Ottawa - August 1, 2011 - MVSanderling.netMVSanderling.net

We departed Smith Falls at 0830 on Monday, July 25, and headed to Aylings Marina and Boatyard in Merrickville, arriving there about 1335. We were met at the Aylings by Doug who helped us secure our lines to a dock, then came aboard to talk about the problem we were having with the coolant loss. After some discussion, he went to work trying to figure out where the coolant was going. He soon eliminated the exhaust system (good news because that would have meant a leaking head or exhaust gasket and $$$ to replace), and eventually came to a leaking temperature control valve on the hot water heater. Some more checking and running the engine until it was hot confirmed that it was the valve. The installation manual indicated that a relacement valve would be required, but a call to the local dealer in Ottawa revealed that the valves were no longer being produced and were not available, so the only option would be to bypass the valve. By then it was late in the afternoon and Doug said he’d take care of it first thing in the morning. We ate dinner at a restaurant in Merrickville, and the next morning Doug came aboard to change the coolant lines around, we started the engine to get it up to operating temperature (no leak), shut down and let it cool off, and confirmed that the leak had stopped.

We filled the water tanks, Bob took a shower and we were off at 1320 heading toward Ottawa. We stopped at Burritts Lock in a beautiful setting for the night. The next day, July 27th, we departed Burritts Rapids Lock and five hours later stopped for the day at Long Island Lock – another beautiful spot. On Thursday, July 28th, we were underway at 1005 and cruised through a winding and sometimes narrow Rideau River until reaching Hartwell Lock, at which time we departed the Rideau River and entered a series of canals leading to Ottawa. The Rideau River is very much like the Erie Canal when it is following rivers past small towns, cottages, marinas and homes. Once we entered the canals we were in Ottawa proper, passing the University and other buildings following the man-made canal winding its way toward the Ottawa River. We stopped at “the wall” in Ottawa, about 400 yard short of the beginning of the eight stair-step locks that would lower us another 80 feet into the Ottawa River. The next morning many of the boats that had been on the wall when we arrived departed early, and we moved to the “head of the line” next to the tour boats that use the far west end of the newly refurbished wooden docks along the wall.

We are about 200 yards from the bridge over the street at Parliament Hill, with the National Arts Center to our port side. It’s an active area, with a lot of boats tied to the wall and more boats coming and going up and down the flight of eight locks every few hours (it takes about 3 hours to pass through all the locks).

We have visited Parliament (you can take tours through the actual chambers), the Supreme Court building (tour given by a second year law student at the University), the National Art Gallery, and the Canadian Museum of Civilization, seen the sound and light show projected on the Parliament building, plus walked miles. This is a great spot to visit, with much to see and do.