A group photo of our wonderful American friends.
Which car would you rather have????
Our route out of Toronto took us through the suburbs, rather than using the expressways. I think you get a much better 'feel' for a city by doing this.
Shortly after we joined up with the main highway to Ottawa we saw this incredible Toyota dealership showroom. You could see it from miles away!
We turned off the main highway to take the less busy highway 7 to Ottawa. We finally managed to get a photo of this particular Ontario speeding notice. Seems a bit draconian to me!!
On the way we had arranged to have lunch with our friends, Derek and Francoise Munro who we met on our Alaskan drive last August. They live about an hour from Ottawa. We reached their house at 12.30pm. It was great to meet up with them again and talk about the Alaskan trip as well as the drive across Canada. We had a lovely lunch and then looked at their beautiful house and garden, which has a river frontage. We could see a beaver lodge on the far side of the bank and as Wendy and Francoise reached the river, a blue heron flew away. An idyllic spot.
Wendy and Francoise walking back up to the house from the river.
As we were leaving Derek took this photo of us all. It is a great memento to a special moment in our trip: meeting up with friends.
We left Derek and Francoise and drove at first through lovely farming and wooded countryside. This shot is looking back through the car's wing mirror.
We reached Ottawa at about 4.30pm and here are a couple of photos driving into Ottawa and the third was our first view of the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel.
We checked in to the hotel and then went for a walk and take our first look of Ottawa. Right next to the hotel is the Rideau Canal with this wonderful flight of locks. The canal was built in the early 19th century and is now an historical monument.
A view looking up the locks with the magnificent Chateau Laurier on the left in the background. Our room overlooks the canal and then one of me standing on the lock gates, about to take the same photo of the locks and the hotel.
We then walked across the road from the hotel to the War Memorial which is a very impressive and moving tribute to all the Canadians who died in the World Wars and the Korean War. In front of the memorial is the Tomb to the Unknown Soldier.
Our 'next ports of call' were the Parliament buildings which overlook the Ottawa River.
It's been another fun-filled and action-packed day of the trip. Long may they last!!
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