Rideau Part 1

Rideau (RE – DOE) part 1 (25 of 125 miles)

The Rideau Canal was constructed by the British – like Fort Henry to defend Canada from American attack.  The stretch of the St. Lawrence shared by both countries – it was thought – made the supply route to Montreal vulnerable.  So between 1825-1832 a 125 mile canal was built from Ottawa to Kingston that bypassed the US side of the St. Lawrence. Again, this canal was never needed for defense and with the advent of the railroad it also did not see much commercial traffic; it has been maintained in its original state as a recreational waterway of scenic beauty and a monument to 19^th century engineering prowess.

At our first stop we saw evidence of the military era – when we toured one of the four Blockhouses built by the British to protect the canal after climbing a flight of four locks. This blockhouse has been restored and illustrates the life of soldiers who would have lived there in the early days of the canal.  The defense features included slits for pouring oil on invaders as well as rifle windows and clever vent holes. The three foot thick walls made the interior cool on a hot day as well as resistant to cannon fire. Fortunately these block houses were never needed for defense and spent most of their useful lives providing housing for canal workers and storage.

In five days on the Rideau we have covered only 25 miles with stops on lock walls in park like settings, the public docks in Seeley’s Bay for Canada Day festivities and fireworks and Morton’s Bay at a remote park dock in splendid solitude. Even after only 25 miles we feel lucky to spend time on this historic waterway.