Last Day in Ottawa, Then On the Road Again (18D).

On My Mind - Royal Canadian Navy

"Why would anyone want to be a member of the Merchant Marine?"

While in Ottawa in 2010 I purchased two books that I thought would inform me of some matters related to my father's role in the Navy during World War II. One of the books I had spotted - outside a used book store on Rideau Drive during hot PM traffic - from my motorcycle as I entered Ottawa for the first time.

That first book - U-Boat Wars, by a German writer/photographer - captivated me. It had been used as the basis of a movie I had watched years earlier, so I read it thoroughly, and at the end of it I wondered why anyone, including my father, would sign up for duties on freighters - sunk in great numbers by German submarines. (A few months later I would discover he was not a member of the Merchant Marine. But that's another story, and it is upcoming).

That being said, while in Ottawa I visited the War Museum and my father's role as a merchant mariner was on my mind. My growing interest can be seen in the following pictures.

Photos from along the way:

 The War Museum is an impressive, sturdy bulwark of a building

 This is the first photo I took inside the building. Something from a cave wall?

 Canadian troops landing from Landing Craft Infantry (Large) or LCI (L)s

during D-Day France, June 1944. Was my father involved? I did not know.

 I suspected Dad had been involved aboard freighters on the Atlantic

 I suspected Dad might have been involved aboard corvettes as well

 "Why would anyone want to be a member of the Merchant Marine?"

 A small replica of the impressive memorial in Ottawa

 A lad wants to be with his father who is marching off to war

"On the way to Dieppe": I am not certain that I took this picture

because I felt my father had survived Dieppe. But I later learned he

wrote about losing his first mates at Dieppe.

According to my photo files, the War Museum was the last place of significance that I visited while in Ottawa. The next day I left for Fenelon Falls, to visit my wife, and son and his family - for Fathers Day.

Final Photos: Fenelon Falls, then to London:

 I grabbed my backpack and took one last look out the jail window

 I snapped the photo, then walked over to my bike (and jacket, on ground)

 On Highway 7, heading west toward Peterborough

 Ella and Anna, now 10, going for a splash in Fenelon Falls

 I am now heading toward London. Home, sweet home.

 I stop in Drayton, north of Stratford, for an ice cream cone

 "Life is a Highway"

 My motorcycle stops for birdhouses

 Last stop... my front sidewalk

 Hmmm... I think the grass needs a trim!

 Bike is tarped and I'm tired. I walk into Wortley Village w Pat and Ollie

 With enough energy to sit on a bench and smile for the camera

 Ollie and I connected when I departed and when I returned

 I think he was glad to see me but more interested in exploring

Over and out!

Within a couple of months my wife and I visited Ottawa together. Though she was not as impressed as I was with our lodgings in the local jail, she certainly enjoyed a few walk-abouts and lengthy visits to the National Art Gallery and Canadian War Museum.

Her grand-father (on her father's side) had written a significant book after his WWI experiences (The Horse in War: And Famous Canadian War Horses by David Sobey Tamblyn) and she was happy to see the Museum had a copy on file.

More details will be shared when I create a story line about that trip and include many of the photos taken during our time at the Gallery and Museum and more.

Please link to We (Yamaha and I) Land in Ottawa Safely (18C)

Photos GH

We (Yamaha and I) Land in Ottawa Safely (18C)

And I Love Me Walk-Abouts! : )

A Navy Boy marching off to war catches my eye in our capital city

I had three stops at hostels between Halifax and Ottawa, and each of them were excellent accommodation - central, close to amenities (read "groceries and pubs"). But my stop in Ottawa was my favourite and I spent a couple of nights there curled up nicely in a jail cell after lengthy walk-abouts with camera in hand.

My jail cell was a double so I had plenty of room to stretch out. Showers were on another floor so I got my warm-up exercise before I headed out each morning.

Photos from along the way:

I arrived safely in Ottawa sometime around 4 PM. I spotted a book shop (visited it later, after I parked the Yamaha) while entering the city via Rideau St. The city traffic was heavy and the heat coming off my bike and the tarmac hit me like a brick. I was happy to get off the bike and into shorts and dry t-shirt.

 I parked inside the stone wall of the Jail Hostel

 Solid entrance to Jail Hostel

 Parked under metal windows of upper stories and jail cells

 Up and down the stairs many times daily to hit cells, kitchen, shower, main office

 Bright hallways; cell doors on left, windows on right

 My narrow, very solid cell door

 My room was a double, i.e., a wall had been removed from the 

original single cell to make room for a bigger bed

 Hey, my feet get to enjoy a breeze

 Air circulation, but no a/c.

 Hostel has a stately front door

 An art gallery next door to the jail

 Time to pick up my torch... er, camera, and start a walk-about

I spot a lovely pub but already made supper and sipping plans

 Supper is offered at a good price outside the jail's back door

I toured Ottawa in a convertible after supper, with a new mate

After supper and a car ride, a group of inmates and I went to a karaoke bar by bus. Good way to see the city and then hear everybody try their hand at singing in tune to canned music accompanied by a skilled piano player. Great fun was had by all.

 Up and at 'em next morning

 I discover that the jail has its own bar, near basement kitchen

 I think the Jail has a great kitchen area for sharing

 A welcome breeze fills the lower level

 A healthy breakfast is prepared before I hit the sidewalks again

 I climb a stairway outside the jail to reach Laurier St.

 I am Ottawa for the first time. I love the downtown area!

 I really liked dozens of well-cared-for brick buildings

 That's one very determined-looking Navy boy!

 A brick sidewalk leads to Parliament Hill

 Behind one of the main parliament buildings sits Lester B. Pearson

I have walked a full circle. Back to jail. 

Heading to my cell to change for supper. Chez Lucien maybe?

More to follow from Ottawa and the Canadian War Museum.

Please link to The Scenic Bike Trip to Ottawa (18B)

Photos GH