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| View from top of Rock Dunder hike |
Today is a touring, exploring day that starts with the Rock Dunder reserve hike, which was recommended to us by Victoria - our future daughter in law :) She went to Queens University in Kingston so she is familiar with the area.
The hike is a nice climb up through trees and huge rocks. Feels like the Canadian Shield again. Great views at the top :)
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Boots and legs - Chris photo :)
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| Arch stone dam from 1830 |
Next we head to the Jones Falls locks 39-42 on the Rideau Canal. We park and walk the loop to take in the entire engineering wonder. On the upstream end, there is a spectacular arch stone dam that was built to tame a mile long series of rapids and falls. Built in 1830, it is a tremendous engineering feat for the day and it still stands today for the most part exactly as originally built.
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| Upper lock |
Jones Falls is considered one of the prettiest and highly photographed lock stations on the Rideau Canal. It is a flight of 3 lower locks, with a turning basin separating these from the upper lock. It's the highest lift of any lock station on the Rideau.
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| Rideau Canal history |
There is a small museum on sight explaining the history of the Rideau Canal. Basically after the War of 1812, Canada needed a secure water route within our own lands, in order to bypass the vulnerable St. Lawrence River during tense times with the USA. It served as a vital defense against American invasion at that time in history.
It only took 6 years to build the entire Rideau Canal system, a huge effort at a time when Canada was under threat from the Americans. Currently Canada needs to come together again and get some big projects going in order to launch our country out of the economic coma it has been in for 10 years. Can we thwart the current American threat of trump on Canada?
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| Upper lock exit and turning basin |
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| Start of the lower locks |
Today the Rideau Canal is primarily used for recreational boating and it is lovely.
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Town of Westport
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The narrow back roads through the countryside offer great views and soon we are at Westport, a happening little town on Upper Rideau Lake, which is all part of the Rideau Canal network.
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| Boats on Westport Town docks |
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| Looking out on Upper Rideau Lake |
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| Westport mural |
We explore the town streets for a bit, grab some groceries and sit on a patio with a view for local craft beer. Then it's back to the RV after a great day out and about.
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| Halloween in August |
Back at Rideau Acres it is full on Halloween. There are tons of costumes and decorations and people mulling about having fun. While at our Ottawa RV resort they celebrated Halloween last weekend. Is it an Ontario thing to celebrate Halloween in August?
We walk about and chat with people here and there and then call it a night. BOO
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