July 9, Kingston

July 9, Kingston, Ontario

The Rideau Canal is coming to an end today with 12 more locks to Kingston.  We were delayed at Jones Falls Locks because there were a group of 6 boats locking up and we had to wait for about an hour.  We took advantage of the delay and walked up to the Jones Falls dam, once the highest dam in North America.

The Jones Falls lock station is located between Whitefish and Sand Lakes within the Cataraqui Watershed.  Like most of the lock stations between Kingston Mills,  the Narrows, and Jones Falls was built on the Frontenac Axis, an area where Precambrain rocks of the Canadian Shield extend south toward the Adirondack Mountains.  The construction of the Jones Falls lock station in this rugged terrain is one of the most impressive feats of the canal builders.

The contractors for the job, Thomas McKay and John Redpath, were faced with overcoming a series of rapids one-mile long with a fall of 60 feet.  Colonel By proposed the construction of an arch dam 60 feet high and 350 feet in length.  Four locks were constructed at the site, each with a lift of 15 feet.  The upper lock and the flight of three lower locks are separated by a turning basin.  Jones Falls Locks is one of the engineering marvels of the Rideau Canal.

We locked through Jones Falls and shared the lock with La Vagabonde.  She was a beauty, built in 1933.  Ken was drooling!

Ahead was Colonel By Lake and River Styx which lead to Kingston Mills Locks. The Lock master was helpful by sharing some places to stop along the way.  We sat and waited to lock through with another sail boat and took in the rays and beautiful surroundings.   Once through the locks we are only 4 miles away from Lake Ontario and the picturesque city of Kingston.

The scenery on this leg of the canal was beautiful.  Our cruising included open lakes and winding narrow canals that snaked around with hair pin turns.  The lakes and islands were dotted with docks and cottages where as in the canal we encountered wilderness, towering trees and huge boulders. We enjoyed a fascinating travel day.

Loop Dreams waiting with Vagabonde to go through the lock at Jones Falls.

                                     

Jones Falls arch dam was once the highest dam in North America.

Leaving Jones Falls lock.

One of the lock bridges being pushed manually.