Early morning in Dick Bell Park

Early yesterday morning, a fine, cold one (the wind chill was -30º at one point) we drove up the Ottawa River Parkway to Carling Avenue and thence to Kanata. Passing the Remic Rapids and Deschênes Rapids, where the fast moving water never freezes, we noticed radiation fog rising and dissipating; later in the morning it vanished completely. * The sun being low in the sky made the views so beautiful that after a fortifying breakfast (at the well established Ralph & Sons diner––recommended!) I drove back to a place where I could park and take a longer look at the river, at Dick Bell Park near the Nepean Sailing Club (deserted at this time of year, of course). I got out of the car for a few minutes and took this picture, looking up the Ottawa River to the north west. This is a sheltered little cove, part of Britannia Bay, near Carling Avenue, where geese will land and rest once the ice has melted and they are back in town.

I presume the tracks are from snowmobiles. Note the icy surface of the river. This is because the snow on it melted at the start of the week; the melt water froze when the temperature dropped again. The same applies to the other rivers in the region.

This is my favourite view in Ottawa, by the way, whatever the weather.

*Returning along the same route after lunch the water of the rapids was a deep, deep blue.