Kingston to Wellington (84 km)

We left late, after waiting for the rain to stop. It did so, as predicted by our favorite TV channel, the weathernetwork. This is usually the first do when we arrive at a place, check the weather for the following days.
Our ride went along the route 33, called the loyalist road. Once out of Kingston the traffic fades away and from then it is just peaceful rolling along the shores of Lake Ontario. What a lake! It seems more like the ocean, on the horizon no land to see, just water. Along the way we read some of the memorial signs. In the 19th century many battles have been fought between the English and the Americans on that lake. It all seems not so long ago.

Nowadays the area appears rather poor. Many small farms are along the road, but their buildings are often in bad shape or abandonned. It´s a bit a sad sign, on the other hand we saw new kinds of landuse, wineries and apple orchards. And of course big farms, they probably take over the better land from the small ones and work on it. Still we wondered, why are the small farms going out of business? Prices for food in the shops are really high, for example milk and cheese here are more expensive than in Switzerland. So shouldn´t it be possible for small farms to survive? Some do so, with wonderful streets stands where they sell all sorts of surprisingly big vegetables. At one of these places the farmer lady gave us each an apple, she said every biker gets an apple for free.



Huge onions



Later we took the ferry to Glenora,Prince Edward County. Long storries could be written about that little place. Now only a few houses and the ferry terminal, it used to be quite a commercial center for its mill operations and wheat exports. All gone, what is left are a few builings and very peaceful landscapes. Soon after leaving the ferry, a heavy thunderstorm caught up with us and in a few seconds we were wet to the bones. In Wellington, just before dark, we found a nice place to stay, a little inn on the lakeshore. It was a special evening there, the Green party of Ontario had organized a "meet the canidate" evening. Frank (a member of the Swiss Green party) joined the gathering and it was very interesting to listen. The Greens here are not yet strong at all and often Tread Hull referred to Germany, where the Greens are really strong. We wish him many votes, may he get a seat.  

The green candidate, Tread Hull

http://www.give-em-hull.ca/