Friday, September 7, 2007

Don't forget that there are more photos at this site..
http://s186.photobucket.com/albums/x219/soo2ottawa/




We're in Mattawa!!!! Yeah.....Just had breakfast at the local souvenir store/
restaurant overlooking the Ottawa River and train bridge. We had a long 16 hour (only officially 14 hours of daylight) paddle and portaging day yesterday and ended up camping on the lawn of a kind woman when we arrived after dark. We're going to try to see if we can supplement our maps with more detailed Ottawa River information before we head out later this morning.

People we meet....

Special thanks goes out to Gary Davison of world record muskie fame (he's the brother and was driving the boat) http://www.driftertackle.com/news/11_06.php who drove us with our equipment from the Marina to the Voyageur Inn. As well, thanks to Natalie who offered backup portage assistance. Thanks Dave Burns and Ivan Ryman for helping with the NB Portage.

Day 14

We just finished the steep Jean Talon Portage on the Mattawa River. We were told by a couple of hikers that the cliff was the scene for a Molson Canadian commercial. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQr_e8AaHME&mode=related&search The weather's supposed to be 30c tomorrow....nice....

"The Route" Then and Now

"The Route" Then and Now
A section of a map of the fur trade route followed by Rene Menard in the late 1600's. The "Journey of Citizenship" started in Sault Ste Marie on August 24/07 and has a planned completion date of September 12/07 in Ottawa.

.....and the journey has begun

.....and the journey has begun
Ben demonstrates a potential new Olympic sport....Canooling

Photos from the start of the journey

Photos from the start of the journey
last minute preparations

As well-wishers cheered, off they went.