Day 52 Kingston to Ottawa, Ontario

100.4 miles, 2,900 ft ascent, riding time 7 hours, 29 minutes with up to 14 mph headwind

 

Today we rode on a route initiated by the Ottawa Bike Club for Imperial Centuries between Ottawa and Kingston.  We passed through farm and cottage country, close to waterways and locks of the Rideau Canal system between Kingston and Ottawa.  The Rideau Canal was built as a military project after the War of 1812, due to fear that the US Navy would control Lake Ontario.  The canal system was never used for war, and it is now a recreational waterway.

Early today the wind was quiet and I captured these lovely photos of a number of lakes.

Not often does one see the sky reflected on the lake surface as it was here.

This lake resembles one of many in the US Midwest.  Note the lily pads in the foreground.

Yet another lake with lily pads.

Farms we saw en route today were smaller than we have observed elsewhere on our journey.

Canada is the world's leading producer and exporter of maple products, accounting for 75% of the global market.  The Province of Quebec is by far the largest producer, representing 96.4% of Canadian product exports.  Thus, the fact that Lanark County is the leading producer in the province of Ontario is perhaps, not too significant.  Next week we will be in Quebec Province and looking for all things "maple".

 

 

The wind rose later in the morning, causing it to be much more difficult making headway.  We rode on Perth Road all morning, and came upon Perth Town Hall.  It wasn't clear whether this building was limestone, like so many we had seen in Kingston.  Note:  The flag on the town hall is indicative of the wind we were facing.

Riding uphill into a strong headwind when I thought I saw a cow lying on a rock.  Examine the rock on the left side of the picture. 

Ottawa Senators NHL home arena sponsored by Canadian Tire.

A long day in the saddle, but we achieved our objective.  We battled headwinds, as well as crosswinds.  There were no tailwinds to be found, yet we stayed united and got to camp at a reasonable pace.  We rode up one steep hill that was described on the cue sheet as 600m to the top, but failed to say that the grade was 15% at the top.  Standing on the pedals was the order of the day, unless one wanted to dismount and walk.  Another Imperial Century in the books!

There were many lakes and rivers along the route that I did not photograph.  All of them are interconnected by the aforementioned system of canals and locks called the Rideau Canal System.  I am told by my Canadian colleagues that this waterway is kept open so that one can travel today by boat from Kingston to Ottawa.

Visit us again for more sights and action!