Friday, August 16; Day 85: Leaving Ottawa and its associated locks behind , we head up the Rideau River from Long Island locks for the stretch to Burritts Rapids, on a grey and blustery day, and are, not surprisingly, pretty much alone on the water. This is the northern portion of the canal, which is new to us, but we still find the nature of the Rideau familiar and it feels good to be back. We’re on the home run to Kingston over the next two weeks.
We stop for 2 nights at Burritts Rapids, a green and pleasant lock, where we wait for some better weather and do the usual lolligagging.
The top of the lock at Burritts Rapids. The usual suspects: American trawlers, Cruisers from Quebec, and weekend boats from the local areaA good spot below the locksDad and Daughter on a canoe trip
Daughter catches fish; Dad has to let it goOur own garden in front of our side doorEverywhere, Victorian era machinery, some still in use, some rusting quietly awayThe weather may be turning for the better
The leaving of Burritts Rapids comes on a beautiful misty morning, the river view changing by the minute as we have our coffee…
Play misty for me
From Burritts Rapids we make our way through the many locks from there to and beyond Smiths Falls, after which we enter the Rideau Lakes, the high point of the system, from whence the canal and the Cataraqui River and its lakes will lead downstream to Kingston. This is more “our” Rideau since we have travelled here since 2011.
A familiar sight for us – we have been here a half dozen times over the yearsPoonamalie LockAt Colonel By Island, we take refuge from a major stormBut no storm is going to stop M from swimmingThe two of Westport on Lower Rideau Lake is a “must” stopWestport DocksMoored at the waterfrontA beautiful small sailboat is our neighbourThere’s little wind in the willows – it’s hotThe dock doesn’t attract just boatsWe always make sure that when we are in Westport we make it a Thursday Night because it’s Jazz Night at The Cove Inn, with Spencer Evans giving his usual amazing performanceAt Chaffey’s Lock, we grab a prime slipThe Opinion Resort has a swimming pool, a fine restaurant……and a major game of chessChaffey’s Lock is a beautyAll kinds of boats roam the canal……there’s big ones……and small ones……and even working ones. This 1946 tug is on its way to new owners who will use it for marine construction.The fish are cute; but they’ll nibble your toesDavis Lock: probably our favourite of them allThere she goes againDavis in the morning, with a new “Le Boat” rental boat at dock crewed by a German coupleJones Falls Locks: the most impressiveBuilt between 1832 and 1836 by a few Royal Engineers and scores of Irish and Canadian labourers and their families, many of whom died due to malaria or explosions or accidentsM gets ready for the three-flight locks at Jones
Whitefish Lake and “The Duke’s Profile” rock formationSilent night at Upper Brewers LockLooking homewards
Tuesday, August 28, Day 96. We have to watch out: there’s thunderstorms about. And heat. And high wind, so we leave Upper Brewers behind us and tie up at Lower Brewers lock ready for Thursday, when the storms should be over for a little while. It’s another beautiful and peaceful spot and we nestle in next to “blue Heron”, a SabreLine fast trawler from Ohio.
Lower Brewers Lock is the last stage before the final pushA tug leaves Lower Brewers“Blue Heron”, “True North III” and old Chris CraftMorning at Lower Brewers
As the second day passes, the wind whips up. And up. And thunderstorms threaten. At least the weather forecasts were accurate.
This time there’s definitely wind in the willows – 20-odd knots-worth
Time to settle in and listen to the rain on the roof as we start another game of cribbage.
Tomorrow will be the last day of our summer cruise; Day 98.
3 Replies to “Home Run”
What an incredibly beautiful journey.
A great reminder of how much we have just an arm’s length away.
Have so enjoyed coming along with you on this wonderful trip. You and your wife certainly have lots of tales to tell I’m sure. What a fantastic way to spend the summer. Glad you’re safely back.
What an incredibly beautiful journey.
A great reminder of how much we have just an arm’s length away.
Have so enjoyed coming along with you on this wonderful trip. You and your wife certainly have lots of tales to tell I’m sure. What a fantastic way to spend the summer. Glad you’re safely back.
Welcome back!