On the K&P: Kingston north to the Cataraqui Trail

Wed. 17 June:  On the K&P:  Kingston north to the Cataraqui Trail

Kingston City Hall and K&P Railway Station

Last week I completed my bike journey up the northern section of the abandoned Kingston and Pembroke (K & P) railway line, from Sharbot Lake to Renfrew, roughly ninety kilometres.  Now my plan was next to complete the slightly shorter southern section, starting in Kingston.  There is a gap in the trail immediately south of Sharbot Lake, so I will have to see how far I can get.

The K&P Trail is popular, and well-travelled, even on a mid-week morning, as I discovered today.  Apart from the scattered cyclists, there were mothers pushing prams, dog walkers, joggers, and even horse-riders.  It might get a bit crowded on a sunny weekend.  The start of the trail is on the northern edge of Kingston, at Binnington Court, just to the south of Highway 401 with its frantic rushing traffic.

But the K&P railway line once continued for another seven or so kilometres right into the heart of Kingston, beside Lake Ontario in front of City Hall.  I would bet that hardly anybody has tried to follow the route of the old line into town.  I did today, as my next blog will describe. 

Having successfully explored the line into town and back out again, I now started off up the formal K&P Trail.  Near the trailhead, a small bridge, newly erected, carries the pathway over Cataraqui Creek.  This simple structure was built on the old concrete railway parapets, which were dated 1929.

I travelled north for about twenty two kilometres, to the point where the K&P meets the Cataraqui Trail, east of Harrowsmith, before speeding back to the start.  The line rises from 269ft (82m) at Kingston Station to 621ft (159m) at Cataraqui Trail, so it was not all flat.  It has a couple of nice sweeping bends along the way, but also has some long sections straight as an arrow.  The surface was perfect for a hybrid bike, and I could make good speed the whole way, particularly on the “downhill” return journey. 

It was unspoiled countryside the whole way: open fields, woodlands, a swamp just south of Highway 401.  For long sections, the Rideau Trail follows the K&P.  I had travelled this way last year.  It was a much quicker journey today!  At the intersections with the quiet country roads, interpretive signs had been erected to tell the story of that particular stretch of line.  I learned today that the first station north of Kingston was at Unity Road, in the middle of the countryside.  It was called Glenvale, but there is no sign of a station today.

By the time I reached the Cataraqui Trail junction, west of Sydenham, I had travelled close to thirty kilometres up the line from Kingston Station.  My next journey should take me north to Verona and beyond.

The more fanatical railway fans, or perhaps anyone who knows Kingston, might be curious to read my next blog entry, for an account of the “lost” section of line within the city.

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance:      61.1 km (bike)

Height Gain:          626 ft.

Time on Trail:       5 hrs. 19 mins.

Binnington Ct:       6.46 am

City Hall Stn:         7.23 am

Binnington Ct:       8.35 am

McIvor Rd:            9.05 am

Orser Rd:              9.56 am

Cataraqui Tr:       10.38 am

Binnington Ct:     12.05 pm

Temp:                  +13C rising to +20C

Weather:              Sunny, breeze

Confederation Park - once the railway station

Graffiti beside the path of the K&P in Kingston

More colourful graffiti

Official start to the K&P Trail

New bridge crosses Cataraqui Creek

On the bridge

Spectacular crash happened here

Typical K&P Trail scenery

Passing beneath the 401 Highway

Fields north of McIvor Road

On the trail

Photo of train leaving Kingston (on a sign at site of  Glenvale Station)

Ideal for biking

Millhaven Creek

Approaching the Cataraqui Trail junction

Cataraqui Junction: K&P heads west to Harrowsmith

Frontenac Provincial Park: Small Slide Lake Loop

Sun. 14 June:  Frontenac Provincial Park:  Small Slide Lake Loop

Snake in the grass - not the only one

There’s nothing small about the Small Slide Lake Loop apart from its name. 

This was the longest and most challenging hike of the year to date.  We were rewarded for our efforts with many fine views, an exquisite little waterfall, many tiny frogs leaping out from under our feet, and one or two sleepy snakes along the path. 

