(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)
The K&P Trail follows the railbed of the old Kingston & Pembroke Railway. Informally known as the “Kick & Push” Railway, this rail route from Kingston to Renfrew (it never reached Pembroke) played an important role in opening up the hinterland north of Kingston in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It then declined until the tracks were removed in the 1980s, with passenger service ending some time before that.
Extensive local efforts have now resulted in the redevelopment of parts of the railbed for recreational purposes: walking and biking in the warmer months, skiing and snowmobiling in the winter months. While I never had the chance to ride the actual railway, I have always been interested in this relic from a bygone age. One reason is that we often rented a cottage on Eagle Lake in the 1970s and the drive to the cottage closely mirrored the K&P route. However, I’m generally intrigued by small local railways: I’ve always enjoyed riding the tiny but still-in-service rail line from Spiez to Zweisimmen in the valley of my Swiss ancestors.
With the K&P Trail now open for walking from Kingston to just north of Verona, it is possible to get a feel for what riding the actual K&P might have been like. My wife and I are gradually walking the line: we have already walked from Kingston to Hartington (and back). It can get a little warm during the summer months but it’s much more enjoyable now that the weather has cooled off a little bit. As a bonus, the trail is never very challenging because railway lines were built as level as possible.
For our most recent hike on the K&P Trail, we revisited a (relatively) steeper section just north of the urban portion of Kingston. All of the photos in today’s post are from the portion just east of the intersection of Bur Brook Road and Cordukes Road.
When we start walking north from Hartington to Verona, we will see the transition from a primarily farming environment to the rocks and lakes of the Canadian Shield. It must have been extraordinarily difficult to build the railway through the rocky sections using the technology of the 1800s; in fact, many workers died in the process.
Once we’ve finished the K&P Trail, we will probably try to see some of the Cataraqui Trail too. It also follows a former rail line: it is currently developed for walking between Strathcona (near Napanee) and Smiths Falls. Because most of the Cataraqui Trail is relatively far from our home in Kingston, we might travel it by bike or (in winter) on cross-country skis.
And the “Big Reveal”? Although I wrote this blog entry in Kingston, I will probably have already arrived in Costa Rica (via Panama) by the time you read this. Upon arrival in San Jose, I will be joining a group tour focusing on the natural highlights of Costa Rica. As always with group tours, it is unclear whether I will have the opportunity to blog in “real time”. If I don’t have that opportunity, I will definitely report on the Costa Rican adventure once I’m back in Canada!
