One Man Wondering

“In winter, a section of the Rideau Canal passing through central Ottawa becomes officially the world's largest and second longest skating rink.[36] The cleared length is 7.8 kilometres (4.8 mi) and has the equivalent surface area of 90 Olympic ice hockey rinks. It runs from the Hartwell locks at Carleton University to the locks between the Parliament Buildings and the Château Laurier, including Dow's Lake in between.” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rideau_Canal

“Great places to hike and bike at that are close by are the trail to Rock Dunder where the view is fantastic, and the Cataraqui Trail, a 104 km recreational path that winds it's way through this scenic area following the former Canadian National railway line. It is a four season trail for hikers, cyclists, equestrians, snowmobilers, and cross-country skiers as main users.” - http://www.rideaulakescottages.com/host_section.cfm?id=7949&hostpage=264

“The Opinicon now employs over 100 people, most of them local, including some who worked for the resort before it closed.” - https://www.opinicon.com/pages/about

“Recreational boaters can make use of it to travel between Ottawa and Kingston. Most of the locks are still hand-operated. A total of 45 locks at 23 stations are located along the canal, plus two locks (locks 33 and 34) at the entrance to the Tay Canal (leading to Perth).” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rideau_Canal

“The canal was opened in 1832 as a precaution in case of war with the United States. It remains in use today primarily for pleasure boating, with most of its original structures intact, operated by Parks Canada. The locks on the system open for navigation in mid-May and close in mid-October.[3][4] It is the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America, and in 2007 it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[5]” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rideau_Canal

“The Soulanges Canal is an abandoned shipping canal in Quebec, Canada. It follows the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River between Pointe-des-Cascades and Coteaux-Landing, bypassing the rapids between Lake Saint-Louis and Lake Saint-Francis.”  - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soulanges_Canal

IF I COULD PAINT   Cycling, Montreal, Quebec

IF I COULD PAINT   Church, Oka, Quebec

Something to think about while enjoying the summer heat.

“Beginning in 1900, the Boldt family spent summers in the 1000 Islands at the Boldt Families Wellesley House near Mr. Boldt’s Wellesley Island Farms while 300 workers including stonemasons, carpenters, and artists fashioned the six story, 120 room castle, complete with tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a drawbridge, alster tower (children’s playhouse) and a dove cote. Not a single detail or expense was spared.” - http://www.boldtcastle.com/visitorinfo/about

“George C. Boldt Yacht House is an historic yacht house located on the northeast shore of Wellesley Island near Alexandria Bay in Jefferson County, New York. It was commissioned by George Boldt as a principal dependency of Boldt Castle.” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_C._Boldt_Yacht_House

“Likely one of Boldt Castle’s most photographed structures  is the Power House and Clock Tower. Located on the eastern end of Heart Island, it was designed in the fashion of a Medieval Tower.” - http://www.boldtcastle.com/visitorinfo/visitor-information

“The construction of Boldt Castle ceased abruptly in early 1904 after the death of Boldt's wife, Louise Kehrer Boldt. Boldt never returned to Heart Island, leaving this structure as a monument of his love.” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boldt_Castle

“The Power House was built to hold a generator to supply the island with power, and now is more of a museum of how electric power was obtained in the early 1900s, as well as a few stories of getting tools and equipment to Heart Island during the castle's construction.” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boldt_Castle

“Boldt Castle is a major landmark and tourist attraction in the Thousand Islands region of the U.S. state of New York. Open to guests seasonally between mid May and mid October. It is located on Heart Island in the Saint Lawrence River.” - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boldt_Castle

“Bellamy's Steam Flour Mills represents a flour mill which was of necessity recently renovated to include an automated elevator system, additional millstones, and a new steam engine.” - http://www.uppercanadavillage.com/1860s-life/manufacturing/