After our visit to Ottawa and transiting the staircase locks know as the ‘flight of 8’ we set off to cruise the rest of Rideau Canal. Approximate travel time to travel the entire 125 miles from Ottawa to Kingston takes 3-4 days. We estimate it will take 10 days to reach Kingston making many stops along the way.
The Rideau Canal is the oldest, continually operating canal in North America that remains operational along its original technology unchanged from 175 years ago. It was built primarily for strategic military purposes at a time when Great Britain and the United States vied for control of the region, however was never used for that purpose. There are 24 lock stations with a total of 45 locks and the operation of each is a tourist attraction. Folks line the lock walls and watch the operation of the locks and chat with folks on the boat. We pass out boat stickers to kids and enjoy telling our story and answering questions to onlookers as we ‘mind our lines.’ College students and lock masters turn hand cranks to open lock doors and values to control the water flow. Enough can not be said about the kindness and helpfulness of the staff at Parks Canada. They chat, give directions, provide information about the upcoming locks and the availability of wall space for overnighting all while pulling our lines and turning cranks.
We plan our stops accordingly, finding friendly communities that line the Rideau or a lock wall that provide safe and protected refuge with gorgeous and peaceful scenery. Each town offers historical and cultural experiences, restaurants and shops along with some sort of bakery – oh so many wonderful bakeries and butter tarts.
Upper Nicholsons (Lock 19), Canada
Merrickville, Ontario, Canada
Smith Falls, Canada
