We traveled 7 hours and 43 minutes from Chateau Montebello to Ottawa, Ontario. This was the first day that the Rideau Canal had extended hours of operation for the summer and we were excited to be able to get through the first set of 8 locks on the Rideau Canal National Historic Site. We went through with 3 other boats. It was a very intense couple of hours fitting into the old lock system without nudging another boat! People line the sides of the locks to watch the boats do the flight of eight locks. Naturally I enlisted a bystanders help and she followed us through all eight lifts!
The Rideau Canal is North America’s best preserved canal and the only canal from the great 19th century canal building era that still operates along its original route with most of its 200 year old technology intact! The Canal was built after the war of 1812 to provide a secure route for the military to reach Montreal and upper Canal and avoid potential attacks from the Americans. It was never used militarily. Thousands of Irish immigrants, French Canadians, and Scottish stonemasons were among the workers who helped push the canal through the rough bush and rocky wilderness of what is now Eastern Ontario.
In the summer the canal is filled with water for boaters, it is about 7-10 feet deep. In the winter the canal is drained to ab out 1 foot of water and becomes the worlds largest skating rink!!
Below: Flight of 8 locks, Parliament building, Senate Building, Monument for Women’s Rights,
Below: Lock wall in downtown Ottawa, No Agenda pictured docked with Miracle and Rykher
We did a Hop on/off bus tour, Attractions included the Museum of Nature, Canada Agriculture Museum (an actual 1000 acre farm in the heart of Ottawa), Byword Market (Blocks of shops and restaurants), Rideau Hall (King Charles Estate), Prime Minister’s Home, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Stables, Canada Aviation Museum, National Gallery of Art, Basilique Notre Dame Basilica, History Museum, War Museum and much more. Ottawa is the Capitol of Canada and there are many Embassies as well as beautiful homes for the Ambassador’s. The land for the American Embassy was purchased by President Nixon. President Clinton actually had the Embassy built.
When President Biden visited Canada he stayed at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, we went in and checked out the lobby! Presidential suite 10,000 dollars per night!
A statue of Queen Elizabeth riding her favorite horse. The horse was given to her by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. All of the horses are black and must be 17 hands tall. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police performed their mounted musical dance at the Queen’s funeral.
I had the privilege of attending Mass Sunday at the Notre Dame Basilica. The Basilica is incredibly beautiful. The mass was in French!
Below: Oldest Bar in Ottawa, and bakery where President Obama stopped to get a little something to take home to his girls when he was in Canada. The news media televised it and the bakery got thousands of orders for the Maple Leaf Cookie (Obama cookies)!
Two things to eat in Canada: Beaver Tails (flat donut with your choice of topping, served hot) and Poutine (Dish with chicken, double fried French fries, gravy and cheese). We loved the Beaver Tail but the Poutine, not so much!
Wow that’s beautiful! Love all this!