Excellent choice of street names (roughly translated as Cycling Street and Outdoors Activity Street). So early this morning I biked off to Gatineau to check them out.
But first, the moon. Here it is hovering way above the Chinatown arch.
The moon above
Another beautiful view en route was to be had here along the Ruisseau de la Brasserie.
Ruisseau de la Brasserie
With a bit of imagination, the metal half round chimney top detail on many of the houses in the Rue du Cyclisme / Rue du Plein Air area might be considered a post-modern reference to a bicycle wheel.
Po-mo chimney detail
However I think the names are more in reference to their proximity to Gatineau Park and the many bike paths easily accessed from these streets. I took the path past Leamy Lake on the way home, which looked like this as I biked by.
It’s the Gatineau River Yacht Club’s 50th anniversary!
The club’s web page suggests quite clearly that this weekend’s celebrations were open to members and past members only, however I thought maybe I could have a quick look around and hopefully photograph their clubhouse designed by architect James Strutt, who designed two other of my favorite local gems – the Trinity United Church on Maitland Avenue and the Westboro Beach pavilions as seen in this post.
But ….. no luck. Here is as close this pooch and I managed to get.
Access Denied
Looks like a fun place from the mainland though.
Ahoy!
This link has a great description of the clubs history.
On the way back along Chemin de la Mine I noticed these interesting sculptures.
This evening I decided to go for a quick ride and honour Thomas MacKay Day en route. My goal was to bike down the road in New Edinburgh which bears his name, and photo some projects along the way for which he was responsible.
This image captures two projects built under the supervision of our famous Scottish stonemason – the tier of Rideau Canal locks leading up from the Ottawa River and the Commissariat, Ottawa’s oldest stone building.
Locks and Comissariat
On the east side of the locks, close to where the above photo was taken, sits this small monument in the form of a celtic cross dedicated to those who died building of the canal. UPDATE, August 2017 – Unfortunately the cross was knocked over and has yet to be replaced.
Memorial to those who died building the canal
The glyphs engraved on the face of the cross suggest the work (pick, shovel and wheelbarrow) and the hazards (explosions and disease carrying mosquitoes) associated with the building of the canal. Not sure what the harp in the centre symbolizes other than reinforcing the celtic theme of the monument.
Monument detail
There is another creative MacKay whose work is on display throughout the capital region. Janet MacKay is a talented sculptor and designer who was very much responsible for promoting and integrating bronze sculptures into the interpretive panels found along Confederation Boulevard, such as these.
Janet MacKays work
This is what MacKay Street in New Edinburgh looks like as dusk settles. To the left is Rideau Hall, a mansion Thomas MacKay built for himself where the Governor General now resides. I wasn’t able to photograph the building but did capture the gate that surrounds the property with its distinct top heavy posts. Don’t know if they were designed and installed by Mr MacKay.
MacKay St
On the way home I joined many others along the shore of the Ottawa River to pause and admire tonights beautiful sunset.
Short ride today. Work related. Middle of the day. Almost got smushed on Laurier by a car cutting me off as it turned south onto Elgin. I was going straight. Didn’t give chase as I had an appointment. Couldn’t report it either as I managed to avoid getting hit, so it won’t show up on any heat map intended to give bicyclists an idea of where most accidents occur. Shook it off and made it to my meeting on time. Then I headed South on King Edward for a bit.
King Edward looking south
These sculptures along King Edward are by Karl Ciesluk.
Fiddleheads in the meridian
Some great historical before and after shots of King Edward can be found here.
Needed to pick up some work stuff in Nepean, so I biked there.
Along the Ottawa River Pathway the rich odour from last nights deluge as it fed the desperate flora was intoxicating.
Someone has painted a landscape on this exposed stump of what once must have been a huge branch. The profile of another tree trunk close by has the form of a jovial face.
This morning I headed out to discover the Pine Grove Sector of the Greenbelt pathway.
Greenbelt Pathway – Pine Grove Sector
While passing Hawthorne Park on the way, I noticed this elegant baseball fence behind home plate, made out of chain-link fencing no less.
Dome behind home.
Still en route, I biked under the wires leading from this hydro complex along Russell Road, as they buzzed madly above me.
bzzzzzzz……
The first stretch of trail between Russell Road and Hawthorne Road is lined with Queen Anne’s Lace growing as tall as my handle bars.
