Week 13,Aug 31-Sept 1

Arrived on the south side of Ottawa, still in the Rideau Canal system. The canal opens up into a large pool that, at one time, was a large swamp. It's called Dow's Lake. Stayed here three days. This is a marina with party bars and restaurants. Kind of loud at night. Dow's Lake is surrounded by city parks. The city has probably a hundred of miles of bike trails that include a trail that runs along both sides of the canal.

Leaving Dow's Lake and heading north into the heart of the city.

The canal throughout the city is concrete lined seawall.

The canal winds through the city.

Tour boats travel up and down.

From Dow's Lake on the south side of the city to the end of the Rideau Canal at the Ottawa River is about 4-5 miles. At one point, it opens up into this wide stretch.

Had one bridge that I had to call to have it opened.

At this point, there is only about one mile to the end of the canal where there are eight flight locks to take you down to the Ottawa River.

There aren't very many marinas in Ottawa - at Dow's Lake, here on this wall to the right and the last place is down the flight locks, directly across the river at Hull Marina in Gatineau, Quebec. There might be a total of twenty transient slips. We stayed one night behind this last boat and there is no power available here. From this location, we were about three blocks from Parliament and the heart of the city.

Parked on the wall with Parliament tower in the background.

Here is a war memorial with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

These cars are traveling over the last bridge over the Rideau Canal. The flight locks down to the Ottawa River are down and to the left of this old hotel.

Parliament Hill, Center Block (built in 1859)

This is the East Block, located on the east side of Parliament Hill. There is also a West Block that is very similar to the East Block.

This is the Parliament Hill Library located on the back side of Center Block. We were not allowed to take pictures in here, but it was absolutely beautiful.

View inside Center Block, which houses House of Commons and Senate where most of the debate takes place. It is very hard to take pictures inside the building.

This is a picture of the Senate.

A view from the back side of Parliament Hill across the Ottawa River. Hull Marina is just on the other side of this bridge. Gatineau, Quebec is in the background.

Beautiful church

A view from Gatineau back to Parliament Hill.

Cliffs of Parliament Hill from one of the many bike trails.

Supreme Court Building

Kayaking course

The rest of these pictures are of us locking down the eight Ottawa Flight Locks which took about an hour and a half.

Leaving the Rideau Canal system heading directly across the Ottawa River for our stay at the Hull Marina.