Title : Rideau Canal
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Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal runs from Kingston, ON, at the western end, to Ottawa, ON, on the eastern end. Kingston was the first capital of Canada; the capital is now located in Ottawa. The image above is downtown Kingston. During the first foray into the Rideau, a brief history and the unique operation of the locks was documented in a post on the blog of the first Loop. Click on the link below to read that post.
http://mvlastdance.blogspot.com/2011/08/rideau-canal.html
Locks on the Rideau have docks at either end. If a boat moors along the blue line on the dock, that communicates to the lock master that the boat wishes to lock through. If the boat ties to the brown segment of the dock, the lockmaster knows that the boat intends to stay for a while, or overnight. Sitting along the brown segment at the first lock up the river from Kingston, was another DeFever, a 53 POC
Jones Falls is always a favorite as it has a museum with history of the lock, a blacksmith shop, and the always great park setting. Another feature here is that an old hotel still functions, offering delicious meals in a fine, historical setting.
Cruisers well acquainted with the Rideau Canal, Dave and Jan Hinman, were dock mates and dinner partners at Hotel Kinney. It was Dave who insisted that the Rideau was too amazing an experience to not squeeze into the schedule that got Last Dance cruising up the canal on Loop One.
While there are many lakes, some quite large, the canals dug in the 1830s with crude equipment resulted in some narrow canal sections connecting the lakes and rivers.
And the canal section the boat must travel, the underwater portion, is even more narrow than the width of the apparent waterway.
Davis Lock is a favorite of the cruising Canadian boaters. The lower end does not look that much different than many of the other locks.
However, the pool created by the lock and dam on the upper side has been turned into a wonderful marina by the lock staff. Floating docks, with water and hydro, located in another beautiful park setting. Last Dance not only found a slip at this most popular spot, but lucked into the best slip in the pool. The shade provided by a big tree was most welcome as a couple unusually warm days occurred.
And, a great view of the waterway. One does not have amenities in marinas such as park setting right next to the boat, picnic tables on the dock, great views, and summer shade.
All of the Last Dance crew found the Davis Lock to be an enjoyable pause along this journey.
Some Canadian boaters spend their summer on the lock walls and Davis is a favorite. Although the park only allows a 2-day stay at this lock, they seem to be able to stretch it out a day or two, then travel off to another lock, returning to Davis soon thereafter. A major form of entertainment is sitting under the shade trees by the lock and watching the boats be raised or lowered.
And, of course, watching the lock staff operate the lock, all by manpower, or womanpower in this case. The flagpole in the background is reported the only place in the park where a cell signal can be captured. This is remote.
Chaffey Lock is another that has a road bridge crossing the lock chamber. The swing bridge must be opened to be able to get Last Dance into the lock.
Entering Upper Rideau Lake from the canal one is guided by two very large markers. The canal is well marked with small floating buoys. Many a boater must have missed those small markers and found shallow water for Parks Canada to have installed such large floating day marks.
At the end of a bay off Upper Rideau Lake lies the small town of Westport Harbour, three streets two blocks long. Although a small town, they have a large town marina, a number of interesting restaurants, and three outstanding bakeries. Canadians love fresh baked goodies and the crew enjoys helping the Canadian economy by leaving the bakery shelves a bit empty.
Through a narrows and under a bridge is the connecting Big Rideau Lake, filled with many islands. One of the islands, Colonel By Island, named for the British commander in charge of the construction of the Rideau Canal, is now part of Parks Canada. Once a summer retreat for a wealth entertainer, it is now a park reachable only by private boat.
The smallest of the crew enjoyed the large grassy areas of the island.
The trails offer a view of the wilds of the island, including reminders of a tornado that once crossed the island.
A lock and dam is in the heart of the small village of Merrickville. Here, Last Dance moored on the upside of the lock, actually higher than the road crossing the earthern part of the dam.
A stop at this lock is a different experience than the remote locks with only the park and wilderness for surroundings. Merrickville is an old and interesting community with restaurants, shops, and early architecture.
The shops in Merrickville were not of the tchotchke-filled, tourist-trap variety, but ones as interesting as a museum with quality, unique items.
The travel east runs along the Rideau River, through a few locks, and park-like settings. Then, it is apparent that a populated area is being approached. The river branches off to the right and a walled canal veers left.
The canal leads to Ottawa, the Canadian Capital and end of the Rideau Canal. The lock station also manages the waterway running through the middle of town, providing dockage for boats. The Parliament Buildings can be seen to the left of the canal, and an old, grand hotel on the right. As a bit of contrast, the new glass fronted convention center also juts into the picture.
The Parliament Building was constructed in the late 1800's. The tower was added just after World War I. It is called the Peace Tower to commemorate WWI as the "War to end all Wars." If that had only proved true. The building is an outstanding work of art. Following are a few images from inside the building and views from atop the Peace Tower.
On the back, river side of the Parliament Building, is a large flying-buttressed room - the Library of Parliament.
As the Capital, there are many monuments in town. One, quite whimsical, commemorated the building of the Rideau Canal.
Ottawa sits on a bluff high above the Ottawa River. To transition from the Rideau Canal to the Ottawa River, a system of locks was built combining 11 locks in a stair-stepped manner. And, each lock is still operated by hand. By the time a boat transitions these 11 locks, the lock staff has had a workout.
A view from the Ottawa River looking back up the the stair-stepped locks.
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