Ottawa photos from the river

[Kitchissippi]

Thought I'd start a photo thread of pics taken from the water which gives a completely different perspective. Dragged out the 'yak from storage and went into the the icy waters (do not try this without a wetsuit at this time of year). I'll post more photos as I explore more of the river and other waterways in the region.

Looking west towards the Ambleside condos:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2022/2428244716_f8aed462a5_b.jpg

Deschenes Rapids looking toward Aylmer. From the water you actually perceive the level change to the wide lake upstream:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/2428244596_37d9087ace_b.jpg

The Westboro skyline. I imagine this will change soon as numerous mid-rises register on the horizon:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2086/2427431459_1886612615_b.jpg

From certain angles, Ottawa-Gatineau looks like one big happy city:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3079/2428243976_f2d6772a74_b.jpg

[Mille Sabords]

Excellent photography, Kitchissippi. The Westboro skyline picture makes the Metropole look no taller than all the other average buildings... to think we get all worked up about 27 storeys downtown for the portrair gallery site... :cool:

[harls]

Were you among those kayakers that hang out near Bate Island and that sweet spot for rapids? I might have seen you this weekend.

[Kitchissippi]

I'm a wimp and go mostly for flat water. I prefer a calmer, less crowded scene. I'll attempt to cross tamer part of those rapids when the river goes down and the water's much warmer :) I was up at Britannia and Lac Deschenes on Sunday with the loons:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2431768128_b398866c19_b.jpg

Nortal crystal and mansions:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2144/2430953729_d6a64acf2d_b.jpg

Something you don't see from the road — the back of ritzy homes on Crystal Beach. Hardly anyone here has curtains on their windows:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/2430953583_ced365f5b5_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3259/2431767684_c8c56340a6_b.jpg

The Ottawa skyline from even farther away:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2171/2430953237_31a1d78e6e_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2431767410_289a3ab2df_b.jpg

[ajldub]

Those houses along that stretch of water are nice. Anyone looking to kill an hour at work should check out Barry Hobin's website if they haven't already, some nice phototours inside several of those custom houses:

www.hobinarc.com

Ahh to have owned Nortel shares back in the late '90s, if only the rest of us could have been as fortunate...

[Kitchissippi]

Great day to be on the water. Paddled from Victoria Island to Rideau Falls and took these panos. It's tough getting decent pano shots with the kayak bobbing up and down!

Ottawa Gatineau and the Alex Bridge:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3054/2644446452_413b9bc1f1_o.jpg

Parliament Hill in all its glory:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/2644445948_cae599bbf4_o.jpg

The back of Earnscliffe, Sir John A's old house
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/2643618039_f2a66c9740_o.jpg

The underneath of the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge. There's a neat catwalk there. I wonder if they could re-design this bridge to have LRT running inside it.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3132/2644445260_d1bb5f1d11_o.jpg

The curtain falls that gave its name to a river, a canal, a street, and a mall
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3008/2644446732_f3480812d9_o.jpg

From this angle, Ottawa looks très-Euro:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2643618375_905bf1fe70_o.jpg

Off on holidays for a month so I might not be posting regularly for a while. Have a great summer guys.

[Rathgrith]

Great Pics! I seriously need a kayak in Ottawa.

[Kitchissippi]

Some more shots I took in the last few weeks.

Lac Leamy:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/2888865268_4805e8a074_b.jpg

any closer and I would have been soaked
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/2888865356_1674783152_b.jpg

any closer and my wallet would have been drained
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2888865538_6a54d3d0b9_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/2888032101_342e476496_b.jpg

How come no one complained about this turquoise glass. I think Claridge bought the surplus.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2888865912_27bb4a3f52_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3227/2888032335_0778f3aa81_b.jpg

Balloons
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/2888866094_b1c97b851e_o.jpg

Beneath Rideau Falls
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/2888032591_875dbe73f7_b.jpg

Looks like some exotic locale but this is actually an island in Lac Des Chênes between Aylmer and Kanata:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/2888034393_18c457e61b_o.jpg

[harls]

Anyone set up camp on that island? That would be a great place to get away from it all.

Looks like you were at Lac Leamy during the first weekend of September, I'm guessing. You know winter's just around the corner when they shut off that fountain!

