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| Rideau Ferry |
There has been much talk about Rideau Ferry at council. You see, the lovely restaurant [now CC's] on the right, owns the docks, on the right, on the spot where the Little Rideau
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Shipwreck restaurant dockage
and the bridge |
turns into the Big Rideau. They've had some trespassing, and vandalizing of their fence. That is about to change.
There is much traffic at the store, and tourists
aren't the most patient of humanity! Many, with long trailers behind, park strangely. IT is difficult to find parking when there are fishing tournaments. We've even had a
helicopter park in the parking lot! I just happened to be there...
Behind the restaurant, is the Rideau Ferry General Store (medium blue). They are a great spot to shop, including an LCBO (liquor store), ice machines, a summer chip stand. You can buy eggs, frozen pizza, pop, juices, as well as gas and propane.
This is the spot where people can pick up their mail from the outdoor kiosk, too! In summer, the lake is a very busy spot.
This spot is everything cottagers want or need in a grocery emergency.
Between boaters, bridge jumpers, cars, trucks, contractors, there is much risk for incidents. People scream under the bridge in their boats and on jetskis. People will be in the area anyway, some passing through, some buying supplies. I just hope they can slow down.
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Here are the new docks, beside the old footings.
Someone has carved letters into the wet cement! |
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Many boaters on the Rideau
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There was a pirate on these waters, but that is yet another story! Many pop in here, and in summer you'll meet contractors, tourists dragging large boats, hunters on their way to play, as well as full-time residents. It's incredibly busy.
Turns out, the spot hasn't had public docks in years. It was called Oliver's Landing (1816 - 1862).
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A busy July day - many boaters
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The old story goes that John Oliver had an Inn on the other side of the Rideau, which was true, and if it was too late for a ferry crossing, you could stay over for the night. The rumour was that he murdered and hid the bodies of his customers, stealing their goods. This has been shot down in recent research! (
I wrote about it here.)
This is a myth! He wasn't a very nice man. Nor was his son...
It's a busy spot as speed boats scream by in summer and snow machines in winter.
There was much lobbying for public dockage. I just hope that the OPP will monitor it well. We have enough with easy access to the liquor store, despite our local MPP's claims!
[
Hillier introduces Bill to allow beer and wine sales in stores]
He wants more access through local stores, including people:
Driving at the speed of stupid!
This is a high traffic area, with people parking poorly, and much risk for traffic incidents. Many run in and out for booze. I shudder to think of what it will look like on a summer long weekend with public docks.
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| Cigarette boats, too! |
Council passed a bylaw (Sept. 28, 2012) to convey part of the former County Road #1, near the Rideau Ferry Bridge, to Drummond/North Elmsley Township. This includes pedestrian access from the dock to local businesses via the former County Road 1 lands (formerly Perth Street), which were created when the road was realigned to accommodate the construction of the new Rideau Ferry Bridge in 1968.
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| Sometimes traffic is an issue! |
Other partners in this project include the Rideau Ferry Yacht Club (Scott Cameron), Parks Canada, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and the local First Nations representative. Access to an existing community mail box and to RVCA’s water gauge station were taken into account in planning for the docks, as well as future access to the bridge by the county for maintenance and rehabilitation.
The budget has been estimated up to $300,000, which makes room for any unforeseen factors, says Churchill.
Our tax dollars at work!
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| Rideau Ferry, old bridge, restaurant |
24 Nov 2011 – EMC News - The proposed project is to create a new commercial-grade dock next to the original public docks, between the Rideau Ferry Bridge and the concrete abutment of the old bridge.
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| Note the snowmobile tracks! |
Here is the bridge in winter, looking out to the lake.
The bridge is a place where young people jump into the lake in summer!
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Young people bridge jumping
in summer. |
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This will be a busy spot in summer.
Beyond the docks: cottages. |
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| Construction on the new docks |
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| Love the signage |
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| Last weekend it was frozen, with shards of ice |
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| View from the top of the bridge |
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This bridge dates from 1968.
You can see the footings of the old one in some photos. |
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It's the shortest crossing, hence the ferry worked here
in the early 1800s. |
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The Rideau Canal waterway has much traffic.
Many are hoping to increase waning boat tourism.
Via dockage at Rideau Ferry (A)
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Hopes are buoyant for proposed wharf in Rideau Ferry
There was much lobbying, and much press!
The lack of public docks in Rideau Ferry continues to create frustration for residents and cottagers. Dallas Kennedy, owner of The Shipwreck, cites problems.
These are photos I took as they were building!
Helicopter in Rideau Ferry from
Jennifer Jilks on
Vimeo.
Here are all the lucky people who are able to be on the water on Labour Day, the last official day of summer. It's strange all the hooplah, with 'back to school' specials, and the newspaper filled with what to wear, school lunches, and all that jazz. I'm happy to be retired! Our Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTO) usually meet locally for a To Hell With The Bell breakfast!
