Monday, August 3, 2009

Historic Merrickville






Today, our travels took us to the charming Victorian village of Merrickville, a little less than an hour's drive from Ottawa. And the place was hopping with visitors. The main streets have lots of unique shops which makes wandering up and down a chance for a different retail experience.
Built along the Rideau Canal, the Merrickville Locks are of special interest because of the bridge that spans the Lock and swings away to allow boats through, creating a gap in the road. Cars and pedestrians must wait until the bridge swings back into position before they can continue on their way.
We were on the second floor of the 1827 stone Blockhouse Museum, looking out the window, when the bridge swung away, affording us a bird's-eye view of the process. It was amazing how quickly and easily the span moved in and out of position. No wonder the Rideau Locks earned their UNESCO World Heritage status in 2007. What an feat of engineering it is!

No comments:

Post a Comment