[Kitchissippi]

I think people set up camp there because I saw evidence of campfires. It's likely Crown Land so it's legal to stay there for a night. You can easily paddle a canoe there from the Aylmer marina. Get close to the Ontario side and you can hear gunshots from the DND rifle range in Shirley's Bay!

Yup, I think it was the first week of September at Lac Leamy. The balloon fest was on.

[Aylmer]

Anyone set up camp on that island? That would be a great place to get away from it all.

Looks like you were at Lac Leamy during the first weekend of September, I'm guessing. You know winter's just around the corner when they shut off that fountain!


Yeah! Loads of times: It's a great place to bring your canoe to and just camp.
But don't go there on St.Jean because of the hords of drunks there...

Also, STAY ON THE PATHS. Poison ivy everywhere.

:)

[eemy]

I didn't realize the falls were reenforced like that.

[Rathgrith]

I'm surprised the NCC hasn't tired to get ownership of that island and start charging for use of it.:jester:

[Aylmer]

I'm surprised the NCC hasn't tired to get ownership of that island and start charging for use of it.:jester:

And preserve it's cultural heritage.:rolleyes:

:)

[Indescribable]

Very interesting shots. You don't see these angles too often.

[Kitchissippi]

Some more angles you can't see from land, this time a bit down river from Parliament.

The Rockcliffe Eye. Someone did this piece of graffiti and you'll only see it from a boat:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4634372798_4987efd635_b.jpg

I have yet to eat here at the Rockcliffe boat house, but it looks like some place in cottage country rather than right in the middle of the city.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3348/4634369336_099291ce54_b.jpg

The Ottawa New Edinburgh Club:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4633769499_f7de920156_b.jpg

[harls]

Have you been in the river around the Champlain Bridge? From the looks of it, you could almost stand in the middle, the water levels are so low.

[Kitchissippi]

Yeah, the river level is almost alarmingly low. My kayak almost touches bottom 50 feet from the shore at Britannia. I can't imagine what it will be like in August, if we'll actually see parts of the river dry up :(

[Dado]

Yeah, the river level is almost alarmingly low. My kayak almost touches bottom 50 feet from the shore at Britannia. I can't imagine what it will be like in August, if we'll actually see parts of the river dry up :(

If it does, it'll be a great opportunity to get out onto the riverbed and look at some of the lumber industry archaeology. I wonder if the rock crib near Westboro Beach that they studiously ensure is outside the buoy line each year will become visible?

[Kitchissippi]

If it does, it'll be a great opportunity to get out onto the riverbed and look at some of the lumber industry archaeology. I wonder if the rock crib near Westboro Beach that they studiously ensure is outside the buoy line each year will become visible?

There is a pile of rocks just off the beach that is currently exposed, that must be it. I paddled right up to it today, I'll take a photo next time.

[Dado]

There is a pile of rocks just off the beach that is currently exposed, that must be it. I paddled right up to it today, I'll take a photo next time.

I was down at the beach today and didn't see them, so unless the water level has changed markedly in the last couple of days, you're looking at something else. In most summers it's still a good foot or two below the surface even in August, so for it to be visible is quite unusual (though I suppose its presence could be detected in a storm as it could crash the waves if the water level is low enough).

I did see the rock pile off the old mill site, which is unusual so early in the year. It's not far from the beach, but it's not at the beach, either.

There's another formation about half of the way from Westboro Beach to the site of the Continental, but again, that's not it.

The rock crib I'm talking about is within 150 m of the beach itself, practically in line with the underpass. When I'm out in the water I know how to find it; it's usually not far beyond the buoy line but the lifeguards do go to some lengths in some years to ensure the rock crib is beyond the buoy line. In fact, when I was there they were setting up to drag the buoys out.

If I had to take a guess, I'd say it's right about here:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Ottawa&ie=UTF8&om=1&hq=&hnear=Ottawa,+Ottawa+Division,+Ontario&ll=45.395252,-75.763057&spn=0.001409,0.002411&t=h&z=19

You can kind of see a change in colour in the water that might be it (there's another more readily apparent object near the top of the screen, which could be another crib...), but it could also just be an imagery artifact.