Monday, February 10, 2014

Corktown Bridge

I'm taking a couple of days away from Confederation Park for another side of Winterlude, the Rideau Canal. We're looking north on the final stretch of the Canal. You can see the Chateau Laurier there in the distance. This shot is taken from the Corktown Bridge.


Looking south, we see more skaters. The Canal is much busier on the weekends right now than when I took this, on a weekday, but even so, a fair number of people get onto it during the day. The bridge itself is relatively new, a pedestrian crossing between the University of Ottawa, there on the left, and Centretown to the right. It gets a good deal of use during the day, and is a rather graceful bridge as it spans across the Canal.


And it does attract that odd tendency people have to fasten locks to the railings that we see on other bridges in other cities.


There are staircases leading down to the Canal from each side of the bridge, and temporary stairs down below onto the ice itself. From here, you're getting a better look at the bridge itself, with the mix of the campus buildings beyond it.


I like the shape of the supports, and thought they'd frame skaters rather nicely for this shot.


And here's what the bridge looks like from the surface of the ice. It bears the name Corktown as a nod to the many Irish workers who came over to work on the construction of the Canal in the 1820s and 1830s. Many settled in the Ottawa Valley afterwards, and to this day, there is still a strong Irish presence in the valley, so the name suits the bridge. And the bridge itself, I've always thought, enhances the Canal itself.


34 comments:

  1. I've just been catching up on your 'Winterlude' posts William.. amazing to see the tools and the techniques the ice sculptors use for their creations.. they look fantastic through the day and even more so lit up at night. j'adore the mermaids! It still amazes me to see rivers and canals iced over solid enough for people to skate, I feel a little deprived over here in the constant sunshine :) Super shot looking out from the Corktown Bridge.. Chateau Laurier looks rather intriguing!

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  2. The canal looks like a motorway like this!, yes the bridge provides a pretty frame!
    At first I thought the love locks were fun, but now that Parisian bridges are literally caving in because of them, I detest them!

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  3. Ah man, I would love to be skating on that canal !

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  4. Skating on the Canal would be so cool; I never knew of locks being put on bridges before now? And the Ice Sculptures in your previous posts I always am in awe of, same with Sand & Wood Sculptures. Amazing talents.

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  5. There's something so deliciously Old World about skating on a frozen canal... I think I'd like to do it just once.

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  6. I think it's great to see people outdoors enjoying the season.

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  7. If I could skate, I'd be there...but I have two left ankles!

    Interesting collection of locks....

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  8. how fun! i just saw my first lock attached to a bridge on my walk yesterday...how funny you'd post some!

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  9. The bridge is wonderful. I saw lots of locks like that in Paris. But I'm most impressed with the skating on the canal. Brings back lots of childhood memories. To have all that area to skate on must be great fun!

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  10. Wonderful shots William. That is a very nice place to skate.

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  11. @Grace: thank you!

    @Ciel: I tend to think, if it's not your personal property, you don't have the right to be altering it. Same goes for locks on bridges.

    @Babzy: many people do!

    @Stuart: it's even enjoyable to walk on.

    @Cindy: I've known about that tendency for awhile.

    @Revrunner: it certainly is!

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  12. @Tamera: the Dutch in particular love coming over to skate it.

    @EG: yes it is!

    @Norma: well, you're not the only one who didn't learn how to skate.

    @Tanya: I saw another photoblogger yesterday with the locks on a bridge theme.

    @Lowell: it's a great deal of fun to be out on it.

    @Luis: thanks!

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  13. The canal is nice place to skate. Good pictures.

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  14. I love how you framed the skaters with the supports! Always sweet to see the canal being well-used, even on a weekday (I might've mentioned in a past comment, I knew someone who'd commute to work via ice skates on the canal) - great captures of the action!

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  15. A great series of photos today. I'm so impressed by this canal all frozen over and turned into a skating place. Young athletes could use this long track to practice on before going to the Olympics! I loved the views from the bridge.

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  16. Wonderful post and photos ! I went there many years ago it is so lovely in the winter to skate along there and look at all the scenery and people enjoying a sunny winter day ! Thanks for sharing . Have a good day !

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  17. Love the bridge pix. But what are all the locks about?

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  18. @Inna: thanks!

    @LondonLulu: a good number of people do use the canal to commute in winter, either for work, or to either of the universities, since they're both along the canal.

    @Sharon: it wouldn't surprise me if some do!

    @Country Gal: thanks!

    @Cheryl: the idea is that couples think it's romantic to fasten a lock to a bridge railing and throw away the key, and that'll secure their relationship forever.

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  19. I can't decide which pic I like the best - they all look wonderful!

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  20. Outdoor skating is so much fun! A few people were skating on the small lakes here a few weeks ago. But it's too warm now. And I don't have my skates yet!

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  21. Love to see the skaters on the canal. So very winter.
    The bridge is indeed wonderful.

    cheers, parsnip

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  22. Wow wow wow William, this Rideau Canal is a DREAM for ice skaters.

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  23. Fascinating! Really enjoyed this post of yours! Top shot especially.

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  24. @RedPat: thanks!

    @Halcyon: here they take full advantage, and it's been a good skating season.

    @Parsnip: thanks!

    @Karl: it does serve that purpose!

    @Lauren: thank you!

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  25. Took my skates to Ottawa once for a meeting and skated a long way down the canal. Such a unique rink!

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  26. I like the bridge over the canal too. Thanks for the information as good as the images. MB

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  27. Great to see the skaters in action. I envy you for the ice and the winter weather. Overhere it looks like spring at the moment.

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  28. Great series of photos from all angles.

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