A nine-day trip in a Boston Whaler on the Ottawa River.
In the summer of 2006 Chris and I explored the waters of the Ottawa River as part of a family visit to relatives in Eaganville, Ontario, a small community in northeastern Ontario. We hauled our 22-foot outboard-powered Boston Whaler along, traveling by highway to the town of Pembroke, Ontario. Launching the boat at Pembroke, we travelled upstream on the Ottawa River about 110 miles to Mattawa, Ontario. The experience is presented here in narrative form. The text is supplemented with photographs and has been divided into separate articles, one for each day.
The Ottawa River has served as a marine highway for several centuries, although not in its current state. The river's descent from its northern origins flowed through many rapids, some the most spectacular in Ontario. The waterway has since been tamed by the construction of several large dams, which have formed the river into a series of lakes and tapped the power of the falling water to create hydro-electricity.
Comments or questions about the trip can be posted to a public discussion area on the website. I'll try to answer any question promptly.
Jim Hebert
Beverly Hills, Michigan
August 2006