Ottawa and Montebello

Ottawa is the most spectacular “walkable city” we have ever experienced. Meters and miles of winding trails bordered by thriving parks and immaculate waterways. Although bicyclists are abundant, there is plenty of room for joggers and pedestrians to stroll along the pathways. Amiga, Diana G – a healthy co-existence – in the heart of a bustling city – is achievable! 

We found a place to tie up along the wall of the canal, in the heart of downtown Ottawa. 

Boater’s Tip:  Power pedestals are found closest to the locks. A long power cord is a must. Mostly 30 amp, you can ask the parc staff for help.  Red zones are reserved for electric tourist boats. BEWARE: Always lock your boat or vagabonds might climb onboard.

Rideau Canal Skateway

Just imagine a 7.8 km (4.8 mile) waterway that transforms into the world’s largest skating rink! Wikipedia says that’s equal to 90 Olympic Ice Hockey rinks.  Skating season is weather dependent, typically from January to March. From downtown to Hartwells Lock, the winding skate way is free for all to use, accessible 24 hours per day.

On average, the iced-over canal boasts one million visitors per year – that’s a LOT of hot chocolate.

Carefully monitored, the ice must be 30 cm thick before it is open to the public. A historic first, in 2023 the ice conditions were not thick enough to support the masses, so the skateway did not open. Global Warming is real, people.

Here’s the article from the Rideau Canal

Changing of the Guard – House of Parliament

After a lengthy hiatus – hampered by COVID and never-ending renovations at Parliament House – the daily Changing of the Guard ceremony is back! 

Arriving early, Gail and I found a strategic viewing spot. It was the hottest day of the summer, so far, as we watched the majestic performance in the full sun. The marching band, in formal pomp and circumstance costume, wore heavy clothes that must have been ridiculously hot.

Gasp! As if to prove the point, a front row sax player suddenly succumbed to the heat. Well trained and prepared for any misstep, a medic appeared – like a moment from Harry Potter – whisking away the overheated musician. Equally impressive, she was immediately replaced by another sax player who stepped forward into formation, as if the switch was scheduled. Watching the medic escort the musician to a nearby ambulance, the gentle departure was clearly not intentional.

Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica

Inspired by the French Gothic Revival, the decadent Catholic church spared no expense. 

Joseph Eugene Guigues, 1805-1874, the first Catholic Bishop of Bytown (now known as Ottawa)

Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa

240 McLeod St, Ottawa. A healthy walk from the canal walls, the extremely well-funded Museum is a four-story collection of rare artifacts and displays. For the latest exhibits, check here.

Dinosaur Exhibit

This is for Tyler Hendry – pictures from Grandpa Rick

A few random photos here

Check out the Canada goose, bird gallery, fossil gallery (superb authentic dinosaur exhibit), and many more; it was worth the walk.

Superstar of the mammal gallery was the taxidermist who expertly stuffed a plethora of animals, reminding us of the critters who came to life in Ben Stiller’s “Night at the Museum”. Creepy good.

Ptarmigan

With most bird species, males tend to be more colorful than females.  Not the case with the ptarmigan. This fair and impartial bird is known for its unisex avian camouflage, designed to evade predators. Shown here in winter and summer attire, both male and female experience three seasonal wardrobe changes. Most unique – willow, rock, and white-tailed ptarmigans are the only birds in the world that go into full ghost mode, turning as white as the snow in winter! Also notice the feathers on the feet, making perfect snow shoes.

Question for Commodore Greg:  Do you know why the willow ptarmigan is special to this blogger?

Museum Visit – Boater’s Tip: if you approach the museum and there are three (or more) school buses parked by the door, think twice before entering! The magnificent marble floors and expansive rooms are perfect echo chambers for undisciplined children – screeching like predator birds while running in the hallways. Chaotic disruptions translated into an early departure from a magnificent venue.

With that said, at the Canadian Museum of Nature we also observed several grandparents introducing their offspring to the wonders of the world.  Tres Bien!

Thank you to all the grandparents out there who introduce their descendants to galleries and museums.  Personal thanks to Grammy and Poppy Silverstein who loved to explore the Met, the MoMA, the Museum of Natural History and many, many more. Nothing compares to spending a day at the museum, followed by ice cream (or New York cheesecake) with your Grandpa!

Spoiled by a French Guide – Merci beaucoup

Friends from Gulf Harbor, Donna and Paul Belisle, achieved a 5-star rating as self-appointed French guides. In addition to the countless travel tips provided by email, in Ottawa we received the royal treatment, including a lovely dinner at a local Thai spot, a private tour of the city, and a scrumptious dinner in their lovely home.

Best of all, on our last day in Ottawa we were assisted in the final Canal Rideaau Canal flight of 8 locks – with Paul handling lines on Tonto’s Reward and Donna on Exhale – making it VERY easy for both boats to navigate side-by-side down the narrow stair-stepped locks.

Thanks to Paul (note, his first language is French!), he secured our reservations throughout the province of Quebec.  We hope you join us soon Donna and Paul; we are certain you will find the accommodations on Tonto “acceptable.” Ils n’ont pas de chien.

In the past, translations were handled by our Sorrel-born friend, Sideways.  You should be here, Lit’l Houlegan!

La Fin – Canal Rideau Canal

We said goodbye to the Rideau as we completed our final section.

To learn more about the history of this canal, check out the blog from Tonto’s Reward

Montebello and a Unicorn sighting

We returned to the Fairmont Château Montebello, another exquisite experience. Five years ago we were there with Ray and Caryl, on Father’s Day weekend. WOW!

Turtle encounter

Make the time to walk into the town of Montebello where you will discover several restaurants and historic sights.

Montebello Patron

Louis-Joseph Papineau 1786-1871 (sounds like pop-a-new). 

Do you feel like you are surrounded by people speaking French when you arrive in Quebec?  Why Yes! Thanks to this politician. Radical leader of the reformist movement, he made French the official language of the Quebec region dating back to the early 1800s. The sundial is a bonus. Batteries not required.

Now why is the Ptarmigan so special?

Commodore Greg did you guess correctly?  The Willow Ptarmigan is the state bird of … Alaska (this blogger’s home state).

If you like Cornish game hens, you might appreciate how delicious it tastes.  Did I just suggest eating a state bird? Yep! Another fun fact, only three states permit hunting the state bird: Alaska (ptarmigan), California (quail) and South Dakota (ring-necked pheasant).

Celebrating Milestones

New Beginnings: Thank you Sarah Owen – Always Listening.  It’s time to start a new chapter!  XoXoXo

July 7, celebrating Buttercup; 365 days of belly rubs and poop-filled puppy, so far.

July 10, Anniversary: Jamie and David Hendry – celebrating 19 years; July 13, Birthday Laura Jo.  

Next up:  Montreal