It was a rugged back-country route with many ups and downs.  The “ups” brought us to several good viewpoints just above the tree-tops.  Our first view of Slide Lake was from the top of a high granite cliff, which plunged down to the lake.  The path also dropped steeply down to the edge of the water. 

A little further along the way, we stopped at another rock outcrop above the lake, called “The Whale's Back” – a perfect place to stop and enjoy our lunch.

On the return leg, we followed the ridges between Slide Lake to our right, and Buck Lake to our left.  Here we found a tumbling stream dropping, in a picturesque manner, down into Buck Lake. 

At an idyllic lakeside campsite we watched several adolescent turtles lined up on a log.  They slipped into the lake, swimming around with their tiny heads just sticking up out of the water.

Our hiking party was not large – just four of us, but well matched for this fairly challenging hike.  It was a unanimous agreement to stop at Westport for an ice-cream on our way home.  We had earned it today.

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance:      14.0 km (hike)

Height Gain:          Say 800 ft. accumulated

Time on Trail:       4 hrs. 55 mins.

Perth Rd:                 9.48 am

Jn. 1:                     10.25 am

Jn. 2:                     10.52 am

Whaleback:          11.56 am

N. Slide L Jn:       12.47 pm

Jn. 1:                       2.08 pm

Perth Rd:                2.43 pm

Temp:            +21C rising to +24 C

Weather:        Sun, higher cloud building

Heading out into the Frontenac Park wilderness

A challenging trail at times

Starting out on the Slide Lake Loop - in a clockwise direction

Rocky ridges...

... of granite

Some good viewpoints, but even better ahead...

...such as this view of Slide Lake

And this

The rocks fall steeply down to the lake...

...and the trail follows

Perfect lunch stop above Slide Lake

Luckily no bears seen on the right - or to the left - today

A route always full of interest

These are Hairy Beardtongue - great name for a wildflower 

Tiny frog diving for cover under a fallen tree-trunk

Bright green canopy

Highlight of the trail.
This picture does not do justice to this tiny waterfall

Baby turtle on a log, stretching its neck

Historical Smiths Falls

Sat. 13 June:  Historical Smiths Falls

Beautiful columns inside the Carnegie Library

Every town in Canada will have its historical buildings, but you need the right person to show you around, and to bring the local history alive.

Today we were fortunate on both counts.  As a result, on our stroll through the town, we learned about the history and the early leaders of Smiths Falls.  The pictures will tell the story. 

I don’t  suppose anyone would disagree with me if I said that Smiths Falls has seen better times, but dotted around town are some fine examples of a more prosperous age: from the first stone building erected in the town, a modest structure but still in use today, to  some large well-proportioned family homes in various popular architectural styles; the shell of a once busy town-centre hotel, with plans for conversion to apartments; the old Post Office, and the Town Hall with  the  first school next door with its bell-tower.

Then there is the beautiful Carnegie Library, standing on a street corner with its imposing columns, and steps leading up to the front door.  Andrew Carnegie himself visited this small library in 1906 and was apparently delighted with it.  The inside has been tastefully renovated. 

A common thread linking the town together is the Rideau Canal, and we enjoyed a stroll along its banks on our way to the old Canadian Northern railway station, now a museum. 

There’s a lot to admire about Smiths Falls.  I would encourage the reader to take the time to explore the town yourself.

Note:  single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance:      4.6 km (hike)

Height Gain:          Negligible

Time on Trail:       1 hr. 53 mins.

Start:                     1.25 pm

Return:                  3.17 pm

Temp:                   24 C

Weather:               Sunny, warm W breeze

The Ward House, at one time the grandest mansion in town...

Old railings around Ward House have survived (rare to see)

Lovely family home

The oldest stone building in Smiths Falls

The Rideau Canal

Striking modern architecture

The old Canadian Northern railway station - now a museum

Town Hall and adjacent school were early buildings

The Carnegie Library

Andrew Carnegie himself visited this library  (and loved it)

Substantial town houses

The United Church

Italianate architecture - the home of several doctors over  the years

Old Post Office and terrible 1960's version next door

The building of the Rideau Canal

Every town has its favourite old hotel - to become future apartments?

Attention to detail

The old Farmers Exchange Building in the town centre