South Wind

Mon./Tues. 26/27 June:  South Wind

Gathering in Perth Basin

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

On Monday the South Wind Brigade blew into Perth from Kingston. 

And then the next day it headed down the Tay Canal, through the Beveridges Locks, and into the Rideau Canal. 

In just a few days, on July 1^st, it will meet the three other brigades in Ottawa to celebrate Canada’s 150^th birthday. 

Here are a few pictures to record this historical scene.  Never before has the Tay Canal seen anything like this - except, of course, for the spectacular finale of last year's Settlers Trek!

South Wind Brigade

Welcomed by Perth Town Crier

Next morning at Last Duel Park

Last Duel Park

Approaching Upper Beveridges Lock

In the Lock...

...as the water is lowered...

...and lowered

Exiting Upper Beveridges Lock

Old Settlers Trek friends - now Voyageurs

Opening Lower Beveridges Lock

Heading out onto Lower Rideau Lake

Surrounded

Sat./Sun. 24/25 June:  Surrounded (the Rideau Trail in Kingston)

Note: click on pictures for full size view.

We’ve surrounded Kingston!

This might sound like a battle cry during the War of 1812, but luckily there’s a more positive explanation.

Two weeks ago, on June 10^th, a new trail was officially opened in Kingston:  the K&P urban trail.  This closely follows the route of the old “Kick and Push” (Kingston and Pembroke) rail line from the north end of the city, right down to the waterfront at City Hall.  This route has been designated by the Rideau Trail Association as the latest side trail (marked by blue RTA signs to differentiate it from the main trail, which has orange markers).

This now means that the Rideau Trail completely encircles the City of Kingston, on a twenty five kilometre loop. 

Last weekend we walked the entire loop.  On the Saturday we hiked from Sydenham Road in the northwest, down the main Rideau Trail, along the spectacular Lake Ontario waterfront, to Kilometre 0 in front of City Hall, and then further, on the K&P, to the old woolen mill beside the Cataraqui River. 

The next day we started at the same point (Sydenham Road) and completed the first official hike along the new urban trail, all the way down to the waterfront.  We repeated some of the route from the previous day, making almost thirty kilometres walking in total.  The full circular route (with no repeats) is closer to twenty five kilometres.

I have included a few random photos taken during the hike, with my “point and shoot” camera.  I hope these will inspire many people to discover this spectacular and fascinating circuit around one of Canada’s most beautiful and historical cities.

Here are two earlier blog references:  my 2014 hike along the Rideau Trail from km 0 at City Hall; and my 2015 exploration of the urban K&P route.

http://thepassionatehiker.blogspot.ca/2014/09/the-rideau-trail-kingston-city-hall-1a.html

http://thepassionatehiker.blogspot.ca/2015/06/new-post_18.html

A gigantic freight train thunders past as we exit platform 2 at Kingston rail station
This must be the most incongruous section of the entire Rideau Trail!

An offer to tired hikers?

The breathtaking views across Lake Ontario

Portsmouth Harbour and the old Kingston Penitentiary (now a museum)

Seven kilometres of beautiful Lake Ontario shoreline...

...on a windy day

The lake is overflowing after recent floods

Kingston and the City Hall

Beside the Cataraqui River at Doug Fluhrer Park

This heron (left) is about to take off

Our team of hikers on the first official trip along the new K&P urban trail
(standing on the only genuine piece of K&P rail line remaining today).

The full circuit of Kingston is twenty five kilometres