My First Time in a Kayak on the Ottawa River
Reading Time: 7 minutes Last week, Maria, the owner of Escape Tours, invited me for a short kayak trip on the Ottawa River. Here are our experiences.
Diversion
Are Dutch Bikes Still Dutch?
Reading Time: 4 minutes On August 4, 2024 the Bicycle Craft Brewery in Ottawa hosts a Bikes + Beer pop up in Ottawa featuring sales of used Dutch bikes. But what makes a Dutch bike Dutch nowadays?
NCC mulls replacement for Rideau Canal Skateway. “QED likely”: spokesperson
Reading Time: 4 minutes This morning’s local newspaper reports on the NCC mulling the Queen Elizabeth Drive as an alternative for the Rideau Canal Skateway after several disappointing skate seasons. Even the mayor might be on board. Here is the entire article.
The Short Life of the Ottawa & New York Railway
Reading Time: 12 minutes At some time in our history, Ottawa had a direct train connection to the Adirondecks and Tupper Lake in New York State via Cornwall. From there, you could travel further south to New York City. The original idea was to create a direct connection to NY, NY, but that didn’t materialise. (with video of the route)
The Food Map of Merivale Road in 2024
Reading Time: 4 minutes This is the second year I am posting a Merivale Rd Food map. The 2024 Merivale Food map shows all food outlets on a stretch of Merivale Road, and the post describes who left and who started.
Will the Rideau Canal open for skating this year?
Reading Time: 5 minutes The Rideau Canal in Ottawa has been a beloved skating destination since 1970. However, warmer winters are affecting its ice quality and duration. With fewer days open in recent years, speculation arises about this year’s opening. Upcoming cold nights could lead the canal to open end of January and when it does, don’t wait to go out.
My Free Little Library in Ottawa
Reading Time: 6 minutes Last year I built my own little library. I was nervous it would be vandalised but now, a year later, I can confirm it is a big success. Ottawa’s Transportation Committee will soon discuss new (modest) rules for curb site little libraries.
Solved – How the world’s great cities are fixing the climate crisis
Reading Time: 6 minutes I recently finished David Miller’s book ‘Solved’, a book in which David shares numerous examples of practical solutions that can be taken at a city level.
A food map of Merivale Road in Ottawa’s NeMa district
Reading Time: 4 minutes When Matt and I walked on Merivale Road in Ottawa last year I saw a number of restaurants I had never noticed before. After doing some research I thought I’d create a fun map of the area with a new name that is a nod to SoHo and Tribeca.
What a 21 year old 2001 Powerbook G4 would cost in today’s dollars will shock you
Reading Time: 3 minutes The Apple Powerbook G4 was collecting dust in my basement. I thought I would look up what it would cost in today’s 2022 dollars: a lot of money. It was definitely a high priced item back in the day.