It has been a long cold winter, with one short warm spell, which has meant the 7.8 km (4.8mi) Skateway on the Rideau Canal has been open for over a month. I dropped down (on foot - my skating days seem to be over🙄) on a Sunday afternoon. I was hoping for a good number of skaters. Despite the temperatures being -17°C (windchill -28°C), the Olympics being on and it being SuperBowl Sunday I got my wish.
The iconic photo of the skaterway, looking into downtown.
Looking towards Ottawa University and north to Pretoria Bridge. It is a lift bridge on the canal system. (The 417 expressway bridge is above Pretoria Bridge in this photo)
The view from the Flora Footbridge and the bridge itself
A family of five all wearing helmets. A more common sight these days. They also were wearing goggles against the cold
The canal seems to have encouraged many very young kids to learn to skate. Then there are the 6-7 year olds that can outskate many of the people on the canal....
For those just learning to skate, aids are available
Then there are always some along for the ride😊
A few rest stops are along the route
With heated modules - a washroom and a warming spot
You can also warm up by a log fire, perhaps with a Beavertail (Deep fried pastry with choices of toppings - delicious)
New this year (I think) are the Dunrobin Distilleries small cabin "bar" with a patio of chairs and tables to enjoy a warm alcoholic drink
Access to the Skateway is via sets of stairs scattered along each side of the canal over its full length
The cars in this photo are at a red light, not parked to skate
All of the accesses have benches and open "lockers" in which to leave your boots if you are not bringing them with youÂ
