Ride up the Rideau

Rideau Heritage Canal Cruise

 

On Wednesday July 6th we slipped away from the lock wall in Ottawa at 9 am. A little late you may say! Well one thing about the Rideau is that the locks don’t start until 9am and the speed limit on many parts is only 10 KPH which is about 6 mph. I know Anna, you can definitely run that fast. In any event it makes for very relaxing cruising. Sometimes there just isn’t good enough adjectives to appropriately describe something and this section of our cruise has been just that. To top it off the weather has been simply amazing with crystal clear blue skies warm afternoons and cool, sometimes chilly nights. Our day consisted of a 40 mile cruise that included 8 locks. Our boat is at the upper size limit of what can safely pass through the system so we got a lot of attention. I can also say there were many sections that my little thought bubble was yelling you don’t belong here you’re too big.  I didn’t know it but watching boats go through the locks is somewhat of a Canadian past time. Like all canal systems they are a combination of dug sections, natural rivers and lakes both created and natural. We made our final destination to Burritts Rapids about 4 pm and snugged up to the wall.

Sue saw a group of folks hanging out next to the locks and promptly announced we would be right over to have happy hour. And so we did. This particular group was a mix of locals and a group that was Kayaking down the Rideau to Ottawa. The two groups knew each other  and had planned the get together. We just made new Canadian friends! It was fun to hear their stories and get a little more insight of life  in Canada. We took a walk on a wooded trail towards the tiny village but found it necessary to retreat. Did I mention it was at dusk? We thought we would need a transfusion by time we got back to the boat.

Man those Canadian mosquitoes are world class at what they do. 

On Thursday we headed off at 9 am only to stop about 800 yards to wait for the lock attendant to come open the manual swing bridge. Yes this one they actually push it to open it. Our cruise would only be about 20 miles but we had to transit 11 locks.

We had a planned day stop at Merrickville which we arrived at about 10:30 am. First order was to find the so revered Ontario Butter Tarts. Loopers profess their scrumptious qualities. So we had to find out what all the fuss was about. I wish we hadn’t. Those things should only be administered under a Drs supervision due their highly addictive nature. So to describe: They are a small pastry cup and of pie dough with butter as the fat. Then they are filled with this sugary filling of maple syrup more butter then either raisins, pecans or just plain. We found ours at the Village Bakery. When we inquired  which of the three were the best as we had never had one she recommended the pecan and the raisin. We gobbled them down moaning as we consumed. The owner/baker then appeared only to drop off a complementary plain one saying we had to experience all of them. Canadian hospitality at it’s finest. 

We walked around the picturesque small town ducking into the occasional shop and even went to a shop where they blow glass. We were able to watch the artist make a piece. So cool how they do that or I meant to say HOT!

Lunch was at a little out door patio under a tree canopy. The sandwiches were fab. Now that that we were full, we went back to the boat to finish our cruise to Smith Falls. We got to the wall about 5 pm and were still full from our late lunch so we mounted the bikes and headed off to a close by Walmart for some provisions.

The wall we were at was actually right at a park with lots of green space beautiful flower beds and plenty of shade. They had a kids movie night where they had a blow up screen showing one of the latest Disney movies. Smith Falls is also the home port for Le Boats. Le Boats is a boat charter company that rents cruiser boats. Without hesitation we can recommend to any of you, that like to be on the water, cruising the Rideau for a week would be an epic vacation.  And if anyone wants to plan this the future with us, we would gladly join!!!

Lock mechanisms. Ok Sue gets a little unfocused in the area of locks.  It’s often like watching paint dry and I get a little bored waiting for the water to do  it’s thing.  The college students that manage the locks are always fun to chat with.  Probably well over 200 students that work in the summer.  At the end of the season I hear they meet up and have a lunch that turns into dinner that turns into a party.  That is my input on lock mechanisms.

Below: Who needs a boat in your back yard when you have one of these!

I seriously wish Mike would add “pilot” to his talents.  Seeing the float planes I imagine seeing all of this area by plane.

 

Spillway into upper Rideau Lake

Hand operated swing bridge

Beautiful scenery

The only problem I run in to is not having the words to describe the beauty we get to see on a daily basis.  I am glad I have Mike to do this with so we can at least remember between the two of us!!

Yummy! So we learned that the owner of one of the bakeries had 30 employees before good old covid and now she only has 8…needless to say thee was a “help wanted” sign on her door.  I felt like I was back in the states.  We are not alone with our problems as a “country.”  

College kids working hard

Can you say duck?  This always terrifies me.  Mike will tell me to run up and check how close we are to the top of whatever we are passing under.  Like it’s going to help is I say…”too close” because it will be “too late”.  Somehow we trust those boaters that have gone before us and say “glad you went before me.”

On the left is one of the Le Boats

Sunset at Smith Falls which by the way was 9:15 pm.