Crime does not pay

Even if you don't live in Kingston, Ontario, most people know that Canada's most notorious maximum penitentiary, housing the baddest of the bad, is here in our otherwise beautiful town.  Due to its age (completed in 1834), it was recently closed.  Although its fate is not known at this time, Corrections Canada did allow 2 charities to run tours to raise funds.  They sold out in a matter of minutes, causing the ticketing website to crash a number of times.

We were lucky enough to take one of the tours and the following pictures will give you a glimpse into the life of a maximum security inmate.

Inside the grounds

Where visitors can spend time with the inmates

Halfway house on the grounds where families can live together before inmate is released

Door leading into prisoner wings

Just like in the movies

Cells on the block

A segregation cell - bare minimum!

Where the guards monitor prisoner activities

Rotunda where the 1971 riot took place.  2 prisoners were killed by the inmates.

NO WAY OUT!

Crime does not pay!

Memorable Meals - part 1

My weekend plans were cancelled due to bad weather and family obligations.  I decided to share with you some of my favourite meals enjoyed globally over the past few years.  The following were savoured in Paris, Toulouse, Isle of Man, England, New York, South Carolina and Canada.

Enjoy theses forks in the road with me!

Seafood salad - Cap d'agde, France

Caprese salad - home

Mushroom fettucine - Albi, France

Salmon & Steak Tartare - Albi, France

Steak Frites - Toulouse, France

Sauerkraut dinner - Toulouse, France

Caprese Salad, Toulouse, France

Fois Gras and apples - Toulouse, France

Veal Blanquette - New York City

Pastrami at Katz's - New York City (Where Harry met Sally)

Pizza at home

Burger in Charleston, S.C.

Gumbo in Charleston, S.C.

A jam packed weekend

Our weather has been absolutely fabulous (sorry Wet Coast, BobScoot), so I took advantage of walking the 3 kms to a motorcycle get together not far from my place.  I have walked past this barn many times, but this time I had a camera in hand so snapped it and the falling down boat houses on the lake.

The 'bikers' had already gathered and the party was in full swing.

We were even joined by 'V-Star Lady' (see blog at right).

We rounded out the day by going to a friend's house (lovely, see below) for dinner.  I thought it would be rude to whip out my camera and start snapping all the delicious food on the table, so I refrained!

 Being a fan of motorcycles as well, they had this wonderful old picture of racer Mike Duff on his Yamaha.

The following day, along with V-Star Lady, we headed east to Prince Edward County, which is wine country.  Given that we were driving and riding, we did not taste any, but did stop for lunch at our favourite restaurant, 'THE INN on the Lake on the Mountain'. 

                              This is the view from the patio.

        The views are breathtaking, so that was our backdrop.

Given that we had to work off our lunch of poutine with short ribs, and greek salad, we headed into Picton.  We parked our Lotus in front of a cute shop and strolled the main drag.

I had to take a picture of this bench, which in it's previous life, was the 'backside' of a truck!

We headed home by ferry and lake view road.  Along the way, a very brave osprey had built her nest on a telephone pole.  It has been there for years, so has withstood the wind and winter weather.  Another one of mother nature's wonders.

 
 

An afternoon off

We have been having gorgeous weather over the past week, so decided to enjoy the sunny and cloudless day by playing hookie from work and heading north in our 1957 MGA to see the fall colours and enjoy a patio lunch.

Our first stop was Westport, a quaint community overlooking Upper Rideau Lake, that has just been named as a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.  The Cove Inn has been welcoming guests for over 100 years.

We were lucky to find a free table with a magnificent view and sat back to enjoy a cold one and a yummy lunch.

Heading back south, we stopped in to visit friends who own Bedford Mills, which they lovingly restored.  It served as a working mill during the late 1800's, but was shut down in 1916.  During the 1950's the 'power house' was used as a general store.  It is now used as a workshop, with the mill itself turned into their home.  It has 3 levels that are accessible by a circular iron staircase. 

I was lucky enough to witness a visit from a tame (to them) blue heron.  He lets them approach but is more weary of unknown people.  He did sit still long enough for a 'photo shoot', though.

We rounded the day off with another meal out at our favourite Japanese restaurant, where we tucked into tempura and sashimi.

It was a perfect day and we thoroughly enjoyed all the forks in the road!