Dragonfly Boating: Ottawa to Long Island to Burritt’s Rapids, ON. 1,000 miles logged!

We’re out in the boonies on the beautiful Rideau River—internet is spotty and blog updates may be irregular. Thursday we left Ottawa after a fabulous time and started up the Rideau Canal. Only about 10% of the 121 miles is dug canal, with the majority of the waterway using existing lakes and rivers. After 25 miles and seven locks, we stopped at Long Island Lock and spent a windy but pleasant night at one of the Parks Canada docks. The flight of three locks at Long Island is interesting because a road crosses directly over the highest lock, and a swing bridge operates in conjunction with the lock. Map Link: Long Island Lockstation, ON

Yesterday we traveled another 25 miles, with only one lock, to Burritt’s Rapids, and are staying at another Parks Canada lock, this one with shorepower. After lunch across the street at the Boathouse Cafe, we took a nearby trail into the small village and on to the dam and rapids that were bypassed by the canal. We grilled our dinner and ate aboard, enjoying an amazingly quiet evening in this lovely remote location. Map Link: Burritt’s Rapids Lockstation, ON

We crossed the 1,000-mile point for our current Loop segment, achieved in 42 travel days at an average of 24 miles per day. For reference, last year we traveled a total of 2,430 miles in 72 days, from St. Paul, MN, to Carabelle, FL, with a daily average of 34 miles.

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