Below the first Beveridge lock in the Tay Canal, Perth, On

Eddie thinks perhaps he needs this "Canada for Dummies" shirt

The "Crystal Palace" in Perth, actually some unused bus shelters purchased from Ottawa, used here for Farmer's Market. We have seen beautiful Christmas trees in there in the winter.

Wayne was the first one in to cool off

Eddie and Wayne cooking supper.

We have stayed tied to the lock wall. We considered trying to take the boat through the next 2 locks and going on to Last Duel Park, but in the end decided to get the dinghy down and take it into town. Really easy to take the dinghy through locks, much simpler than with the big boat. Then it is about 10 km into Perth, and the speed limit is 10 km/hr, so an hour later we were in downtown Perth. Visited many shops along the main street, had lunch in a nice place called Michaels and ice cream in another shop along the street. Eddie got the Tilley hat he has been looking for, looks very nice on him. The young woman at the locks had told us to keep some speed on as we travelled to keep the deer flies off. Perhaps we were unable to go quite fast enough, there were a lot of deer flies. Most of the canal is through marsh and wetlands, lots of water lilies, reeds, we only saw one house right along the canal. Very pretty trip though. The Tay canal is not actually part of the Rideau system. It connects the town of Perth with the canal, and was built the first time shortly after the Rideau canal went through. Some citizens of Perth wanted a way to transport goods out of the area and saw a canal as very useful, so they financed the building of the Tay canal themselves. They didn't have the resources to maintain it, so after a few years it fell into disrepair. Several years later, in the 1880's, the government of the day was convinced to build a new version of the Tay Canal. In a speech in parliament, one opposition member said that this canal which had cost half a  million  dollars to build had brought in the grand sum of $58.81. It became a national scandal. However in the early 1900's, the canal was very well used by pleasure craft.

Eddie with his new Tilley hat

 After we came back to the boat, grilled hot dogs for supper, then Eddie and I went for a walk up to the next lock. There is a walking trail that goes on from there, but the bugs were coming out, only for Eddie. They apparently don't like my tough Canadian skin nearly as well. All of us got bathing suits on and got in the water to cool off before bed. It felt so good.

At lock 33, Perth, On

just exiting a lock

At dinner with Gordie and Esther, Nancy and Eddie and Adam

Eddie and I on the front of the boat waiting for the next lock around the bend.

Left Smiths Falls about 8:30 this morning, through 2 locks into Lower Rideau Lake and on to the Tay Canal. We wanted to go up the Tay canal right into Perth, and dock at the Last Duel Park, but the people at the lock told us that water levels are so low right now that we probably couldn't do it. With the hot weather and the lack of rain, the system is losing one centimetre of water depth a day. Called son Adam who lives in Perth, he kindly came out and took us into town for a grocery run. We actually didn't need much, but seem to have been going through a lot of water and soft drinks with the heat the past few days. Nice to have a car to bring that back to the boat. Took us to a specialty grocery store called Foodsmiths, very nice place with foods that we don't see in regular stores, then on to Your Independent for all the regular stuff. We brought everything back to the boat, then went back into town to meet friends Gordie and Esther for dinner. Nice for us that Gordie and Esther and Nancy and Eddie have met each other; each couple seems to think that they have heard a lot about the other from us. Altogether  a nice day. We may stay here another day and take the dinghy into town to do a little bit of touring.

Smiths Falls

Leisurely morning today. Walked up the street looking for a place to get breakfast, two different people along the street recommended Freddie's, so we tried it. Quite good, and good prices as well. We had read that there was a farmer's market in Smiths Falls on Saturdays, and the lady here had told us where it was, so we went after breakfast. We were somewhat surprised to find that it consisted of 3 booths, one with baking, one with baking and jewellry, and a third with what looked like garage sale type items. No farmer's produce at all. Then we walked out the other end of town to Walmart, Canadian Tire and grocery store. Out there, several people have booths set up along the highway with fresh produce. We're not sure what is going on.
We are enjoying introducing Nancy and Eddie to Canadian things. Nancy tried a nanaimo bar yesterday, had never seen one before. They have now been to a Canadian Tire store, a Giant Tiger, a Your Independent Grocery store, and a Loblaws, and of course the LCBO and Beer store. Eddie has tried several types of beer that he hasn't seen in the US.
Wayne washed the boat and did a few repairs while Eddie, Nancy and I walked up to the Rideau Canal intrepretative and information centre. It is quite good, lots of info on the canal and how and why it was built. The decision was made to build the canal by the Privy council in England after the war of 1812 so that there would be a secure route to move people and goods if the Americans ever blocked the St. Lawrence. Colonel By, an engineer with the army, got the job of actually building the canal, and his work is still seen as a marvel of great engineering. When the canal was completed, he was recalled to England and reprimanded for going over budget; he never received any honours for this work while he was living.
Had a light dinner on the boat, it is very warm. The lady here at the park said that Smiths Falls is at drought level 2, they will re-evaluate on Monday and if they go to level 3, then the wading pool in the park will not be filled, the splash pad at another park won't operate, and several other restrictions will be put in place. The wading pool here is very well used, many children enjoying the water all day.
Met a couple from New Jersey on a boat here, Clark and Evelyn, they are thinking about doing the loop in a couple of years. We spend a pleasant evening talking about the loop.

