We passed the summer solstice last week, with the skies still fairly light at 10p.m. and the sunsets colouring the rivers during our evening walks.
During the time since I published my last post in this blog, the local goslings have grown to adulthood; there seem to be more of them than ever this year, threatening to unseat my husband from his bike when he comes across them on the trail during his 25km ride to and from work, up and down the Ottawa River between here and Kanata. The summer plants on the river banks have matured too and now the waterlilies are in bloom. Herons stand and wait patiently for fish or frogs on the less disturbed side of the Minto Bridges, so motionless that it takes a careful eye to spot them.
The usual midsummer recreations are taking place on and beside the rivers and the city is installing new encouragements to linger by the Rideau Canal as well.
Riding our bikes below Parliament Hill yesterday evening with the dazzle of the setting sun in our eyes we weren't the only ones by any means; other bikes, pedal scooters and in line roller skates were constantly going by, not to mention many walkers. Those red and white rental BIXI bikes for tourists and locals alike encourage people to see the city away from the traffic while getting some healthy exercise, an excellent idea, and I like the shape of them, less intimidating for occasional cyclists like me than are fast bikes with crossbars. I haven't tried one yet, still using the rusty old machine I acquired second hand about ten years ago.
Canada Day next weekend will be the excuse for the most activity of the year on both sides of the provincial border hereabouts, and at the end of the festivities the water will, as always, reflect our colourful fireworks.
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