Monday, May 21

Parliament Square - Ottawa

"Giant's Staircase" - Ottawa Staircase Locks 1-8

Jogging path - Chateau Montebello

Twenty miles up the Ottawa River lies the Canadian capital city of Ottawa.  Here we entered the Ottawa Staircase Locks 1-8.  This flight of eight locks provides a spectacular 79-foot total vertical rise to the entrance of the Rideau Canal.  They are sometimes called the Giant's Staircase and cut through the city by the Parliament Buildings.
 Many tourists lined both sides of the lock, it was our five minutes of celebrity.  We have now left Quebec and English once again is the official language, it was nice to once again easily communicate with people.   The ascent takes 90 minutes and there is no stopping once you have started these locks.
There were tie-up walls at the top of the locks providing easy access to the city sights.  We grabbed our bikes and headed out for a brief tour of Parliament Square & the Rideau Canal pedestrian/bike path.  It is a picturesque city with lots of parks and green space.
We enjoyed a leisurely cruise down the canal with many kayaks, canoes & dogs romping in the brisk waters.  We traveled fifty-two miles and passed through thirteen locks before calling it a day - back on the blue wall, but this time with electricity.