Back in Kingston, ON - When you are given Lemons...make Lemonade :)

After a rather sleepless, tossing and turning night, we get back in the saddle and remember this is a first world problem. Get on with it. 

Finding ourselves unexpectedly back in Kingston, ON, we are OK as thankfully this was a favourite city from last year. We walk to Enterprise Car rental and turns out we swapped a Ford for a Ford. Back in the saddle with a Bronco!

Ford Bronco rental

We spent a week in the area last year, but there is always something new to discover.  As we are driving we see The Kingston Penitentiary (KP) museum so make a stop. Operating from 1835 to 2013 it was Canada's most infamous and oldest maximum-security prison. It housed some of the country's most notorious criminals and witnessed major violent riots prior to its closure. The prison enforced a strict 'rule of silence' where inmates were forbidden to speak to one another. Brutal treatment of inmates. This inmate art piece called "Fragmentation" sums it up. The prisoner has been broken...the vertical slices symbolize prison bars. 

Inmate art - Fragmentation

We walk to a small marina we see in the distance which turns out to be the site of the 1976 Summer Olympics sailing venue. The excellent wind and wave conditions offer some of the best fresh water sailing in the world. We chat with these young aspiring Olympic sailors just before they launch their boat. 

49er sailboat - premier Olympic class boat

We head to Springer Market Square by Kingston City Hall where there is a tribute to Gord Downie of Tragically Hip. Gord sadly died of brain cancer October 17th, 2017 at the age of 53.

Springer Market Square

Commemorative stone dedicated to Gord Downie

We also walk to the Gord Downie Pier and enjoy the warm sunshine while watching sail boats racing off in the distance. 

It's been a long day so we head back to the trailer for the evening to do some trip rescheduling.

Thankfully we are able to switch our bookings in both Montreal and Quebec City to the fall when we are on our way home. We hope to be back on track by Friday. 

Unexpected / Unwanted Triathlon? Crazy Start to our trip

Generally when we do a triathlon it involves a kayak, a bike and a bar for the final leg where we treat ourselves to a much deserved craft beer. 

Today's 'Truck Triathlon' involved a brake shop, a tire shop and finally a transmission shop...ugh.

Yesterday when we took the truck and trailer out of storage as we were heading to the 401 highway to get on our way east, we had trouble with the front passenger's tire when braking - the wheel was hot! We immediately aborted and spent the night in front of Kal-Tire in Milton, ON hoping for an early morning repair. Kal-Tire was booked but thankfully Fountain Tire was able to get us in and we were back in business by 12:30. 

Fountain Tire brake repair - Leg 1 of Triathlon

We head east on the 401 through Toronto and get a taste of the crazy traffic that isn't even rush hour! Slow and steady gets us through :)

Highway 401 traffic

Down the road in Cobourg, ON, Chris had booked an appointment for 2 more trailer tires to be installed. Last fall Joe's Tire shop only had 2 of the tires in stock we wanted so Chris got them to bring in 2 more trailer tires and this was a planned stop in order to have 4 new tires on the trailer for this season. 

Joe's Tire Shop - trailer tires - Leg 2 of Triathlon

Back on the 401 late in the day heading east with the hope of still making it to the Long Sault Parkway Conservation area for the night. Just before Kingston, ON we notice blue smoke out of our mirrors :( 

We pull over and oil pours out from underneath the truck between engine and transmission. WTF. Thankfully we had bought CAA coverage that includes towing a trailer too. 

Truck and Trailer tow into Kingston - Leg 3 of Triathlon

It's very frustrating as prior to leaving on this trip we took preemptive action and took our truck in for a transmission rebuild so we wouldn't have any surprises on the road. Well, turns out there was one seal that the transmission shop didn't replace...why? we don't know. Coincidentally there is an affiliate transmission shop in Kingston to the one we used in Calgary. This shop in Kingston says the Calgary shop should likely have changed that seal especially as we told them of the travel we were about to undertake. We are in discussion for a warranty claim...fingers crossed. 

It's late by the time our truck is delivered to the transmission shop and our trailer is dropped at the Wal-Mart parking lot down the road. We get permission to stay while the truck undergoes repair. 

Hope things go better tomorrow.