Westport to Smiths Falls

Westport to Smiths Falls

Westport was as cute as promised with artsy shops, two bakeries, a super grocery all a short walk over the hump bridge from our island dock.  Even a little rain – ok a down pour – didn’t dampen our enjoyment of this charming town.  Although with a little less rain we might have walked even more of her streets.  We found the Cove Inn with vintage charm a quiet spot for dinner even though it was the only night without live music. This venue has been revitalized to provide a variety of entertainment to the local area throughout the year in the cozy paneled rustic comfort of a lakeside inn – circa 1875. Even without the music it was the hopping spot in Westport. 

Our early start was delayed long enough for Steve to visit both bakeries for fresh bread and treats to sustain him for our long run to Colonel By Island.

We stopped at this Parks Canada dock on the island renamed to honor Lt. Colonel John By who was the builder of the Rideau Canal.  The island actually has an interesting history and includes a home once owned by Yellow Cap tycoon, Danny Amstein, where he reported entertained notables like David Niven and Paul Anka.  All that remains today is a shuttered relic of the former cottage sprouting two peanut rock fireplaces, surrounded by park-like grounds, a tennis court, and a path among the trees encircling the island. It was fortunate that we left Westport early to cross the Narrows Lock which was closed an hour later due to the high winds. We had a little protection at Colonel By behind the floating dock and a quiet night when the winds finally dropped. The island with its new bathhouse was basically ours as only one houseboat joined us on a mooring ball around the point and beyond our view – splendid isolation – the hallmark of the Rideau Canal experience. 

From Colonel By Island we actually traveled almost two full hours to the Poonamalie Lock – a remote lock park in the marshes formed by the dams at Smiths Falls our next stop a few miles further along through the twisty,  super shallow marshes. This area known as The Swale is home to more than 250 species of plant life and a fertile nursery for fish – a tidbit we learned at the Rideau Canal Welcome Center Museum in Smith Falls.

Chatting with the lock keeper at Poonamalie we heard one of the funniest stories. We were commenting on the challenges of elderly drivers when he related this recent story from his fellow lock keeper. The man and his wife were driving to a nearby town for a funeral when they got behind a car driving erratically.  Finally they were able to pass the car and noticed that it was being driven by an elderly lady.  A ways down the road they stopped for gas and low and behold as they pulled back on the road they were again behind the same old lady weaving around. Fearing for her safety they called 911 – and were told that the officers were in their shift change.  Could they keep the lady in sight and keep the line open?  They proceeded to follow her  through town and into a new subdivision that was lacking street signs which was making it difficult to help the police locate them.  Suddenly the lady turned off the road onto a golf course path, and while she had had many near misses on the roadway, she actually did better avoiding trees, ponds and sand traps. But, the lockkeeper and his wife were still having trouble letting the police know where they were and all the while the golfers were waving and shouting as this procession passed at a stately 7-10 miles an hour. Eventually the police, in a golf cart, managed to establish a road block (cart block?) and get her stopped and off the golf course.  The funeral was a bit of a letdown after that adventure. So goes our hours on the dock walls….

There are two sets of locks in Smiths Falls – and between them is a basin with mooring. We chose to sit on the finger docks provided by the city with water and power plus the usual restrooms and WIFI! This luxury gives us a chance to catch up on e-mail as well as research the coming leg of our trip. While Julia works on the computer research Steve has continued to research a leak in his engine room.  The latest project – since he filled all the holes and re-caulked the side teak deck – is the removal of our guard rail, refinishing the supports and bright work , so he can plug the holes and re-install it.  Needless to say we will not be leaving here until that guard rail is safely back in place! Fortunately there is plenty to entertain these visitors while we wait for the varnish to dry. Expect news/views of the Railroad Museum and the Heritage House History Museum……