And onto July and Birthday of the half centuary...

The trouble with going away, is that I just take far too many photos. This blog is the second installement of our trip, Kingston, Brockville and a little Gananoque. There was literally so much to see and for me to capture. So there will be another blog after this, for the rest of the 1000 Islands

Some of the 1000 islands!

What a stunning morning view

Houses on the nearest Island

  

Just sky and water

 Brockville

So kicking around Gananoque, I realised that we should see the surrounds. So off we went to nearby Brockville, where I had heard, there was a preserved railway tunnel, which opened 2017. So of course we had to see it. (This Bust is Isaac Brock and the founder of the town, called ...Brockville. So a bit like if a town was named after Damian and that would be Fozardville. It actually has a nice ring to it.) Anyway, Isaac Brock was a Scot and he laid out this town rather nicely.

Lovely buildings and normally you see yellow brick in a lot of Southern Ontario, here they have red. It stands out and I seem to recall was quite expensive.

This shows the towns crest. Rather beautiful

Most glorious fountain

War Memorial and yes he is lobbing a hand grenade. ... I joke but I do think that the memorials they have here of just so amazingly done and really honor those lost. The toll of Canadian's lost in the both World I and World War II was really quite high for the population that were here, at those times. 

The thing that seemed to be a feature in the towns was this style of tile on the church roofs. Now I call that quite fancy. That spire is really impressive! There was also a lot! of churches.

There is such amazing detail this church

Just thought I would throw this one in, I love these upstairs rooms on the houses here. I am sure they are as hot as stink and also very cold in winter. But I think they are whimsical.

The "dome" situation is also a feature on the buildings. 

Closer look at the church roof. Amazing roof tile in slate and then also with the coloured tiles, quite the intricate pattern

 

This is the church that the roof belongs to

and a side view

Fabulous turret room. 

These three different roof lines, sum up the Brockville vibe

There was a definite grandness, to this town and the fountains were lovely

And here is the famous tunnel and what we came to see. Completed in 1860, this tunnel was a marvel of engineering. The light and show was surprisingly well done and effective. It was showing the passage of the train in the tunnel, as it moved through and they played cool music. 

See the shadow lines of the tracks

Really quite spectacular and yes the ground is wet, as there was constant dripping from the ceiling. 

Some interesting features cut into the walls, ventilation etc

and the build up of mineral deposits

Just so many colours

Then we popped out of the 1722 ft tunnel into greenery and the old line continues somewhere else.

There was even a train on cue that bisects the line. 

As we continued to walk back down to the main centre of Brockville, the houses really showed that money had been here, with all the features on the buildings.

Rather cool

Ok that's a pigeon. But he looks really good with that fan behind him and I think he knows it!

Murals abound here, depictions of old times and spires to the right.

This was actually a lawyers office

As the top of the town is where the courts are

Quite the residence, a bit over grown but you get the idea

Back to Gananoque

I'm not sure if you can see the roof of the church, in this picture but the tile pattern is the same as the churches that we saw in Brockville.

Out in the evening we saw this steamer at the dock 

It was a truly beautiful calm evening

I loved the building in the middle on the left. It seemed to have a false top

Some really lovely doorways here too

Bathed in the evening light they did look lovely

As for this Heron, that occupied the park each night. What a star

Just patiently waiting. 

Going in for that fish, he did get it!

How about this chap, hanging out in the evening sun

The reflections and stillness was amazing

and as for those evening shadows

Just something in the light. I love this picture. Total reflection

They are watching a Tern, that circled the same area as the Heron. We weren't quick enough to catch him getting his fish but it was mesmerizing 

I went to my favorite spot by the river in the morning and saw this Heron leave the dock

Magical

This spot also had this curiosity. Well more to do with the low water and that bench is meant to be screwed to dock....but may be you could make a caption for this. "Contemplation or reflection bench"? That might be good

This is the early morning light catching the water and chairs waiting for visitors

The geese are about to launch

off they go

and they form a raft

and another image begging for a caption, or is it Excalibur, Canadian style

The river really is beautiful

Kingston

This is Kingston and what a bustle and fabulous place this was. 20 minutes from Gananoque

Old buildings

More domes than you can shake a stick at

alleyways

and architectural details in plenty

Great tower

Wonderful old pharmacy

Just so much to see. The building to the very left is an old theatre, recently restored. A gent told us, (when he saw us staring) that this had been covered for years, in hording.

Yes covered!!!!

They had not a clue as to the detail underneath

Splendid!

Gold leaf!

It was spires everywhere

All different

Wonderful architecture

Turrets

I think this is great the spire, the chimney and the roof lines. I was not expecting Canada to look like this!

Fountains

Did I mention domes

Ok enough already

More chimneys

doorways and details

Just a jumble of gorgeous and what a lovely colour to pain a house

You got it, a dome. Well 2 and a moon to the left of it!

AS you can tell I loved Kingston. There was just so much for the eyes to feast on

This church was so pretty

More of the Gothic style

Just spectacular set of buildings

This is the Catholic church and it was an absolute beauty

The houses were...

Stunning!!!

The doorways were all different and interesting. Look at the lines in the one below, arched brick and then the porch roof

Very interesting brick work too on this chimney and what was that detail on it, on the main body of the house?

Unitarian Church

This is just wonderful work in Limestone

This chapel has the best doors

Just so intricate hinges

Seriously cool

This whole area is by the University

More amazing buildings. It really did just unfold in the most lovely way.

We had to have a seat. All tired out from tramping about

Just picture postcard

I mean that is just lovely. Look at the entry way. Ok there is a guy painting but ignore him. The houses are just so loved

Great neighbours here, they must have discussed paint colours!

This turret had the most amazing work on it. This picture if you click on it (like all the images) will go bigger and hopefully you can see what I think is mosaic work)

No words really, we all know what we are looking at, well if you don't, that's domes again

Sneaky alley

Just for laughs.....Damian was literally like this as I rounded the corner!!! I was questioned what he was doing, I know it looks weird but people, this is "back stretching". No bear back scratching, as it might appear to be. That is technical back stretch!

He was stood outside this bakery (yes perfect pastries)

The most suburb tin ceiling and look at the delicious colour combo!

Honestly Kingston was a revalation and I want to move there!!! Don't you love that fort!

No idea what they are doing but it's a sweet snap

I suppose, what was so interesting, was the scale of the buildings in Kingston. Showing it's amazing past of industry and commence. These windows are fab!

The windows in this building were also pretty cool

The clock tower in the square is the focal point of Kingston and the dot in the sky is the moon (above the right dome)

The evening light was pinkish

and made for a lovely glow and who doesn't love an onion plant.

I know this is super long and there are a million pictures. I hope you got this far and didn't give up. Talk about rich pickings. Turning 50 in this part of the world, truly was a trip of a life time. I had no idea about Kingston and it's rich history. 1693 is when Europeans were about here. It is also where King George and his loyalists were based and so for a while it was the Capital. Kingston is also known as the 'Limestone City' and I can certainly see why. The history of the area was fascinating and this city being on Lake Ontario and at the beginning of the St Lawrence, was a very important waterway and trading area for indigenous people and French settlers and those loyalists. Just LOVED IT!