Tuesday, September 11, 2007



Alumette Island



We made it to Stonecliffe and Driftwood provincial park after paddling much of the day. The Ottawa River is a much wider river than the others. We met a father and son canoeing from Montreal since 2003....doing a part each year....hoping to get to the Sault in the next 2 years. They gave us good advice for the 2.5 km portage tomorrow in Des Joachim. It's the longest they said but not the toughest.

Chenal de la Culbute



We left our comfortable abode at the Kelly's in Deep River and have set
up camp on a beach in the Chenal de la Culbute. It's a beautiful spot
surrounded by cottages and historic isolated farms on Quebec's
Allumette Island. We safely negotiated the initial rapids...mainly through
portage and line drifting the canoe. We ran into some help along the way
near Chalk River from Dan and company and had them sign the paddle...
See photo...

"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.