St-Laurent

| Sarah Simpkin

Readers, it has been a while. After a frantic couple of weeks winding down my to-do list at work, I’m now on sabbatical to complete a M.Sc. at Carleton for the next 12 months. I’m still pinching myself.

Of course, with September rolling around I am also conscious of the need to wrap up my final few branches before the cold weather starts in earnest. With that in mind, I set out for St-Laurent on an overcast Wednesday afternoon.

Looking wistfully across the canal at Carleton, where I’m now an (online) student. Nautical distancing is in effect.

I set out across the farm, crossed at the locks near Carleton, and continued along the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway all the way to Clegg Street.

There are now several bridge crossings across the Rideau River. Today’s pick was the pathway near Lees campus.

From Clegg, I rode through Old Ottawa East along Main Street, then turned to ride through the Saint Paul University campus to Lees. I crossed the Rideau River on the pathway that runs just south of the Queensway and joined the Rideau River Eastern Pathway to ride to Donald Street.

I do not understand why the bridge is at Donald Street, but the bike path runs along McArthur instead (yes, I guessed wrong again!)

I rode along Donald Street, passing a fellow uOttawa librarian by chance (small world!), then turned north to wiggle through Vanier to St-Laurent branch, which is on Côté Street.

Library adjacent to a splash pad = recipe for fun at St-Laurent branch.

St-Laurent branch is part of a much larger recreation complex. There was a bike repair stand, large splash pad and playground outside, and plenty of families coming and going from the building. After a tour around the building to admire the sights, I made a quick stop at another uOttawa colleague’s new house to admire the in-progress kitchen renos before heading home in the rain.

My third campus of the day: a very wet University of Ottawa with new Kwey welcome signage.

Twenty eight branches down, 5 to go.