We say goodbye to relatives in Vineland and make our way to the QEW for our trip to Kingston. The consensus is that “you’re crazy!” to be leaving at this time and expecting to get through Toronto on the 401 at the afternoon rush hour. “Take the 407” they tell me. Me, with the frugalness of my Scottish ancestors, (some would call it being cheap) at first decided to attempt the 401 because I did not want to pay the tolls on the 407. Well, if the volume of traffic on the QEW was any indication, the 401 would be a parking lot so at the first opportunity I exited the QEW onto the 407 and it was smooth sailing all the way to Whitby, east of Toronto. The “King’s Highway 407” is 151 kms long and arcs west, north and east of Toronto from Burlington to Clarington, north of the 401 at Newcastle. As I mentioned it is a toll road but I’m hoping that the license plate on my trailer is obscured enough that the cameras couldn’t read it. I am dreading the letter I am going to get with the final tally. Ouch!

I mentioned my Scottish heritage, The first Calder of my ancestors was William Martin Calder who came to Canada in the 1860’s and settled in Grafton Ontario, about an hour and a half east of Toronto. Of course we had to stop and pay our respects. There are quite a few Calder’s in the Fairview Cemetery in Grafton. This one I know is my great Grandfather as I have a genealogy chart that goes back more than 10 generations. This was particularly meaningful given the time spent the previous weekend with lots of people whose last name is the same as mine.

MY GREAT GRANDFATHER

On to Kingston we go. Known as the Limestone City because of all the very well-preserved buildings constructed of the very abundant local limestone. We visit downtown Kingson on Saturday morning. Local farmer’s market offers an abundance of fresh produce and interesting handicrafts. The market is located behind the beautiful limestone City Hall which is on the waterfront at the mouth of the Catarqui River. This river provides the beginnings of the waterway that came to be known as the Rideau Canal. The canal was built between 1826 and 1832. It was built as a link between Kingston and Montreal far enough inland from the St Lawrence to be safe from attack from American forces. 1000’s of Irish immigrants and French-Canadian labourers built the 202 kms long canal and locks. In fact, the construction camp at “Bytown”, named after the British military engineer Colonel John By, was selected and renamed “Ottawa” by Queen Victoria as Canada’ s capital in 1857. Kingston had previously been designated as the capital from 1841 to 1844 when it was moved to Montreal. The mouth of the Cataraqui River and ultimately the Rideau Canal is guarded at it’s southern end by Ft Henry on the eastern shore of the river and by the Shoal Tower, a fortified Martello tower, on the western shore. These are now National Historic sites and well worth the visit if you are ever here.

KINGSTON CITY HALL

THE SHOAL TOWER, A MARTELLO TOWER AT THE MOUTH OF THE CATARAQUI RIVER

We spend a day visiting cousins as well as the house I was brought home to from the hospital when I was born. My cousin lives next door to the house my maternal grandmother owned for many years. I have spent much time here over the years and it was very nostalgic to visit. All good things must come to an end and now is the time to turn the truck northwestward and begin our journey home. We still have two weeks worth of travel and adventures, and I beg your indulgence a few more times over those two weeks. Good night for now.