August 3, 2008: Seeley Bay to Kingston, Ontario

Our bike ride this morning took us past a horse farm and a couple of dairy farms. Every since we visited the Hershey factory I have been able to identify a Holstein heifer and that’s what these black and white fellows were. Sure enough, we found the Olivet United Church for their 10:00 am service. It was a happy service with three churches meeting together for the summer in a tiny sanctuary which was very full. This church had a organist and the sweet organ prelude did not discourage the cheerful chatter and laughter in the pews. By the way, these simple blond pine pews were constructed with horizontal planks with a beaded edge with beautifully curved end arms.The music was beautiful and I enjoyed hearing the hymns (some of which I recognized!). Even though there was no choir, there was a soloist from Queens University School of Music with a wonderful voice. The 80 year old preacher was the guest minister and it had plenty of energy for his message taken from Genesis 32. His scripture was on Jacob’s struggle with God as an example of how we encounter God. His challenge was to encounter God and then have it make an impact on those who encounter you.

We cast off from Seeleys Bay and decided to back track to see Morton’s Bay and Dunder Mountain in the sunshine. This is an area purchased by the Rideau Waterway Land Trust (sponsors of the corn roast at the Chaffey Lock). We had our sandwiches in this lovely spot anchored near a sheer rock cliff and went swimming in the very clear water to cool off. The weather feels like you are under a heat lamp with the air conditioning blowing on you. The sun is very warm, but the air is really cool. Part of the day I had my fleece jacket on over my bathing suit. We are seeing lots of pleasure boats of all kinds – like kayaks, canoes, runabout fishing boats, trawlers, bow rider ski boats, cigarette speeders, antique Chris Craft teak ones, motor yachts and sail boats. I just realized today how weird it is to cruise for weeks without seeing a single broad beamed, ocean going shrimp boat pulling nets. I miss them.

This afternoon we went through the remaining 6 locks on the Rideau Canal and passed through beautiful lakes with rocky abutments under a sky scattered with dark clouds that could not block out the brilliant blue sky above. We stopped briefly at the Kingston Mills locks to see their lock house which was furnished as though a militia was stationed there with red woolen jackets hung on pegs above the gray blanket wrapped single cots.

We passed through the Kingston bascule bridge at their 7:00 pm opening into Kingston harbor. Tonight we are staying at Confederation basin right in front of the historic Kingston City Hall.