Queen Anne’s Lace
The trail eventually bends just before the entrance to Pine Grove Forestry Trail. I didn’t have time to explore the trail, but I did notice the first of these small interpretive panels, the graphics for which are so beautifully layed out. The artist who rendered them is Kiyomi Shoyama. I will return with Carla and the kids to visit the Pine Grove Forestry Trail on the weekend.
Shoyama panels
There are a number of larger interpretive panels on the way to where the path crosses Davidson Road, to be studied when we return.
Decided to check out Boulevard de la Technologie in Gatineau.
It appears to have few industries, hi-tech or otherwise, so perhaps there are plans in the making.
Boulevard de la Technologie
According to my map, the Boulevard suddenly ends at the edge of an open field. One way to check for unmarked roads or paths is to choose Satellite view in Google Maps. As this image shows, there seemed to be a faint indication of paths criss crossing through the field north of where the Boulevard ends. Noticing that some of these paths lead to Rue Fleury on the eastern side, I decided to try my luck.
I discover there is indeed a gravel path where the Boulevard ends. Further along, the path became truck tire treads through tall grass and dried mud.
Tall Grass Trail
Started to get a bit lost, when I came upon this tree with a ladder and platform perched way up high. I don’t hunt, but people I know who do describe using such perches to look out for game. Could have been a kids tree house, but the crushed cans of Busch scattered about the base of the tree suggested other wise.
Look up. Look way up.
From atop of the platform I noticed trampled grass heading in the direction I wanted.
Look down. Look way down.
Further along I came upon this abandoned helmet. But where did the bicyclist go…? I started to get nervous.
Helmet found, bicyclist missing.
Finally I found what I had been seeking – the end of Rue Fleury! Phew! Back to civilization!
Rue Fleury
But what was this? A cow ski jumping on someone’s front yard? And what possible use could she have with that giant fork?
Cow!
I then discovered another unmarked path at the end of Chemin Loretta….
Loretta path
… which eventually crosses the Wakefield train tracks, right where they are washed out. Very sad.
Washed out tracks.
Continuing along from here, I joined the NCC bike path at the end of Rue du Dôme where you can catch this amazing graffiti flanking the highway 5 bike path underpass.
We biked 11 km westwardly along the Sentier des Outaouais from Maison Galipeau in Thurso to the pontoon ferry docking in Baie Dubé. The ferry usually carries passengers and bikes on a half hour ride to the visitors centre near Plaisance, however the mouth of the Petite-Nation River which the boat follows to the visitors centre was not navigable due to the ongoing drought, so we biked back the way we came.
The Trail (Sentier des Outaouais)
Apart from the occasional motorboat passing on the Ottawa river, we were surrounded by nature.
Son & Sun
We took advantage of one of the many picnic tables interspersed along the route. A couple of lookout towers near both ends of the trail allowed us to observe the flora and fauna of the inland marshes from above.
View of Baie Dubé from bottom of lookout tower……. view from top of lookout tower.
I was very proud of the whole gang. 22km. I think we set a family distance record. To celebrate we headed into Plaisance for an ice cream. This place has a choice of 20 flavours of slushie, 20 flavours of hard ice cream, and 60 flavours of SOFT ice cream!
Decided to cover streets in the Cyrville Industrial Area, right where the Queensway and highway 417 meet.
It’s a quirky place. A small residential area mixed in with light and heavy industries. Many of the houses on the periphery of the residential area have been converted to commercial use.
Some of Cyrville Industrial Area
This new house caught my attention for its seeming confidence of place, regardless of the industrial complexes surrounding it. I love how it is juxtaposed with the log structure off to the side whose sign reads ICE STORM 98. Most likely a tenacious victim of that incredible event.
Old & New
I’m guessing this was once a residential area before being converted to an industrial zone. I noticed a church in the distance, usually a sign of an established community, so I went to take a look. It’s the Portugese parish of Senhor Santo Cristo, and it looked like these parishioners were getting ready to celebrate! A little research suggested they were preparing for the procession of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, best described in this post.
Senhor Santo Cristo
Took Cyrville road over to the other side of the 417 which is more residential, even with the Telesat headquarters and dishes looming above.
Telesat
To get to the other side of the Queensway you can walk your bike over this OC Transpo pedestrian bridge.
Up ‘n Over
Arriving home I was greeted by these two morning glories on either side of the front door.
OttawaVeloOutaouais 