Decided to take the Rideau Canal Heritage Tour Route to Ottawa rather than the highway. Again, we were nonplussed by all the history and spectacular sightseeing along the way. Our first stop having passed through much pastoral land of corn, cows and hay was Westport. A charming heritage community abounding with cottages and B & Bs, homemade crafts, earthy storefronts, and quiet strolling paths along the Rideau. Cottage country, but downscale from the Muskoka Cottage country which is for Toronto's most wealthy. Here a cottage is between 200k for a 'fixer-upper' a hundred metres back from the lake to around 600k for a beauty right on a nice lake. Seems it is not just the cottage you have but where it is and how 'good' your lake is. Being rookies, we don't yet know how the locals evaluate lakes but we do know that for the poorer people you can 'time-share' a cottage for 70k for a 5 week period each year. We don't want or need more details about that option, but the area of Westport is beautiful and the people are charming and friendly.
Next stop, Perth with more picturesque parks along the Rideau, and home of the 'Big Cheese'. Code Mill was an amazing restored heritage brick building that now invited us for a spot of tea overlooking the Rideau and statue of 'Big Ben', their very own world-class show jumping champion! The town is full of incredibly charming little shops and friendly happy residents.
Last stop for the day, Smith Falls which promised a closer look at the lock system used along the Rideau Canal.
