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Rideau Canal Page 11
July 17 - Smiths Falls to Burritts Rapids
We left Smiths Falls at 8:00 and tied up at the lock. We locked through
at 8:30. When we got to the Merrickville lock, 20 canoes caught up with
us. There were about 40 Canadian Sea Cadets traveling for 5 days. We
had to wait for boats to lock through the other direction and were held up
at this lock for 45 minutes. The canoes all locked in with us like one entire
unit. The entire day was traveling very slowly through very flat
countryside with not much to see. We locked through 8 locks and didn't
travel very far, yet we were underway for over 7 hours. We tied up at
the wall at Burritts Rapids lock at the lower part. The canoes caught up
with us here 3 hours later. They set up tents on the other side of the
lock. It was very quiet, and there were about 4 boats tied up with us.
There were more boats on the upper part, but we got to see the most
gorgeous sunset!
We left Smiths Falls at 8:00 and tied up at the lock. We locked through
at 8:30. When we got to the Merrickville lock, 20 canoes caught up with
us. There were about 40 Canadian Sea Cadets traveling for 5 days. We
had to wait for boats to lock through the other direction and were held up
at this lock for 45 minutes. The canoes all locked in with us like one entire
unit. The entire day was traveling very slowly through very flat
countryside with not much to see. We locked through 8 locks and didn't
travel very far, yet we were underway for over 7 hours. We tied up at
the wall at Burritts Rapids lock at the lower part. The canoes caught up
with us here 3 hours later. They set up tents on the other side of the
lock. It was very quiet, and there were about 4 boats tied up with us.
There were more boats on the upper part, but we got to see the most
gorgeous sunset!
Sunset at Burritts Rapids lock
July 18 - Burritts Rapids to Ottawa
We were awakened to the sweetest sounds of birds singing with mist rising from the river. It has been
nice sleeping with the windows open with a warm blanket, for the nights have been cool, temperatures in
the 50's. We got underway at 7:45. We had a long day - 27 miles of straight cruising. The countryside
now changed from woods and pines trees, to mostly flat farmland. As we approached the city of Manotick,
there were HUGE homes alone the river with very well landscaped yards with swimming pools, gardens, and
beautiful lawns. Hogsback and Hartwell were the last two locks of the day. We were now in the city of
Ottawa. There was a bike and walking path along the canal. It was around rush hour, and many people
were riding bikes in the road with all the cars. We docked at Dow's Lake Marina. A PDQ trawler cat
docked next to us, also going to Lake Champlain. Local people on boats gave us information about the time
of the bridge opening to head down the last 8 locks to the Ottawa River. We ate at Pub Italia in the
Little Italy section. Their nachos were GREAT - the salsa was chopped tomatoes with oil, garlic, and basil
- the best tasting combination with cheese and olives! Lily is exhausted from today. Going through locks,
seeing people, and getting up and down to be part of the action, didn't give her time for any napping today!
We were awakened to the sweetest sounds of birds singing with mist rising from the river. It has been
nice sleeping with the windows open with a warm blanket, for the nights have been cool, temperatures in
the 50's. We got underway at 7:45. We had a long day - 27 miles of straight cruising. The countryside
now changed from woods and pines trees, to mostly flat farmland. As we approached the city of Manotick,
there were HUGE homes alone the river with very well landscaped yards with swimming pools, gardens, and
beautiful lawns. Hogsback and Hartwell were the last two locks of the day. We were now in the city of
Ottawa. There was a bike and walking path along the canal. It was around rush hour, and many people
were riding bikes in the road with all the cars. We docked at Dow's Lake Marina. A PDQ trawler cat
docked next to us, also going to Lake Champlain. Local people on boats gave us information about the time
of the bridge opening to head down the last 8 locks to the Ottawa River. We ate at Pub Italia in the
Little Italy section. Their nachos were GREAT - the salsa was chopped tomatoes with oil, garlic, and basil
- the best tasting combination with cheese and olives! Lily is exhausted from today. Going through locks,
seeing people, and getting up and down to be part of the action, didn't give her time for any napping today!
View of a city tower in Ottawa from Hogsback Lock Heading towards Ottawa after leaving lock
| Bag of chocolate from Hershey Factory |