Locked into a Heat Wave in Ontario

I just read in the paper that temperatures are recorded in the shade so there is no fluctuation when clouds pass over. What are they thinking? So that would mean that today, under the sweltering heat, it was really 41 degrees! Holly hot man!

No matter, my day was planned. I was pumped, I was going back into Kingston to do some more research. I was up at 5 AM, dripping and sticky. I could not sleep. It felt like 30 degrees already. So why fight it, I got suited up and left for Kingston. I was so early I took my time and stopped along the way to admire the views of Lake Ontario.

Although it is Sahara-Desert like hot and I am peeling off soaking shirts after every hike, it is so beautiful out. I am a quick learner. I brought along my extra t-shirts, as I am going through them as fast as I am drinking fluids. I even cut down on my Timmy intake. It is all about water and Gatorade the past few days.

Sir John MacDonald and Moi

The first park I visited was City Park. Like the name says it is in the middle of Kingston. I was early enough in the morning that I  witnessed people cutting through the park for their morning jog and walk to work.  Later on, the park became a central gathering place for families as there is a splash park and playground. And after work officially started at 9 AM, the moms and kids started to show up at the playground in hordes.

I was on the other side of the park taking pictures of monuments, memorials, canons, fountains, art and war artifacts. As I circled back towards the jeep I stopped for a moment to take a picture with Sir John A MacDonald. It has been a week of many firsts. A few days ago I was standing with the Stanley Cup and now I was standing with Canada’s first Priminister. I thanked him for such a wonderful country – on most days.

Next circled on my to do list were the Berriefield Rock Gardens. A small little garden park on a bluff across the river from the city of Kingston. It was nice as there was allot of opportunity for shade which I took full advantage of.  There were a few people in the gardens but they were not there to sight see like me, but to paint. It seems the gardens are a hot spot for painting landscapes and floral.

Rideau Canal

The big surprise of the day was my visit at the Rideau Canal Locks named Kingston Mills (Main Blog Photo). A group of about 15 canoes were making there way through the 4 locks. Unlike other locks, this one had some heritage buildings and a park-like setting. People were fishing and picnicking.  What was fascinating was that the locks were all operating with the same levers and cranks built in the early 1800s. It was really cool watching them work the locks so boats could pass by.

Now I sit and sweat and wait for tomorrows adventure .. gotta love the summer experience I tell ya.