Friday, July 18, 2014

Merrickville – the Jewel of the Rideau

Merrickville – the Jewel of the Rideau
A village that lives up to its name! There is a good reason why the docks at Merrickville are full early most days.  This town is compact yet overflowing with restored homes and businesses from its heyday in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We also found all the essentials for boaters i.e. good coffee – with WIFI, well stocked grocery, an abundance of restaurants, and even unique shops. For extra diversion, there is a museum in the biggest block house on the Rideau and a park with museum and ruins of Merrickville’s industrial past. Between further varnishing of the railing, napping, and reading, we had more than enough to keep us busy for a couple of days.  While on the dock back at Clayton, NY we met, Debbie, Mike and Keegan who are planning to do the full loop when Keegan finishes his stint in NC State.  This summer they are doing the Rideau so we knew our paths might cross along this route and luckily we met again in M’ville.  It was so pleasant to relax away an evening comparing notes and resources at the Swan and Gridiron Pub in Merrickville.



 sitting above the road








 Mike, Debbie and Keegan aboard











We spent our first night there in The Pond – above the three Merrickville locks – tied along the road which actually was below the boat. Since it was a main thoroughfare, truck noise disturbed our early morning snooze, so for the second night, we moved through all three locks and got the only space at the bottom in a quieter park like setting.  We shared this park with Ruth and Patrick who arrived by canoe after 23 kilometers paddling on the water.  Our life seems a little decadent and lazy by comparison – we have to get off the boat for exercise and have every creature comfort on board, yet we all seemed to share a spirit of adventure and enjoy the beauty around us on the Rideau. Our evening quickly slipped by as we once again enjoyed the companionship of congenial fellow travelers. Truly the people we meet and meet once again enrich our days afloat.



No comments:

Post a Comment