Rideau

| Sarah Simpkin

After a long week, I felt that a post-supper pedal into town would do me some good. I set off for Rideau Branch without a route in mind, happy to explore a bit and see where I ended up.

Early evening farm views, including the cows in the night pasture.

After cycling through the farm, I cruised along Dow’s lake and the Rideau Canal Western Pathway. There were several people out on the water enjoying the sunny evening.

Cycling around Dow’s Lake, then along the Rideau Canal Western Pathway toward downtown.
Admiring the locks on the Corktown Footbridge, then passing a quiet uOttawa Station and campus.

I crossed the canal at the University of Ottawa, and rode through a very quiet campus into Sandy Hill. From there, it was just a short ride down to Rideau Street to find the library.

It was tricky to photograph the whole building without backing up into traffic on Rideau Street.

Rideau branch was my local library for my first five years in Ottawa, and I have fond memories of walking over and picking up my holds.

Byward Market is just around the corner, and I took advantage of the occasion to enjoy a cone of soft serve, as you do.

I took a detour through the market for an ice cream cone, then rode west along Wellington Street to visit LAC and the site of the new joint library.

A bonus library or two: Library and Archives Canada on Wellington Street and the site of the new OPL-LAC Joint Facility (I’m a few years early).

I then continued west along Albert Street, then turned onto the Trillium Pathway through Little Italy and onto Carling Avenue.

Public art at Bayview Station, views of the Little Italy sign on Preston Street, and some mid-century signage on a Department of Agriculture building on Carling Avenue.

Carling Avenue was a little steeper than I remembered, but I was able to crawl up the bus lane without too much traffic. Once I crested the hill, it was a quick ride past the Civic Hospital to Fisher Avenue, where I rode back to the farm in the sunset.

Twenty one branches down, 12 to go.