Tour de Licious #3

Geno and Wendy call it the "Tour de Licious #3", as this is the third bike tour supported by Wendy's cooking which includes Peet's coffee, breakfast, lunch, ride snacks, after ride hors d'oeuvre, dinner, and dessert. This year it was a local 7-day bike tour from Sacramento to San Francisco, with camping at Solano County Park, Bothe Napa Valley State Park, Casini Ranch Campground (2-nights) and Olema Campground (2-nights), covering 285 scenic miles from the Sacramento valley through the wine country and along the stunning coast of California from Jenner to San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge, after which, we used the ferry and Amtrak to get back home. It was tough for me to get going, and back on the bike, after nearly a month traveling in Canada, but I'm glad I got it together. This is one of the most scenic multi-day rides out of Sacramento, and challenging, and it was great to do it with 13 friends. I didn't take many pictures, but here's a link to Geno's pictures on Picasa.

Goodbye Ottawa

Compared to many, perhaps we do overstay when traveling, maybe less days in each of the cities would have worked, but generally I feel the extra day(s) allows time to linger and hang out, perhaps people watching in a coffee house or park. Today we heard the local Gloucester Orchestra perform in the park across the Alexandra Bridge in Gatineau, an easy walk from our apartment. It was a low key event with a small mostly local crowd along with a few passing cyclist who stopped to listen. Seeing locals at play, running, fishing, surfboarding, performing, etc., offers a perspective on local living. Here's some parting images from Ottawa. Tomorrow we'll drive to Syracuse, NY for our flight home the following day.


Ceremony at the National War Memorial honoring veterans.





The Canadian Museum of History, interesting architecture.


Views from the Museum of History.


The Gloucester Orchestra performing in Jacques Cartier Park.








During the summer, several streets in the capital area in Ottawa and Gatineau are closed every Sunday morning for cycling.


Local opera company performing for the street crowd, part of the Magnetic North Theatre Festival.





Visiting the National Gallery of Canada.

More from Ottawa

The city doesn't have the funk of Montreal, but there are plenty of shops, eateries, bars, coffee houses, bakeries, activities, etc. throughout the city core.





Chinatown, with its ornate gateway arch, is more a conglomerate of all Asian ethnicities in one area.


Shaw Conference Center


The National Gallery of Canada





Prime Minister's Office


Kay and I rented a tandem for some Saturday riding to get a different perspective on the city. Bicycling is a major part of the city, but different from Montreal in that much of the bike paths are along the waterways, three rivers and a canal, so they are well used recreationally by visitors and weekenders rather than just commuting from the surrounding suburbs. Cycling along the waterways takes riders pass woodlands, lakes, small waterfalls, greenways and parks, it's very scenic, very green and very active with cyclist, runners, walkers, skaters, and so on during the weekend. I now think Ottawa would rank highly as a great place to raise a family.

















Around the city at sunset

Hanging in Ottawa

Canada is our closest neighbor to the north, but did you know that Ottawa is the capital of the country, nicknamed "Silicon Valley North", officially bilingual with English and French, one of the most educated cities in Canada with more than half its population graduating from a university or college, ranked 2nd for quality of living in the Americas, and the 2nd cleanest city in Canada; I'm learning. I found Ottawa aesthetically impressive and a showcase for its many massive stately gothic "revival" structures, contrasted against the cleaner lines of its more modern surroundings, perhaps best described as formal and functional in design, all reflecting the serious business at hand, governing the country. Owing to past city actions with intent and vision, the city core is beautiful and picturesque built near the confluence of three rivers, the Ottawa, Rideau, and Gatineau Rivers. For a photo enthusiast, it's easy to find great vantage points with varying city views, however, getting the best light is more difficult due to the region's changeable weather. One day it's sunny and the next is overcast with rain. I think I'm ready for some "California Sun". Here's my best after a few days.


This is the enchanting Fairmont Chareau Laurier Hotel which has hosted all the city's major events since its completion.





The Rideau Canal runs pass the Fairmont Chateau Laurier.


Rideau Canal


Fairmont Chateau Laurier at sunset


Norte Dame Cathedral Basilica











Parliament Building Complex

















Views from the Ottawa River