Good sign

A quilt on display in the information centre, made by the quilter's guild to commemorate the 150th annviersary of the building of the canal.

A very talented woman embroidered 25 of these panels depicting various aspects of Canada and the history of Canada. The panels are seen as a great example of folk art, and are hanging in the information centre.

Plan to move on to Perth tomorrow, weather permitting.

The entire farmer's market

Smiths Falls, On

We found Eddie a hat, it says EH team with a maple leaf. He seems to think that he can become Canadian just by saying EH? He also seems to think that EH stands for Eddie Hamilton.

Birds seem to be the same everywhere, they like to sit on the markers and they are rude as they sit.

Left Merrickville just after 8 this morning. Tried to sit out on the back of the boat last night but there were a lot of mosquitoes. Tonight we are prepared with a couple of different products. Left fairly early because we heard that the docks at Victoria Park here in Smiths Falls were full the past couple of days, and we wanted at least a chance of a good dock. Got here by 11:30, one of the good docks still empty so we were very lucky. Walked over to the older part of town for lunch at a bakery cafe, very good. Too warm to do much touring today, went through a few stores, then came back to the boat, nice and cool on the back of the boat with a good breeze coming through. Nancy and I both got a load of wash done, then dinner on the boat.

The weather was great for travelling, warm sun, calm water.

Merrickville, On

Cooking dinner, easier on the dock, saves heating up the boat, also saves using all the power in our batteries when we are not plugged in.

Several downed trees along the water heading toward Merrickville, even one cottage which looked like a tree had come down on the roof. Wonder if this is the result of some of the winds we had earlier in the spring.

Passed this weed whacker along the water today, heading to the next lock to clean weeds in a section of the waterway.

At one lock as we were leaving Ottawa the lockmaster asked that we be especially careful around the canoes. He said they are just repairing relations with the people running the camps.

Early this morning tied to the dock at Burretts Rapids

 Left Burretts Rapids with the first lock up this morning. We had heard that the docks at Merrickville were full last night and so wanted to get here early to get a spot. When we arrived below the locks just after 11 there was a spot above the 3 locks, but they do not reserve spots. By the time we had come up through the locks the spots were taken. The lockmaster told us we could tie above the falls to the railing, and so that is where we are. No power, but we can live with that. Went out for lunch and a tour around the town, poked our noses into many of the small shops and galleries. Some art galleries closed today, a well-kown artist in town has died and many were attending his funeral. Cooked dinner at the boat tonight. Plan to move on to Smith's Falls in the morning. Hopefully we will get a spot there. The system seems to have gotten busy all of a sudden.

common sight at the locks, one guy turning the handle with one hand holding a phone to his ear. They are in constant communication with the other locks.

Burrett's Rapids Lock

Tied up at a lock tonight after a very quiet trip down from the wall in downtown Ottawa. Eight locks today, very few traveling. Plan to go on to Merrickville tomorrow

The Wall, Downtown Ottawa, On

Nancy found a really nice Tilley hat to keep the sun off her face.

An example of the street art along the streets.

Changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Beautiful morning today. Dow's Lake very calm. Had breakfast on the back of the boat, then went for a pump out and fuel fill-up, but fuel pump wasn't working, so just a pumpout. The young man did call later to say the repair man had come and we could now fuel up; we will stop there tomorrow am.

Heading uptown on the canal.

Nancy has been wanting to try Poutine - not a food they see in Florida

Statue on Parliament Hill showcasing Nellie McClung holding up .the newspaper reporting that Women were persons in 1929

Waiting for our tour of the Parliament Buildings

As we came uptown, lots of people on the bike paths running, skateboarding, biking. Tied up along the wall not far from the Rideau Centre. Walked up to the war memorial, then to the Parliament buildings. Wayne and I have not toured the Parliament building since we were in school many years ago, so we learned a lot. Got lunch at an Irish pub in the market, then spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the market, picked up some fresh fruit and vegetables. Nice place to sit here watching all of the people go by. Light dinner on the boat. There is a sound and light show on Parliament hill, but we may be in bed by that time.

The view off the back of the boat this morning