Eclectic Kingston

You have to wonder about a place that houses the most convicts in the country as well as one of the most prestigious military training institutions. It’s also the home to Queens University so the town is an eclectic mix of unlikely neighbours. We cruised the downtown core in the morning with its farmers’ markets, antique kiosks, and waterfront eateries then headed up the hill to Fort Henry. Guess who we found? The Red Coats, of course! Dressed in their woolen red finery these guys entertained us with a tour, marching drum practice, and the highlight; fife and bagpipe renditions of Loch Lomond. I was expecting them to “trip the light fantastic” at any moment. (Amanda, thank you for calling during the drum march to tell us about our little one’s heartbeat! So very exciting!)

The Fort itself was built in 1812 and restored in 1936 so there were lots of narrow, dank passages to explore but my favourites were the kitchen and mess hall. The bunks left quite a bit to be desired and we were glad for our comfy bed that Stella provides each night. Early in the 19^th century it was considered bad posture to lie horizontally on one’s back so the beds were built shorter and folks slept in a semi-seated position. I guess that would relieve heartburn but it sounds like an uncomfortable arrangement to me.

The weather seems to be turning and we welcome the cooler temperatures. More sun and high temperatures are forecasted but for now we’ll take the clouds. We’re staying in a hotel tonight (Stella needs more physio), pretending to be Jason Bourne and company on the run, needing an inconspicuous cover. The drug house, which we thought was a hostel, in Eilat (1979) held more promise.