The Flora Bridge In The Night

 The Flora Footbridge is a modern, elegant design, the newest bridge over the Rideau Canal in the city. It is a pedestrian and cyclist bridge only, and is named for Flora MacDonald, a well liked and respected politician and cabinet minister who lived in the area for many years.

I looked back the way I came.

The bridge is at its most photogenic at night, with skaters passing beneath it.

Its design on both sides includes staircases and switchback ramps for ease of access, and while it contrasts with the Canal, it does so in a way that is well suited to the setting. This is modern architecture done right.

Back Upon The Skateway

I took another tour of a section of the Rideau Canal skateway, this time during the evening. I approached the Canal near Lansdowne Park, looking to walk towards the Pretoria Bridge. 

I descended down onto the ice surface.

This skate changing hut is in the foreground in this rest area, with a Beavertails cabin beyond it.

Such rest areas tend to have fireplaces for a break- with the fireplace elevated off the ice level, of course, otherwise you'd soon have problems.

I headed off, taking photos back and forth as I went.

The Flora Bridge looms before us. It links the Glebe on the west side with Old Ottawa East on the east side.

A Pathfinder Of Dreams

 I showed you a glimpse of this sculpture yesterday. It is titled Aurora Wildlife, and has a strong First Nations influence.

Next to it is this Inuit influenced Pathfinder of Dreams.

Nordic Spirit is the title of this last sculpture.

One more look- though we'll be back here again as the series goes along.

I stepped outside. The big screen was showing the arrival of athletes at the opening ceremonies.

Muskoka chairs gathered around a fire- very Canadian.

The Nordic Punkupine

 The detail work on these ice sculptures is exceptional, and keeping them under shelters is the right thing to do.

The Nordic Punkupine is the title of this ice sculpture.

I looked back in this section at the others.

The next shelter over featured more ice sculptures. Here we see Journey Home.

The next sculpture over, which we'll get another look at tomorrow.

Close to the visitor, a beaver.