Biking the 25km up the Niagara River I knew I'd finally reached Niagara-on-the-Lake when I arrived at Fort George at the mouth of the river. I'd come here with a friend about 15 years ago just strolling in when nobody had been checking for tickets that day.

Entrance was $11.70 and I paid to go in this time. Due to the holiday there were special displays going on.

First there was a drumming and flute demonstration taking place near the back in the shade of the trees. The heat was becoming quite intense now.

It was mostly schoolchildren. Some looked quite young and too small for their uniforms but they had practiced their drumming and flute regiments quite well.

I then had time to explore some of the period buildings. They were living quarters and barracks for the soldiers. The Fort is very similar to Fort York in downtown Toronto where I lived walking distance to, could overlook from my then condo, and hear them firing their canon every hour on summer weekends.

In the kitchens they were making fresh English Muffins. It tasted just like dough and had no sugar or flavourings, staying true to the original recipe.

At 2pm there was to be a firing demonstration. I waited inside in the shade before venturing back out but was able to find a spot in the shade.

The soldiers were again made from local schoolchildren, some looked as young as aged 10. There were also some girls allowed to participate due to recent relaxing of the rules.

First they had to clean and check their rifles to make sure there was a clean ping sound and nothing lodged inside the long barrel. Marching in unison and having a branch swing turn also takes some practice.

There was then a demonstration of firing a round and advancing 10 paces. The rear group would fire while the front group advanced the 10 paces.

The smell of gunfire and residue was quite intense with just a dozen soldiers. In actual war there would be clouds of smoke engulfing a battlefield of soldiers.

To join the army you only needed two strong teeth to bite off the casing along with age and height requirements. Having been to so many Palaces recently the soldier formations did seem a bit amateur but it would be a fun summer experience for the students. The also had kids of other ethnic backgrounds that would not have been part of the British Army.

The heat was becoming quite intense and I wanted to get back to biking as had a distance still to travel so I wandered out as they continued their demonstrations.