Summer at last in Ottawa.

July 16, 2009: (Continued). We were off from Montebello at 9 a.m. with incredibly beautiful blue skies and warming temperatures and without finding out the true cause of Lucy III's fuel problem. About one hour into the day, the engine just stopped. Sue anchored the boat. I switched over to outboard fuel and this worked well for another hour and then nothing. It dawned on me that the problem was with the electric fuel pump. I inserted the manual primer bulb into the line and the problem was solved. Unfortunately, this meant that someone had to stay by the engine and pump. Great hand exercise for Marc and sometimes Sara when docking the boat. We will look for a new pump in Ottawa.

We were welcomed to the Hull Marina and backed into our slip. This city is magnificent from the water. You first pass the Rideau Falls and then the many government buildings and National Museums come into view., Parliament is breathtaking when the sun sets. I am getting ahead of things here. Shortly after we arrived, another Vermont boat, the Nancy Ann from Point Bay Marina docked near us. This was the Allen family who used to own the Marina and who my parents bought Peugeot cars from years ago. They were doing a reverse loop from ours having come by way of the Erie Canal and the Rideau Waterway. Our family then walked over to the Canadian Civilization Museum where we enjoyed a free four hour tour. This is similar to the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. We came back to the boat for dinner and then we walked over the Alexandria Bridge to Ottawa to see the new Harry Potter movie at the Rideau Center Mall. This is definitely a university town, even in summer, from the the people that attended this film. I did forget to mention that summer arrived for us in Ottawa with 80 plus degree temperatures and sunshine.