Oh Canada!

by Nancy

We were so thankful to have a weather window for crossing Lake Ontario into Kingston, ON Canada. We checked in dockside with an online interview from Canadian Border officials ensuring that we didn’t have any drugs, fruits or vegetables, or alcohol, other than our “bar stock” meaning the alcohol and wine we were going to drink, which we were allowed to bring into the country. This was a tip by our Canadian Looper friends to call it “bar stock” and then we wouldn’t have to claim it with customs.

We spent the weekend at Confederation Basin marina right in the heart of the city of Kingston, located on the eastern end of Lake Ontario and at the beginning of the St. Lawrence river. We had a great slip on a dock that faced the park and all the waterfront activity.

The big attraction that the visitor center really encourages you to see is the Kingston Penitentiary, well we’ve been to Alcatraz and felt that we could skip Kingston Pen but did end touring Pentitiary Musem as well as the bar and restaurant in Portsmouth where the guards used to hang out.

Kingston is also known for being a walkable city with more than 10 miles of walking paths along the shores of Lake Ontario.

Kingston was previously the capital of Canada and the state house can be found right on the waterfront. We found great shopping, restaurants, and galleries in the city and it was definitely a favorite of ours.

Leaving the United States from Owego on Lake Ontario
Breakwater at Oswego
Depth of Lake Ontario as we crossed
Our Bluebird Day of Crossing
Welcome to Canada
State House was once the Capital of Canada back in 1841-1844. Waterfront filled with geese, ducks and tourists
Waterfront filled with geese and
Queens University in downtown Kingston
You’ll find the flag everywhere
One of the 5 Fortifications located around Kingston Harbor
Inside Fortification was a rotating canon
Murney Tower, one of the 5 limestone fortifications
These fortifications were built by the British to protect the town, the Rideau Canal, and the dockyards, however they were never really used as the defensive system they were designed to be. They ended up being training and storage facilties.
The beach on Lake Ontario was kind of like a sandbox, since the shore is very rocky, this was the solution
Swimming on Lake Ontario, they created a swimming pool
The historic and notorious Kingston Penitentiary, Canada’s oldest penitentiary, ceased operations in 2012 due to its aging infrastructure.
Jail keys from Kingston Pen
Portsmouth Tavern where the Guards hungout
Inside Kingston Pen

Although we will fondly remember the city of Kingston, the Marina will be forever remembered as the one with all the weeds (and geese)

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