Stark Tales : DAY 18 - MERRICKVILLE ONTARIO

Ottawa to Merrickville

We started out on the Rideau Canal from Ottawa around 8:00 a.m. A cloudy, rain-on-and-off day but a great day. 12 Locks! Some were one right after the other, some were 3-5 miles apart, and there was a 26 mile span. I really was in the swing of the locks and I cannot say enough about the lockhands – young men and women. They not only work manually, cranking the lock gates open and closed, but their attitudes just make you feel good. They smile, have the gates open when you get there (no waiting docks once we got through the first - YAY), help with lines, give helpful advice and wish you well when leaving.

Good-bye Ottawa

Starting out on the Rideau Canal

First and only waiting dock today

3 Lockhands simultaneously operating 2 gates and 1 swing bridge

I say “young” lockhands but there was a Lockmaster this morning who had us grinning ear to ear. When he called me “Admiral” I knew I liked him. Wish I caught his magnetic smile and crinkled eyes in a picture but I was too entranced with his stories. Some of his quotes: “Don’t’need a rainjacket - got a nice flask of bourbon at home.” “Some people don’t even know how to get into slip-on shoes.” “It’s as bad as being a little person in a nudist colony.” He is a retiree who loves working the locks, loves people and exudes joy.And he actually cranks the locks right along with the young 'uns.

The cruise was beautiful, even in the rain. Gorgeous tree-lined canal and, many times, beautiful homes. I had my 'lovely' boat raincoat and patched rainpants on much of the day. The key to making it rain is to take your rainpants off – numerous times. Arrived in Merrickville around 4:30 and staying in Ayling Marina – more like a boatyard but the owner is very accommodating. To me it looked like Kya’s shack if you’ve read “Where the Crawdads Sing” and we were a little wary. But turned out Steve, the owner, was extremely accommodating and congenial. We topped off the water tank and got a pump-out so we're ready to go. Steve also restores old boats in his boatyard.

You can have a boat at your dock - or a plane at your dock

Ayling's Marina/Boatyard

"Good Shepherd"

Happy to get some locks under our belt, we headed to town. Ate at the Baldachin Inn on the main corner. Fine dining on one side of a lovely bar and casual on the other (that was us). Walked in just as Bianca won the U.S. Open. Of course a small roar went up when she won – only about 12 of us on the pub side but proud and happy Canadians! Fun to be there.