Rideau Canal, Leg 6

Another nice morning, a bit grey with a very brief sprinkle, but then sunny most of the day. We are near the end of the Rideau now, and a little slow in getting started. This has been a very peacfull, relaxing trip, and I know Kingston will be a big city and all the hustle of the real world. I don't want to go there.

We are on Whitefish Lake, a rather large lake, with some fairly large rocky shores.

Now at the end of the lake its another of those tight passages into the next lake.

Another nice swing bridge at Brass Point. This one is run by the county road agancy, but operates under the same hours as the canal. I saw it was open and approached, but got waved off by the attendant- he had opened it for an up bound boat that I didn't see. I also missed the red light showing to my side, but on the canal there are no modern lights, so I was not looking for one.

Then along Murphys Narrows where we were watched closely by one of these cows. We also saw otter, ospreys, blue herron, lots of birds, huge bushes of lilacs.

How's this for a very nautical sign? Obviously this canal has a lot of weekend boater traffic. It is well marked, lots of channel markers, many large day marks on the shore. It would be hard to get lost here, altough it is possible because some of the lakes have dozens of bays or outlets. You do need to mind the charts. I really appreciated my chartplotter and GPS through some of the lakes studded with islands.

Lower Brewers lock, between Cranberry Lake and the Cataraqui River. Another beautiful spot, with another hand operated swing bridge.

A single lock, with a drop of 13 feet. We tied up to walk around the lockstation.

I am completely awed by this region- a canal built as a defense against the US after the war of 1812, designed and built in 5 years, that leaves us today with a wonderful water recreation area, with hydro electric generation, beautiful lakes, miles of rivers, huge areas of wet land and marsh. It would be hard to design a better environment.

Very near the end now, on the River Styx. Another amazing area- the photo doesn't really show how thick the grass is on either side of the chanel. It almost looked like you could walk on the water the grass was so thick. And with almost constant fish jumping out of the water as we passed.

Confederation Marina in Kingston. A nice city, we walked to the Maritime Museum, then found the Marina showers for a most welcome shower. Then off to a nice restaurant.

The Rideau Canal is finished. Both Bonnie and I are having a very hard time ending this. It has been as fine a week as I ever recall. The canal workers were universally friendly, helpfull people. Every lock station looks like a picture of the mid 1800's, all neatly trimed and tidy.

I don't want to sound like a Parks Canada PR person, but if you ever get the chance to see this area, best by boat, but even by road, do it.

Back to the Trip Log

	We are on Whitefish Lake, a rather large lake, with some fairly large rocky shores.
	Now at the end of the lake its another of those tight passages into the next lake.
	Another nice swing bridge at Brass Point. This one is run by the county road agancy, but operates under the same hours as the canal. I saw it was open and approached, but got waved off by the attendant- he had opened it for an up bound boat that I didn't see. I also missed the red light showing to my side, but on the canal there are no modern lights, so I was not looking for one.
	Then along Murphys Narrows where we were watched closely by one of these cows. We also saw otter, ospreys, blue herron, lots of birds, huge bushes of lilacs.
	How's this for a very nautical sign? Obviously this canal has a lot of weekend boater traffic. It is well marked, lots of channel markers, many large day marks on the shore. It would be hard to get lost here, altough it is possible because some of the lakes have dozens of bays or outlets. You do need to mind the charts. I really appreciated my chartplotter and GPS through some of the lakes studded with islands.
	Lower Brewers lock, between Cranberry Lake and the Cataraqui River. Another beautiful spot, with another hand operated swing bridge.
	A single lock, with a drop of 13 feet. We tied up to walk around the lockstation.
	I am completely awed by this region- a canal built as a defense against the US after the war of 1812, designed and built in 5 years, that leaves us today with a wonderful water recreation area, with hydro electric generation, beautiful lakes, miles of rivers, huge areas of wet land and marsh. It would be hard to design a better environment.
	Very near the end now, on the River Styx. Another amazing area- the photo doesn't really show how thick the grass is on either side of the chanel. It almost looked like you could walk on the water the grass was so thick. And with almost constant fish jumping out of the water as we passed.
	Confederation Marina in Kingston. A nice city, we walked to the Maritime Museum, then found the Marina showers for a most welcome shower. Then off to a nice restaurant.