Two days in amazing Ottawa. I will try and do my best to capture it all! We entered the Rideau Canal from the Ottawa River in Canada's capital. The first set of locks raises us up 79 feet with 8 stair step locks, 45 lock in all. It was 90 degree's and sandwiched in the lock with 5 large boats. No breeze, no clouds, direct sun! Once at the top we had a place on the wall with power. We are finding out that Canada has mostly 30 amp power so we are lucky Ron brought the 30 amp extension cord and purchased a splitter for our 50 amp. So many looper told us they did not need AC after New Jersey, It is a hot one this summer in Canada. I know that on Canada Day July 1, it was hotter in Montreal than it was in Key West. Maybe we made a wrong turn.

We took advantage of the hop on hop off bus and visited the Canada History Museum. We learned about C-3 a 150 anniversary project for Canada.sailing the 3 northern coasts of Canada . A journey from Toronto to Victoria via the Northern Passage. Celebrating Canada's environment, coastal communities and connecting Canada from Coast to Coast. The 4 5 min. film we watched was breath taking and emotional. We continued to visit the tomb of the Unknown soldier and watch the changing of the guard. Finally visiting the market area for a great Italian meal and a visit to a Italian market. Guess what we had for dinner the next couple nights on the boat.

I have to tell you about the Historic Rideau Canal. Managed by Parks Canada. 45 Locks connect Ottawa & Kingston only 2 are electronic and are now protected as a Historical monument in Canada. The balance of the locks are all hang cracked open and many of the bridges are hand cracked or manually pushed open. The students from Canada Universities work the locks with the lockmaster during the summer. Most are very helpful and want to know about your journey. Tourist line the locks throughout the canal to ask in amazement "your from Florida" how did you get here? "Well on this boat"

As you stay on the canal walls at night you are mostly joined by other loopers or Canadians traveling the Rideau for a summer Holiday. So many people we meet say that they are Canadian and winter in Florida. Now we kno why the traffic is so bad in Florida! Our next few posts will take us through the Rideau Canal to Kingston ON.