a peek inside the fishbowl

27 Jul, 2007

If your kids like feeding the birds, you might want to try it from this angle

Posted by andrea tomkins in: - Ottawa for kids|Easy ways to make kids happy|Photography

 gull at Dow's Lake

Dow’s Lake is one of our favourite all-season spots: Spring for tulips, Summer for picnics, Fall for strolling, Winter for skating.

When I was in my second year at Carleton I used to cut through Dow’s Lake on my bike on the way home from school. I loved to sit on the grass with a book, half-reading, half-people watching.

We’ve taken the girls to Dow’s Lake a bunch of times. We don’t go as often as I like, it is a bit out of the way for us, and parking can be an issue, but we all love it there and every trip we’ve taken has been worth the effort.

The girls have always, desperately, wanted to rent a paddleboat. And we’ve never given in, until now.

Dow’s Lake rental folks (you can find them at Dow’s Lake Pavillion) have a fleet of paddle boats, canoes and kayaks. A lot of people seem to go for the kayaks (which I’d like to try for myself) but they’re not exactly for kids.

Paddleboats are $12.00 for the first hour, $7.00 for each additional hour. Unless you have bionic legs you probably won’t go longer than that first hour. You will also need a $20 deposit and photo i.d. Bring a bag of bread. Please make sure it’s not moldy! I’ve read that cracked corn is better for ducks. (I wonder if they sell it at bulk stores?)

The paddleboats seat two adults and two children – three if you had a small one sitting on the hump between the two pedal-pushers. The girls sat behind us in the passenger seats, facing backwards. It took me awhile to get used to this idea. I was a little nervous about them falling out (especially when they were lobbing bread at the gulls) but looking back I needn’t have worried so much. We all had life jackets on. They can swim okay.

We went in the late afternoon, which was perfect.

Our boat was a little tough to paddle. We weren’t sure if it was because of all the lakeweed, the weight of our boat, or because we’re so out of shape, but we did okay. My legs felt like jelly by the end of it.

The girls had a great time … we all did. And no one fell out of the boat.

Check out the pics on my flickr.

(Now, I must get back to Harry Potter. I’m nearing the end of the Half Prince. I’ve been steadily consuming the whole series and have managed to avoid finding out “the big news” about the new one.

I bought the newest book at Shopper’s Drug Mart. Wouldn’t you know it, there was a young guy standing next to the display reading the last page. I gave him a wide berth. I didn’t want to witness any sudden outbursts and plot giveaways. Someone told me that some guy did this in line at Loblaw’s … he read the last lines and then told everybody around him. Can you believe it?)


3 Responses to "If your kids like feeding the birds, you might want to try it from this angle"

1 | BeachMama

July 27th, 2007 at 4:04 pm

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Cool, haven’t rented a paddleboat on Dow’s lake in a really long time…

As for cracked corn or feed corn, you might want to try Ritchie’s Feed and Seed. You would probobly have to buy a bigger bag, but if you feed wildlife a lot it will get used.

2 | Jen

July 30th, 2007 at 7:11 am

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This post is so weird. I went paddle boating at Dow`s Lake on Friday after work. I had a blast. A. and I were out `chasing` the ducks who were much faster than us. We had a really good time. We actually plan to go again tonight!

3 | Val

July 31st, 2007 at 1:19 pm

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I’m just that random reader who enjoys reading your blog so I’m always shy about commenting but ah, when I saw you mention this Dow’s Lake place I simply had to go check it out (I’m also from Ottawa. But from the South area). And I have to say, wow, thank you for pointing that place out to me. It’s such a wonderful place to go read and relax. Now I know where I’ll go to sit and study in Fall. So yes, thank you. =) This place is wonderful, can’t believe I never stopped there before!

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