[2023 – Ontario, Canada –387 km – 7 days – Kingston to Ottawa]
It’s well marked,
and I follow the orange triangles diligently.
I travel lightly because I anticipate
I’ll be able to resupply every day or two.
The trail connects many villages,
towns, and a couple of larger cities.
I still lose the trail from time to time.
It’s because I lose focus on the trail.
The walking is automatic,
so I’m often lost in other thoughts.
That’s okay, except when the trail
takes an unexpected turn;
that’s when one must be paying attention
or there will have to be some backtracking.
The mosquitoes are reasonably light
and the trail’s in excellent shape,
so I am enjoying myself immensely.
There are so many places to stealth camp
that I never worry about being found,
though I still ensure I practice
the fundamentals of minimizing my presence.
The Rideau Trail is a dream
compared to many other trails in Ontario.
There are numerous water points,
so one need not carry more than a litre of water.
The many excellent views
make hiking up the hills worthwhile.
The occasional bits of civilization are not a nuisance,
but a chance to explore fascinating Canadian history.
And there is much about the history
of the Rideau Canal that is interesting.
The end of the trail in Ottawa comes too soon.
I’ve really just been getting into the spirit of it.
And for the first time in a while,
I meet other through-hikers,
albeit heading in the opposite direction.
I linger around Ottawa for a day,
cleaning myself up in a public washroom
and making myself presentable.
I get enough grit and odor off myself
to be accepted in a proper restaurant
near the Parliament Buildings.
Before I head back to Kingston,
I pay my pilgrimage respects
to the great Canadian, Terry Fox,
whose statue modestly stands
opposite the Parliament grounds.
