Loop Dreams Adventure with Ken & Barbara

June 28, 2013, Larry and Diane come to visit

Company is coming and we scrubbed the boat in and out. We ran to pick up tour tickets to Parliament Hill and lay out the rest of the week by going to the visitor center. We bought bus tickets and picked up schedules and attractions to tour so we could be prepared to travel once our guests arrive.

Larry and Diane surprised us by knocking on our boat in the rain and came aboard around noon. It was so good to see them. Diane brought me my cell phone, which Jennifer mailed to her since they were coming our way. I am connected once again!

Once they got situated we ate a quick lunch and then off to tour Bytown museum which is nestled right next to the 8 stair case locks. The Museum charts Ottawa’s history, with a special focus on the construction of the Canal. In fact, Ottawa was originally named Bytown after Lieutenant-Colonel John By, who supervised the construction of the Canal from 1826 to 1832.

Parliament Hill was our next stop and we enjoyed the tour. Parliament Hill is the home of Canadian democracy and a proud national symbol. It is the heart of Canada’s federal government, where representatives from across the country meet to make laws that affect the lives of every Canadian.

We went up into the Peace Tower which was built from 1919 to 1927 and dedicated to the more than 65,000 Canadian soldiers who lost their lives during the First World War. Standing over 302 feet tall, it contains the Memorial Chamber, a commemorations to those who died in military service for Canada. The Peace Tower is a freestanding bell tower which chimes every quarter hour. The 53 bells in the peace Tower carillon are of all different sizes. The largest is called the “bourdon” and weighs 22,400 pounds and the smallest bell weighs a mere 10 pounds.

Ken and Diane where excited to be “home” again and tour the many sights they discovered while they lived here over 40 years ago. In spite of the rain we had a great day!