To review: every other Tuesday is my day off and I’m trying to use this time to recharge my batteries. No work, no meetings, minimal errands. Last time I went for a bike ride to Dow’s Lake. It’s hard to believe it was cold two weeks ago and the tulips were barely showing their colours!
Mark suggested I meet him downtown for sushi on my day off, so that’s exactly what I did. Somehow the plan became for me to bike downtown, but the weather was co-operating so I decided to take on the challenge. My usual route along the river was still closed due to recent flooding, so I had to map a new one. I started at Dovercourt after dropping off a bag for charity (yay! one whole bag of stuff gone from my closet!) and wound my way to Island Park>Experimental Farm>Dow’s Lake> then followed the Rideau Canal downtown.
It was, in a word, glorious. I am nervous on the road and never feel completely safe, but once I hit the pathway it was smooth sailing.
Once I reached the Laurier Bridge I gave a whoop and shouted: I DID IT. I am not sure if anyone heard me but I couldn’t help myself. I felt so great. (Note to self: have lunch on the patio at the NAC!)
I parked my bike down by the Bytowne Museum and walked a bit to meet Mark. (He works dangerously close to BeaverTails. How does he resist?)
You know who has great sushi downtown? LaPointe’s! It’s very fresh, and a good value too. We ordered our lunches to go and chose a bench with a view at Major’s Hill Park:
And then we went on a post-lunch stroll. The tulips had managed to hold it together for my visit, but it was clear they were a day or two away from throwing in the towel. Those Canada 150 tulips are gorgeous, aren’t they? I want to know where I can buy some bulbs for next year.
Mark had to go back to work so I took some time to check out Inspiration Village. Confession: As you may know, I am usually Ottawa’s biggest cheerleader. I hate to be a Debbie Downer about this, but I couldn’t really get too inspired here. Perhaps I’m missing something, but it was essentially a bunch of shipping containers set up in a downtown parking lot with selfie stations for each province and territory. This is what it looks like when it is closed (er, at 11:45 a.m. on a weekday morning).
… and here it is, when it’s open:
I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
As for the Ottawa sign that has been the subject of many conversations since it went up, I think it’s cool. It’s a weird place for it though. Wouldn’t it have been nicer on Major’s Hill Park somewhere? Then at least all of those photos being snapped and shared would have something scenic in the background, not matter what side you took the photo from:
… and it’s hard to take a selfie, but then again, this is not my best skill:
I walked back through the crowds, enjoying the sights of Ottawa getting all spiffed up for Canada 150:
I took the same route home via the canal. I waved at tourists on the river cruise (they waved back), got a thumbs up from a jogger when I dinged my bell, and got a sweet apology by a young man who was too busy looking at his phone to see me coming. I stopped at the Corktown Footbridge, also referred to as the Somerset Street bridge, to take a closer look at all the locks there:
So much love!When I arrived back at Dow’s Lake I walked my bike so I can take a few more photos of those gorgeous flower beds. None of these photos do them any justice. I can’t fathom how many blooming blooms were blooming:
When I arrived back at Dow’s Lake I walked my bike so I can take a few more photos of those gorgeous flower beds. None of these photos do them any justice. I can’t fathom how many blooming blooms were blooming:
I couldn’t bear to bike back up the big hill along Queen Elizabeth Drive so I cut through the park to the Civic Hospital neighbourhood. There was barely any traffic. It was so tranquil, just me and the quiet whirr of my bike.
I picked up dinner at Farm Boy on the way home and spent the rest of the afternoon puttering around in the garden. It was a perfect day off, for sure.
Mark and I have been planning a bike ride out to Stittsville. We wanted to do it last year but I felt like I wasn’t ready, not to mention the fact I’m probably riding the wrong bike for me and it needs serious adjustment. Maybe I should just take the leap? What’s the worst thing that can happen? (Ok, the worst thing is that I collapse at Quitter’s Cafe and need to call someone to come pick me up. Sigh.) Someone, anyone! Please advise me!
