Prince Edward County Day Trip

Today we did a day trip to Prince Edward County, located on the northeastern shore of Lake Ontario about 1 hour west of Kingston. As you can see, Kingston is essentially at the intersection of the Saint Lawrence Seaway and Lake Ontario, the gateway to the Great Lakes. Back in the day, boats were the major form of transportation. Imagine as an explorer, working your way upstream on the Saint Lawrence and having the Great Lakes unfold in front of you. 

Today, we are driving the Loyalists' Trail into Prince Edward County, one of Ontario's oldest settled regions. Originally inhabited by Indigenous peoples, including the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee, the area later became a destination for United Empire Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution in the late 1700s. The county's rich agricultural land supported generations of farmers, while its strategic location along the lake made it an important centre for shipping and trade. 

To get on the peninsula at the east end, there is a short 15 minute ferry ride aboard M/V Glenora.

Today, Prince Edward County blends its historic villages, limestone architecture, and rural heritage with a thriving reputation for wineries, culinary tourism, and beautiful waterfront landscapes.

We spot a really cool old home called The Miller House, now converted to a restaurant with what looks to be a great outdoor patio.  We take a few pictures and make a mental note to potentially return for an end of day refresehment before catching the ferry back.

Across the road is the Lake on the Mountain Brewing Company's retail establishment, and it too looks welcoming.

The eastern end of the county, offers a glimpse into the region's Loyalist roots, historic hamlets, and scenic shoreline that have shaped life here for more than two centuries.

Just outside Picton, we visited Birdhouse City, one of Prince Edward County's most whimsical attractions. Created in 1980 as a community project, this miniature village features more than 100 handcrafted birdhouses, many modeled after local landmarks and historic buildings. Set among the trees at Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area, Birdhouse City celebrates the County's heritage while providing real nesting places for native birds - a charming blend of history, creativity, and nature.

There are hiking trails in the area near Birdhouse City, but we are not quite prepared for walking in the trail especially with the tick warning signs, so we decide to stay on the main trails, then head off to the next stop.

The next stop is Slake Brewery, perched atop a limestone ridge east of Picton. Built into the hillside and reached by a winding gravel road, the brewery overlooks East Lake and the rolling farmland of Prince Edward County. It's known for having one of the area's best sunset views, but we arrive about four hours too early to find out for ourselves. After taking in the scenery from the hilltop and enjoying a brief look around, our visit is short as we continue exploring the County's east end.

Well it is about 6pm and time to go catch the ferry back. But first, we need to check out The Miller House more closely. It had a welcoming patio, stunning views of the ferry crossing, and delicious snacks. When we see the ferry on its way back over, we clear our bill and zip down to the loading area, a short 1km drive away.

Brockville Tunnel - Jones Creek Trails - 1000 Islands Tour out of Gananoque

We are up early as we have a busy day planned. 

The Town of Brockville is about an hour east of us and we have heard there is a very cool tunnel we have to see. 

Brockville railway tunnel

The former railway tunnel built between 1854-1860 holds the distinction of being Canada's first railway tunnel. It is 527 meters long beneath the town centre and was originally built to service the local waterfront until 1970 when it was shut down. 

Brockville Tunnel

In a multi-million dollar restoration it was reopened in 2017 as a pedestrian pathway complete with lights. Very cool. 

Unique colour patterns in the tunnel

Stalactite formations

The natural seepage of water creates amazing wall art and stalactites. 

After the tunnel we head to the waterfront where a Tall-Ship is getting ready to set sail with an excited group of students.

Fair Jeanne Tall Ship

St. Lawrence 

As we walk the water front along the St. Lawrence seaway, there is an information plaque explaining where the name St. Lawrence comes from. In short St Lawrence (circa 258 AD) was a deacon and martyr who was ordered by the Prefect of Rome to surrender the church's treasures. Lawrence famously gathered the poor and sick, presenting them as the 'true treasures of the church'. For this he was brutally martyred.

Red Chairs in 1000 Islands National Park

Next we head to Jones Creek Trails in the 1000 Islands National Park. A nice hike brings us to a nice viewpoint over a marsh filled with tons of birds all singing brightly. 

1000 Islands Boat Tour

On to Gananoque for the 1000 Island Boat Tour. It's a 3 hour tour through the islands out to the Boldt Castle and back. 

Just over 1800 islands in the area

Turns out there are just over 1800 islands in the area but in order to be counted as an island it must have at least 2 trees and be 6 meters square :)  

Boldt Castle

The Boldt Castle is located on Heart Island in New York's Thousand Islands and was commissioned by millionaire George Boldt for his wife Louise. Sadly in Jan 1904 she died suddenly just before it was commissioned and he never set foot on the island again. It sat for 73 years and fell into disrepair until 1977 when restored and is now open for public tours. As it sits in the USA, we can only motor by it for the view. 

One section of the 1000 Islands International Bridge

We pass under the 1000 Islands International Bridge. Spanning the St. Lawrence River it is a 13.5 km system of 5 consecutive bridges that connect New York with Southern Ontario. 

After a busy day we head back to the trailer. 

Kingston outing - good thing we love this place :)

YGK = Kingston in airport terminology :)

Basically a day out and about. First we head to Fort Henry. We visited the fort last year so this year we just do a walk about the outside grounds for some nice views of Lake Ontario. 

