Ottawa - Rideau

July 13

Ottawa

The trip up the Ottawa river was pretty uneventful with the exception of one lock.  This is the mighty Carrillon lock.  This puppy raises a boat 68 feet in a single lift.  It is also called a "guillotine lock" for how the door shuts.  It comes down from the top like a guillotine".  Way cool.

Massive!!!!

We arrived in Ottawa bright and early to be the first to pass through the "lock of eight".  This is eight consecutive locks where one opens right into the next.  Unfortunately, I don't have a good personal photo so I took this from their website.

This is where I as Captain screwed up and got my Admiral hurt. The locks are what is called a cable lock.  We had already been through cable locks so I thought I knew what I was doing.  I didn't.  We had been told to "put a rope around the cable and bring it back to a cleat for leverage".  I said "screw the rope, just hold on to the cable".  We had done it that way before.  

However, when they opened the valve to flood the gate, I had no idea they would flood the lock in 2 minutes.  The instant current ripped the cable out of Terri's hands and we swung into the neighboring boat.  Fortunately, we had fenders on boat sides as did the other boat and no damage occurred. Unfortunately, in Terri's efforts to control the boat she ended up bruised like a banana in a ping pong game.  For the remaining seven locks, all cables got ropes back to cleats.  Sigh ....

Take a peak at this current.

Getting through all 8 locks took about 2.5 hours.  Cathy on Home Alone took this time lapse video for us.

We were ready to end the day and gratefully there was wall space with power on the other side.

Ottawa is the capital of Canada and has the same pluses an minuses as other capitals.  To touch on, but not dwell on, the negatives ....  we saw a lot of evidence of trash and drug abuse, particularly with the indigenous population.  Unfortunately, there was an overpass very near the wall where our boat was tied so we saw/heard them at all hours.  On the positive side, they stuck to themselves and did not intrude on us at all.

Now the "pluses" of the city.  GREAT architecture, vibrant living and many eateries.  The "lock of eight" comes up right at their Parliament (think capital) building.  Beautiful.  We were able to tour the grounds.

We got to meet up with an old colleague of mine from the time I worked for an Ottawa based company which was cool.  Together we toured the Supreme Court.  Their process of selection seems so much more sane than ours!

The town was full of art and it was everywhere.  Really fun.

And OF COURSE ... DOCKTAILS!!!!  This was the biggest group we had encountered since Shady Harbor on the Hudson (remember the pig roast).

Before we left, Yudee had to impress the ladies.  These 5 women were apparently instrumental in getting women voting rights in Canada.  Yudee spent time with them.

Rideau

After two nights and three days, it was time to head on down the Rideau Canal.  This is reputed to be one of the most scenic routes on the trip.  It contains ~50 locks and is speed controlled at 10km (~6.2mph).  The upper part near Ottawa is clearly the land of the Canadian "rich and famous".  Beautiful homes.  The waterway is pristine with lots of people enjoying it.

(House built to look like a boat)

We stayed on a lock wall and took advantage of the clear water.  It was perfect!

So where are we in space and time?

We are still rock'in.  We temporarily lost our buddy boat Never Home as they had to have the boat pulled for routine service.  I am sure they will catch up.

Hey George,  I got a shirt to remind me of you!!!!

Take care and be safe. 

With love,

Terri and Aubrey