Along the Ottawa River Parkway

I drove to a house on Island Park Drive this morning along the Ottawa River Parkway, Ottawa's most scenic road. In the summer plenty of use is made of the parallel bike trail which in winter is used by walkers and skiers. There's a view of the Ottawa River all the way along this route and not far beyond the Canada War Museum an open stretch of water; even at the coldest times of year from the Deschênes Rapids (near the Britannia Yacht Club) to the Remic Rapids it doesn't freeze. Today because of the fine weather the fast moving water was a deep blue. The whitewater paddling community likes this stretch, or will like it when the weather warms up a bit.

During the next few days and nights with the air temperature dropping to minus 26º or 27ºC, it's likely that swirls of fog ("Arctic smoke") will be seen forming on this part of the river. It's a beautiful, mysterious sight, especially in the early mornings.