Ottawa the capitale

So we started our journey towards Ottawa in a winter wonderland. Our 5 hour journey soon turned into 7 hours with the golf ball snowflakes creating mountains around us and turning the road into what looks like white bed sheets.

We seem to have turned over a new leaf in the navigation side of things as we found our hotel first time again! After a long journey and a cold walk to the hotel it was a quick check in and head down..

The next morning we did our usual and went out exploring Ottawa, our first impressions of the city were that it was a very chilled and laid back place. Oh and freezing!! At -24 degrees. On our explore we came across some of the most famous parts of Ottawa all within walking distance from our hotel : The Rideau Canal (The Worlds Largest Ice Skate Rink) and the Byward Market plus Parliament Hill.

Midweek of our stay Ottawa experienced unexpected warmer weather (+3degrees) followed by a night of rain which put a stop to some of our plans of XC Skiing and Snowshowing in Gatineau Park due to a lot of the snow melting.

Rideau Skate Rink.

Friday the 1st of February saw the start of Winterlude (winter festival). And the reopening of the Rideau Canal. So we decided that we would give the ice skating a go while we had the chance. It was going to be Paul's first experience of Ice Staking and as always he went in at the deep end and took on the worlds largest. To his utter shock as he stood on the ice for the first time with skates he suddenly crashed to the ground as his two legs went different ways! (Bambi on Ice had arrived...) 20 minutes after I (and many others passing) had managed to compose myself and stop laughing at Bambi we did actually manage to skate some of the rink before he crashed to the floor once again. Near the end of our time on the rink he had improved slightly and started to get the hang of it. However he did make a new friend with one of the locals on the ice.

Paul's new friend. Serene the Husky.

After a nice warm hot chocolate and some tea it was soon time to get down to the official opening ceremony of Winterlude.... The local park had been transformed into a winter wonder land of activities and ice sculptures. Bambi soon made a reappearance this time in the form of me, as I went to pose for a picture I ended up as a star fish on the ground. (I guess that is what you call karma)

Centre stage saw a mini concert which included local singers, dancers, acrobats and of course the good old speeches from the local mayors etc etc.... Then fireworks and a party to finish the evening off.

One of many ice sculptures.

Our next couple of days here will be filled with on going activities of Winterlude before a 2 and a half day journey up to the Rockies (Banff) for our next part of the adventure.

Gemma and Paul x

Main Stage at the Winterlude Festival.