropping off our RV in Gananoque at the 1000 Islands RV Center , 409 County Rd 2,  R.R. #2, Gananoque ON K7G 2V4

As pre-arranged they will repair our damages from the storm in New Brunswick. A new awning is  to be installed and the toppers on the slides replaced. This RV service center did an excellent job, and we can not say enough good things about them.

Arriving at Fort Henry

Guard on duty

But for now, we will travel a few days without our RV. In Kingston, we visited "Old Fort Henry". We took a guided tour. It was very interesting. I learnt that an unlisted soldier was sort of a prisoner doing military duties. They were often hired from the slums in England and brought over here to the colonies.

Watchtower

Kingston was probably a good place compared to some other exotic colonies. These soldiers were locked up at night so they could not escape.The food was minimal, and any discretion or complaint was punished severely.

Our guide

Soldiers marching.

Accommodation was minimal

The officers on the other hand, were usually from the gentry and better homes in England. The family bought their rank, and they then worked themselves higher. For the officers they had parlors in the Fort to welcome female visitors. More info here.

Firing of the canon

Anders checking out one of the canons.

The city of Kingston did not impress Anders. It smelled too much of penitentiary. He said it feels cold without much soul. I quite liked it.

We went for lunch at the Pilot House and had good Fish and Chips. Across the street is the Cathedral Church of St.George's. St. George’s Hall was built on Wellington Street in 1865-66. Built in the Gothic Revival style. It looks a little sterile, but it has some really nice stained glass windows.

Lunch time

Inside the cathedral

Liz outside the Cathedral Church of St George's

We left Kingston travelling west on Hwy 33 toward Picton. Past Adolphustown we took the free ferry to Prince Edward County "The County" at Glenora.  Some of the small ferries we took to reach The County were SMALL. On one of them, our truck and an other car was all the space there was! Makes the BC Ferries look good, except for the price.

One of the small ferries

Glad we were not pulling the trailer

Our destination was Geeske and Paul de Laat's place, old friends of mine from the Ottawa days, who live near Wellington on Lake Ontario. What a wonderful spot they live at. Paul welcomed us. Unfortunately Geeske was not there. She was in Toronto looking after her grand children.

Visiting at Paul and Geeske's place on Lake Ontario

We enjoyed the evening sitting at their beach, listening to the waves rolling in.

For more pictures from this part of the trip, go to our web album.

Here are some shortcuts to all the blogs from our Cross Canada Trip. Just hover over the number to see where it will take you

 1,    2,    3,     4,    5,    6,    7,    8,    9,   10

11,   12,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  18,  19,  20

21,   22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  28,  29,  29b

30,   31,  32,  33,  34,  35,  36,  37,  38,  39,

40,   41,  42,  43,  44,  45,  46,  47,  48,  49,

50,   51,  52,  53,  54,  55,  56,  57,  58,  59,

60,   61,  62,  63,  64,  65.

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