Martello Towers - bomb-proof stone towers of Fort Henry

There is a waterfront trail we follow for a bit until we come to the restricted military grounds. Along the trail out of now where appear this garden of poppies. So colourful. 

Random poppies along our trail

Water hitting the wall in front of us

It is a super windy day so we head to Portsmouth Harbour and park right at the cement wall and watch the waves hit the wall in front of us. I get a pretty good shot of the water but naturally the best wet water is when my camera is down. 

We head to the Kingston Brewing Company in search of good beer on tap.

So far it has been lots of Alexander Keith and Rickards Red....boring. This is exactly what we are looking for. Established in 1986, it is Ontario's oldest brew pub. 

There are 28 taps with signature ales like Dragon's Breath. Yum

Dragon's Breath tap with bartender Brandon

Chris's choice

Sheila's choice

A conversation breaks out with a couple of locals sitting in their usual corner. Larry (a retired prison superintendent) and Lisa (a remedial teacher of troubled kids) welcome us with open arms and we have a great evening swapping stories back and forth. 

Night out in Kingston, ON

City Hall in Kingston

We head to the Tir Nan Og Pub in downtown Kingston to watch the Blue Jays game and then stay for the band 'Celtic Kitchen Party'. The pub is located in the historic Prince Edward Hotel and in Celtic folklore, Tir Nan Og means 'Land of the Young'...you are only as old as you feel :)

Tir Nan Og pub in the 

Celtic Kitchen Party

They are such a great band warming us up for the east coast.

Game of Tak

We chat with a couple guys listening to the music and playing a board game we have never seen before...Tak...a strategy game where you try to connect both ends of the board with pieces called 'Stones'.

Sadly the Blue Jays get kicked...13 to 3...ouch

Cute Marina Bathrooms

After lunch we head to Lamoine Point for a nice hike along the water. Just before our hike we stop at a nearby marina and chuckle at how they distinguish between men and women's washrooms. 

Inboards

Outboards

Touring day to Smith Falls and Perth, ON

We pack a picnic lunch and head out on a drive in the countryside. First stop is a re-visit to the Jones Falls Lock  station on the Rideau Canal, where we watch boats go through a series of 4 locks #39, 40, 41 & 42. A Chat with the local lockmaster enlightens us as to how much work goes into the maintenance of these historic locks.
A group of canoeists comes through and we chat with them. They left Smith Falls 4 days ago and are heading to Kingston. What a fantastic trip that would be. 

Canoe group entering lock 39

View up to locks 42, 41 & 40

Farther along the road is Smith Falls where we enjoy our picnic lunch in the shade on the water. 

Harbour at Smith Falls

Driving to Perth we pass the old Hillcrest Cemetery. We drive through and acknowledge these peoples lives. We think this is one of oldest in here as they died in 1876 at 87 years old. 

Hillcrest Cemetery 

Next up we stop in the town of Perth. It's another beautiful Ontario town with little shops and wonderful looking restaurants. Likely a nice place to hang out but we are now thinking of wing Wednesday in Kingston. 

Back in Kingston we head to Raxx Pub and enjoy wings and beer. We end up talking to a couple guys next to us and have a great time. They even share their plate of cheesy natchos with us :)

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 where there was no reform, just more psychological damage and hostility towards society This inmate art piece called "Fragmentation" sums it up. The prisoner has been broken...the vertical slices symbolise 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 Montreal 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 The Tragically Hip. He was a true Canadian singer/song writer known for his deep poetic lyrics and energetic stage presence. 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 Truck 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. 

Safe flight to Toronto and nice to see our truck and trailer again :)

 We were up at 5am to catch our 7:20 Air Canada flight to Toronto. It was neat to fly over and see what we had driven last year. The flight took us right over Thunder Bay and Lake Superior. We could literally see the Trans Canada highway in places.

Thunder Bay - start of Lake Superior

The 401 highway as we are landing

Welcome to Toronto

Our friend Ingrid (+ Tim K) picked us up at the airport and had us to our truck and trailer by 3:30pm. The first thing Chris did was try and start the truck  After 8 months of sitting the engine turns over a few times and then fires up :)  The next thing we do is check the trailer for any unwelcomed furry visitors over the winter and thankfully it is as clean as we left it last fall. The next 3 hours we work on getting batteries reconnected, tire pressure checked, kayaks out of the trailer and loaded, water lines cleared of antifreeze etc etc. 

Back on the road again.

Unfortunately as we hit the country roads heading for the 401, Chris feels the front left tire pulling when he uses the brakes. A few more kilometres and we begin to smell brakes. After pulling into a safe spot and Chris pulls the tire off for a look, we decide to limp to the town of Milton and spend the night at the Kal-Tire to wait for the 7:30 opening and hope for a quick repair. 

Packed and ready to go tomorrow May 31st.

It's been almost 8 months since we left our truck and trailer just outside Toronto. We are almost packed and excited for our 7:15am flight tomorrow where hopefully everything is ok with our rig.

This year we'll travel through Quebec and Atlantic Canada including the Rock where our oldest son Joel will get married in St John's Newfoundland.

It's going to be a great trip.