Monday, October 2, 2017

A Stroll Over The Mighty Ottawa River

One Sunday back in August, I decided to go seek out a place I haven't explored before, a park on the Gatineau side of the Ottawa River. Today we're going to start taking a look at that walkabout. Rather than take the usual Alexandra Bridge across, I chose the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge to the east. This view is taken from Sussex Drive as I crossed over.


The Ottawa River along much of its length forms the lion's share of the boundary between Ontario and Quebec, and is wide here. The park I was headed to is Leamy Lake Park (Parc Ecologique du Lac Leamy), the wooded area over to the left. The Gatineau River finds its outlet into the Ottawa River there. I had never been there before.


Here is a view of Earnscliffe, the residence of the British High Commissioner, which I last showed you during Doors Open. It stands overlooking the river, a couple of minutes walk away from the bridge. The second view taken at more of a distance shows its neighbours, the National Research Council on its left, and the foreign ministry to its right.


This is something we don't see on the Alexandra Bridge- a clear marker of where the provinces begin and end. On the other side of the bridge, a similar sign is marked welcoming you into Ontario.


The Ottawa River is a big one, travelling over 1270 kilometres from its headwaters to its outlet in the St. Lawrence at Montreal. Here in the National Capital Region, the river has begun its final section, wide and well traveled. I had never crossed the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge on foot before; I have driven across, but on foot it's a different experience. This bridge is the last one over the river in the city; downstream from here you have to drive out to the Hawkesbury area an hour away to cross the river by bridge.


It also offers a different perspective of the Rideau Falls, which of course are east of Earnscliffe.


Here we are on the Gatineau side of the river. Jacques Cartier Park actually extends eastward a good deal, adjoining Leamy Lake Park, and these views take in the Rideau Falls on the far shore.

33 comments:

  1. It's been a long time since I have been to Ottawa and back, and this is a lovely series, William! I like the Quebec sign, too!

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  2. Beautiful scenes from your stroll. So peaceful.

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  3. This is a nice adventure. The falls are very interesting from such a distance. And the scale of the river is so great from these perspectives.

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  4. Looks like a great day for a stroll. The river is really wide!

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  5. I love it when signs announce a city or region. What does "Gatineau" mean in French?

    Janis
    GDP

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  6. That's quite a walk, I think, but it's beautiful to see the river and the Rideau Falls from this new perspectives.

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  7. ...it certainly looks like a mighty river!

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  8. @Linda: thanks!

    @Nancy: it was a pleasant day.

    @Kay: it is quite a wide river. Upstream around the Chaudiere Falls it is not, but only because there are islands.

    @Francisco: thank you.

    @Marleen: it is formidable.

    @Janis: I don't know, but I will look into it.

    @Jan: it is!

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  9. It looks as wide as our Mississippi...but not as dirty.

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  10. Beautiful views from the bridge! That is a big river.

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  11. Hello, I love the water views. Gorgeous captures of the river. Happy Monday, enjoy your day and week ahead.

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  12. There is a lot to see crossing the river.

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  13. Thank you for taking this walk. That is one amazing river ... wide and powerful and beautiful! Love the commissioner's house, too. Can you imagine the view he has! I'm wondering how far it was to walk across the bridge. It must get really cold there in the winter for this river to freeze over!

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  14. You can always find beautiful areas in Ottawa for photos.

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  15. @Tom: it certainly is.

    @Norma: it has had some pollution issues in the past.

    @Lois: it certainly is.

    @Eileen: thank you!

    @Sharon: there is!

    @Lowell: the total length of the bridge is 618 metres, so over half a kilometre.

    @Red: the park itself was quite a surprise.

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  16. A thoroughly enjoyable walk over the bridge with lots of wonderful sights.

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  17. This is a walk I would enjoy going on. Lovely views! The bridge sounds impressive.

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  18. Gosh this really is a different viewpoint William, how fascinating to see familiar landmarks from another perspective. I like the look of the British High commission from here, what a splendid view they must have!

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  19. i don't believe we have done the Quebec part of Canada, maybe one day ... i hope and can't wait to see!! ( ;

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  20. Lovely photos of your stroll ~ didn't know Quebec was so close to Ottawa ~ better study my geography ~ Happy Week to you !

    A ShutterBug Explores aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  21. A very nice walk with stunning views of your city and the river along the way.

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  22. @Christine: and it was a pleasant day as well!

    @Denise: it is quite a span to cross.

    @Grace: they certainly have a prominent spot there.

    @RedPat: it was a very long walk. I was glad to get home.

    @Beth: it's quite a province to explore. I've been through on several occasions, as far as the Gaspe, but mostly my excursions are limited to going into Gatineau. I do tend to photograph in Ottawa more often, but I do try to include the Gatineau side of the river as well.

    @Carol: yes, the National Capital Region as it's called does feature into both provinces. Ottawa is certainly the capital, but the government has facilities in both cities, and a lot of public servants cross the river from home to work in both directions each day.

    @Bill: it was just the right kind of day for that trip.

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  23. That's a great walk and the weather looks like it was perfect for a good longish city walk (unless it was too hot -- since it was back in August). We were both raised on the Washington State side of the Snake River and could walk across a bridge into the next town which was in the State of Idaho. As a little girl, I was impressed that I could walk from one State to the next and I still like to walk a bridge especially if it goes between two different states .... I'm sure I'd think the bridge walk you show here was magic!

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  24. Nice views from the bridge on your walk to Quebec. I didn't realize the Ottawa River is that long. Have a great October.

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  25. Thanks for coming over after my long absence . That is a wide river...and wouldn't it be nice to live in that Commisioner 's house?

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  26. How lovely to see the open water, for now!
    You're right about the leaf colour. So barren.

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  27. It is nice to walk with you here by river. So lovely scenes.

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  28. Love that first photo and shared on FB.

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  29. It is wide river indeed. Nice views.

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  30. @Sallie: as I recall, that was a hot day.

    @Revrunner: you have to have them.

    @Pamela: it's a big river. From here down to Montreal it's the final stretch, but it reaches a long distance from its source.

    @Janey: they've got quite the view!

    @Jennifer: thanks!

    @Orvokki: thank you.

    @Linda: thanks!

    @Klara: it's quite a river.

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