On to Ottawa

Parliament in Ottawa as seen from water

Saturday morning we were prepared to move out of Montreal and start heading to Ottawa, but the lock threw us a curve when they announced the first recreational boater lockage would be at 8 a.m.  They made the announcement at 7:30, so we did not have enough time to get to the lock--which meant we had to wait for the second locking at 1 p.m. which later was delayed until 2 p.m.  We left the marina in Montreal around 10:30 hoping something might open up earlier, but no luck.  Instead we tied up at the waiting dock and played dominoes.  Finally the freighter they were waiting on came and after a turnaround, we locked through.   This and the next lock were large St.  Lawrence Seaway locks, so we felt quite small inside them.

With Linda and Jerry, waiting to go through first lock.

 At Lac St. Louis we turned off the St. Lawrence River going toward the Ottawa River.  We arrived at St. Anne de Bellevue Lock where we planned to spend the night on the lock wall.  Canada Day is July 1^st and the weather was unusually warm (in the upper 90’s) so boaters were out in droves and the lock wall was packed.  Luckily Carried Away was already there and we rafted to them.

Seemed strange to see a water-skier with a farm in the background!

Windy day so this barge was getting a push and a pull.

Sunday, Canada Day, we went through St. Anne de Bellevue lock and on to Carillon Lock.  There were so many boats ahead of us that we were rafted three deep waiting to go in.  One of the boats we rafted with was Our Time with Sarah and Brooks.  We first met them the night before we entered Montreal as we were anchored behind the same island. This lock was interesting in that it did not have two doors that swung open, but rather a single door that lifted up.  We had to wait two rounds before we could enter and then we were packed in the lock with 12 other boats.  It was quite a party inside. People were hopping from one boat to another, yet everyone was in control of their boat and the locking went smoothly.

Sarah and Brooks aboard Our Time

Door closing in Carillon Lock

Door is opening to let boats locking down out.

Almost to the top inside the lock

Packed inside getting ready to lock up.

Rafted 3 deep waiting to lock through Carillon.

Our crews get put to work!

We were now truly on the Ottawa River.  As we were headed west, Tom

mentioned that there was a boat like ours at a dock on the side of the river.  I

looked through my trusty binoculars only to discover it was “My Way” belonging to

 Wayne and Francine Assaly,  a boat that had been near us on the dock at

the rendezvous at Joe Wheeler Park way back in October.   We went close to their 

dock, honked and Wayne radioed to us.  He and Francine were getting ready to take 

some guests on a boat ride, so they said they would escort us to our anchorage spot 

and raft up for a visit.  Small world!  They are platinum loopers¸which means they have 

completed it twice.

My Way--our twin on the Ottawa River

Francine and Wayne aboard My Way

Our anchorage that night was beautiful—a cool night, calm water and good friends.  It

doesn’t get better than that!

Chateau Montebello--largest log structure, now a hotel

Love these silver-steepled churches on the shore

Monday was still part of the holiday for Canadians, so the water was again very busy.  We stopped for fuel and then made time for Ottawa.  We wanted to get through the eight step locks and tie up on the upper wall for the night.  Our first view of Ottawa was the Rideau Falls.  Then we went under a bridge, turned a corner and saw Parliament on the hilltop with the flight of step locks going up beside it. Quite a sight!

Rideau Falls in Ottawa

Eight step locks with Parliament on the right and hotel on left.

 We had hoped to tie up and observe a locking before we started, but we arrived just as the lock was loading and in we went.  These are relatively small locks so the four boats filled it snuggly.    I had not done my homework and thought that we would be thrown lines.  Wrong!  We needed lines cleated to the boat to put around cables and bring back to the boat. The wind was blowing our stern around and we were the last boat in giving us very little maneuvering space.   We scrambled and didn’t make the finest entry, but we did secure the boat without incident.  I was very glad Jerry and Linda were aboard to provide two more sets of hands.  Each lock opens directly into the next—a total of eight times.   Each lock raised us about 10 feet--the total lift being 85 feet. By the time we got to the top and tied to the wall, we were spent!  We did however find enough energy to walk to the market area for a fine dinner followed by gelato!  The market area here is a trendy area with street musicians, chalk sidewalk artists, restaurants, etc.

L and L locking up

Out of lock 2, into lock 3

These locks are hand operated like the ones on Chambly.

View from the bridge after locking through.

View from the top

Linda and Jerry left early the next morning to catch a train to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.  I don’t understand how the time goes so fast.  Like Tom says, we just get a crew trained and off they go!  We certainly enjoyed their visit and their help with the locks.  

Senate Chambers

Statue of Queen Elizabeth

View from Parliament Hill showing
our path entering Ottawa

Tower on Parliament

Later that morning Tom and I went to Parliament grounds to watch the changing of the guard and to take a tour of Parliament.  It was so hot that day—records set for Ottawa at 99 degrees.  I felt sorry for the guards in those bulky uniforms.  After lunch, we took a city bus to a marine store that ended up being way across town, so we got a good look at many parts of Ottawa.  We needed some guide books, cleaners, and a boathook.  We now have two boathooks with stories—both provided by Lindas!

Linda and friend

Bagpipers and old guard

Band entering grounds

Band parading on street

Reviewing the new guards

Senior officers

Carried Away and Our Time arrived on Wednesday.  Tom rode up the locks with Carried Away to be an extra hand and I was the official documenter.  A trip to the Byward Market, an open air food market, and a tour of the Royal Canadian Mint was about all we had energy for that day. 

Byward Market

Seems odd to see a US Embassy

Chalk art on bridge

Sculpture near art museum. Parliament in background.
Political statement??

Was memorial with guards
standing by.  Very warm that day.

New Canadian coin with Tom's likeness!

Tom attempting heist at mint

We mostly rested until dinnertime when we went out with the Bill and Joyce (Carried Away), Sarah and Brooks (Our Time) and Sally and Greg (Odyssey).  We ate at an Italian restaurant in a courtyard near the market serenaded by a jazz quartet.  Following dinner, a few of us had to try beavertails—a local dessert, YUM!

Greg and Sally Whitiker on Oddessey

At Beavertails

Courtyard restaurant

Getting ready to indulge in the yummy beavertail