The water was still and dark black. The sky:
grey. It made the trees a more vibrant dark
Boat access to the Rideau
green. There was a slight mist rising in some
spots. It was so amazing. I was left with this Those with riverfront property can put in a canoe or kayak
calm, peaceful and content feeling. A divine
without hassle. For the rest of us, it means carrying the boat,
moment, a pause, then a realization that I was
in this amazing moment and place in my life.
paddles, lifejackets, etc., to the river’s edge after getting the gear
“I’ve seen a huge snapping turtle, and I keep
to a riverside park by car rack. You’ll find several access point to
watch for the comings and goings of the
launch a boat on the north side of the river.
great blue heron. I even saw a beaver. My
secret spot is just around the bend, pointing
towards Brantwood Park. There’s a tree half LAUNCH SITES
fallen into the river and I can hold on to a
branch and watch the sunsets.” springhurst park:
The park at the
XYZ location has no
dock. There’s room to
car park at the corner
of Springhurst and
Brunswick Lane, and
then it’s only one to 15
metres to the shore.
brantwOOD park:
You won’t find a
dock but there is an easily accessible launch site, with a small free parking lot nearby.
Both are at the river-end of Clegg Street.
winDsOr park:
With a kayak, Lee has explored further This one has a City of Ottawa public dock, complete with cleats for tying up a
than canoeists can manage. “I’ve paddled boat, but you can’t store them here. There is a free parking lot at the end of Windsor
to little rapids at Carleton University. I like Avenue, but you still have to carry the boat through the park to the dock. Here’s a
the rifts and shallows there. And I’ve gone bonus; washrooms are available when the wading pool is open.
downstream to Strathcona Park where
there are more shallows, but the problem billings briDge park:
is coming back against the current. It’s No designated launch area, but the riverbank is low enough to launch just about
quite strong under Hurdman Bridge. Just anywhere in the park. Located on the east shore of the river near Billings Bridge, the
upstream of the bridge though, there are parking lot is accessible from Riverside Drive South only. There are a couple of islands
some nice boulders. I like to sit in an eddy here to meander around, and lots of well-fed ducks!
behind a boulder and just meditate.”
Her voice changes as we talk about brewer park:
the river and paddling. Her enthusiasm is Canoe launch is on the west shore of the river not far from the parking area, which
obvious. She took her daughter Grace, now is off Bronson Avenue across from Carleton University. The park also includes walking
6, out in a tandem kayak last year. “She trails along
likes to bring her parasol and pretend she’s the river, and
Cleopatra.” a pond for
feeding ducks
scullers
and observing
Canoes and kayaks are not the only wildlife.
watercraft on this part of the river. Just Washrooms
after dawn, scullers in their oh-so-tippy are available
shells come powering by with sunlight nearby at
slanting down. Only the splash of a bad the Brewer
stroke alerts unobservant landlubbers. Complex
On calm mornings, a line of parallel oar- when
dipped bubbles in the water is their only programs are
trace. Like the rest of us, they come quietly running. «OO
to the river.
6 OTTAWA >> SUMMER/FALL 2008
www.OttawaOutdoors.ca
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