Dot's Way Cruising Cat

We got up early and moved the boat to the blue line dock to be the first to go through the Ottawa Locks 8-1 Staircase. We walked by to Byward Market and had breakfast at Zak's Diner and then stopped at the Bistro Bakery for a multi-grain baguette of bread. We then waited to find out that they would lock up the four boats from the bottom at 9 am and it would be 11 am before they locked us four boats down. We stopped at the coffee shop at the museum and happened to see the parade and changing of guard which was a nice surprise. We had intermittent rain during the lock through and finally emerged on the Ottawa River around 1 pm and headed to an anchorage at Petrie Island Bay off a park with a beach. We had a hard time finding water less than 40 feet to anchor but we are set for the night with more rain expected. It turned out to be a chilly afternoon.

Rideau Falls seen from Ottawa River

Leaving Ottawa behind

Windsurfing near the park

A view of the park and beach on the island as we left

We took an early hike on the Tip to Tip Trail with threatening thunderstorms around us. We heard thunder but only got a little light rain after we pulled away from the dock headed to Ottawa. This was the longest stretch of almost three hours to the first lock. We went through Locks 16, 15, 14 at Long Island, then Lock 13 at Black Rapids, Locks 12 (not in use) and 11 at Hog's Back, Locks 10, and 9 at Hartwells. We passed Dows Lake which was the only anchorage outside Dows Lake Pavilion zLuarina and then had to wait for Pretoria Avenue Lift Bridge to open on demand. Finally we made it to the Parks Canada mooring wall only to find it full. We went down to the blue line docks that are under a bridge and the lock tender directed us back up the canal to tie up against the park wall along the bike path and tie to the railings. We met another friendly couple from Valparaiso who walked with us to the Farm Boy Grocery Store which happened to be in the train station with the liquor store that just opened today after the two week strike. Locks 8 to 1 are the Ottawa Staircase Locks and you pass through them all the way to the bottom. We came through Ottawa on a camping trip to check out the locks and tour the town and visit the Canadian Mint and the Parliament Changing of the Guards. We enjoyed happy hour and dinner on the boat.

Spotted several seaplanes along canal

House looks like a boat

Tree house along canal

Every dock has a flag and adirondack chairs

Lots of no wake buoys along populated stretches

Colorful cottage

Heading into Ottawa

Big city bridge/street art

Lots of water activity

Approaching downtown city center

Bike trails along the canal

The one drawbridge we had to wait on to open

Beautiful pleasure boat along the lock wall

Amazing building across the street from the canal

A trawler from Valparaiso

All within sight of canal

We walked to Zak's Diner for breakfast near Byward Market. We then walked by the Rideau Canal staircase of locks and saw one boat on the blue line. We crossed over to the other side of the canal and walked the pedestrian path along the canal glad to be out of the bike lane as they whizzed by on electric bikes. We found Happy Goat Coffee Company for a latte and to use their wifi to upload pictures. It started raining as we stopped at the second liquor store for more wine. We dropped it off at the boat and then the rain stopped so we headed to the grocery store. The rain and thunderstorms continued off and on all afternoon. We ended up moving the boat to a place with a dock on the canal which made it easier than hopping over the railing using our step stool. We headed back to Byward Market to Chez Lucien, a locals pub for a salad and a beer for lunch. It rained hard again so we dashed in the Byward Market and then dashed into the Rideau Centre Mall to get out of the rain. Once we got back to the boat for happy hour it poured again.