OUATENAIS II - October 25, 2017

The rattle of rain wakes us and distorts our view as we leave Thurso on the Quebec side of the Ottawa Riverside. The French communities gather round their Catholic Church, usually grey stoned and tall spired. The homes are tidy, often historic and picturesque. Though cafes offering "dejeuner" (breakfast and lunch) abound, Tim Hortons is no where to be found. 

The river is sombre, hidden in veils of rain that sweep across its broad expanse. The ferry appears silent and ghost like to carry the morning traffic across to Ontario.

The closer we come to Gatineau PQ, the more often the towns are less prosperous and the Anglican and United churches run down and deserted looking. The pride so evident in Francophone neighbourhoods, is missing in the those settled by Anglophones.

A pretty backroad ends as the asphalt slopes down into the Ottawa River affording us a perfect spot for a paddle in the water and a picnic lunch. The lowering sky across the river looks menacing but patches of blue sky big enough to patch a Dutchman's breeches give me the opportunity to catch some of the fall colours.

At Galetta, near Arnprior, we wander through the grounds of a small hydro-electric facility and discover a pool below the spillway with a tiny waterfall. Manny considers it a matter of professional pride to water every bush that crosses his path and drink from every body of water we pass.

The laugh of the day came from a sign on a cattle auction barn that read "LIVES O K SALES.