Jun 21, 2014 | Flotsam
We left Hogsback early this morning just at the start of the first
Dragon Boat race….
We also reached the 100 nautical mile mark
on our Little Loop adventure….
All along the river we passed so many different types of boats…
…an old steamer…
…canoers…
…kayakers…
…double kayakers…
…and young singles…
…lots of fishermen…
… a few ‘cowboys’…
…the usual ‘hot doggers’…
…and one ‘illegal’ towing a wake boarder without a spotter…
(the catch of the day for the Ontario Provincial Police)
…this last one was priceless – a ’60’s amphibious car…
…now settled in for the day at Burrett’s Rapids…
…laundry done and enjoying a beer, a burger and free WiFI
at
…so true!…
Tomorrow Merrickville…
Jun 21, 2014 | Flotsam
Day 6 already?
R.E.D. was listing a little to starboard
so before we left downtown Ottawa we had to re-balance with some local wine…
(love these monkey socks that keep the wine bottles safe)
…it was such a treat to be motoring casually
through the centre of the city…
…the Rideau canal has beauty at every turn…
…we motored through 4 more locks
just over 4 nautical miles to Hogsback Park…
…where I made lots of new friends…
…Hogsback is this year’s location for the annual Dragon Boat Festival…
…we were treated to their evening trials…
…eventually tucked in for the night, we sipped a fine scotch and listened to
the boogie rock group – Sheepdogs – across the water at Mooneys Bay Beach,
while planning tomorrow’s route…
free docking, fine entertainment…
What a great way to end another great day!
Jun 20, 2014 | Flotsam
OTTAWA
…all wrapped, strapped and ready to go…
…motored past the Parliament buildings….
(the seat of Canadian Government)
…ahead, the series of eight (8) locks for our start up the Rideau Canal…
(Chateau Laurier in the distance)
…honestly my first experience with this type of lock…
very intimidating…
…but after the eighth…a real pro…
At each of the eight locks we had interesting conversations
with lock onlookers…
a couple from Seattle…
a couple from Switzerland…
a couple from Hamilton, Ontario,
a group of tourists from Korea…
…and after…
…sweet repose…
(for good reason)
…at 4:00 (1600h)…
all the working people were making their way home…
…while Captain of R.E.D. (almost retired career military officer)
docked next to Department of National Defense HQ…
…sweet…
We spent the afternoon enjoying a glass or two with some really good friends
aboard R.E.D.
(all too short but maybe we have created a spark that will fuel their boat dreams)
….onto more fun stuff…
we visited the Byward Market to pick up some fresh provisions…
….fresh oysters…
…and a favourite – Capresse Salad…
…Then we closed off the evening with a BBQ onboard with family…
….just the start to the 202km of the Rideau Canal…
Tomorrow on our way through the next four locks…
