A Capital Idea

Ottawa was a Capital Idea this weekend.  The Sudbury Wolves beat the Ottawa 67s 4 to 1 at TD Place Arena Sunday afternoon, with my son registering a point.  Thereafter we enjoyed turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, beans, carrots, cranberry sauce, gravy and all the fixings, followed by chocolate squares and pie, at my son's girlfriend's home in Kanata.  Amazing meal, amazing company, amazing day!!

Crisp and cool, with lows of 4 degrees and highs of 11 (40 to 50 fahrenheit), the leaves were all burnished and rich. With a sweater and scarf, the walking was beautiful.  We stayed near Thorncliffe Park so I wandered with the dog down towards the Aviation Museum and the Ottawa River, then up through the Rockcliffe neighbourhood.  The trek was beautiful, and it was a very peaceful walk because it was quiet early Monday morning.  Rory had a wonderful time at the Aviation Museum.  There were 200 Canada Geese sitting peacefully on the lawn, minding their own business...until 100 pounds of determined dog decided to upend them.  The cacophany that ensued with all 200 birds taking flight and expressing to Rory their displeasure with her brutish behaviour brought on a grin.

While I was walking, my son and his girlfriend were biking.  It was a perfect morning for fall exertion.  Ottawa benefits from numerous bikeways and walkways that connect the city's neighbourhoods, and we took full advantage.  Rory swam in the Ottawa River, looking out over Gatineau.  There were a couple of fishermen catching absolutely nothing along the banks, and a few industrious Asians picking watercress along the route.  Walking up Blair Road from the river, I was panting along with the dog, but the houses in that area are lovely and the exertion was perfectly calibrated for the weather...and the amount of food I had to work off.

Midday Monday, my eldest daughter and I wandered over to ByWard Market.  Despite the cold breeze, there were a number of people milling about.  The outdoor stalls were in evidence, and my daughter decided we needed $45 worth of chocolate from Rocky Mountain Chocolate in the market itself.  Security was visible, and the number of diverse restaurants, shops, markets, and interesting sights abounds.  Near the ByWard market sits the imposing Chateau Laurier hotel, with pride of place at Sussex Drive and Rideau Street.  Ottawa has so many large buildings, many of which are known only by their numbers.  I walked past M-55, which brings to mind a John Le Carre novels. 

My husband and youngest daughter went to the Canadian Museum of Nature.  The building itself is beautiful, and the dinosaurs inside delighted my 11-year old.  Ottawa has enough attractions to merit a week's stay, but we only had a couple of days.  While we were exploring, my youngest son scored the game-winning goal in a match between the Windsor Spitfires and the Oshawa Generals.  It was a perfect end to a most enjoyable long weekend.