OVERVIEW

Come and join us for a twelve-day tour through the Rideau Canal system, a UNESCO heritage site.  Built between 1826 and 1832, it connects Ottawa with Kingston, on Lake Ontario through a series of rivers, lakes and connecting locks to form a 125 mile long continuous waterway.  It is the best preserved canal from the great canal-building era in North America that is still fully operational along its original line and with most of its original structures intact. About 12 miles of the route is man made locks and canal cuts.  There are 45 locks in 23 lock stations along the main route.  We will be riding past about half of them. All work on the canal (digging and moving dirt, chopping trees, excavating stones) was done by hand.

It was initially built to assist in Canada’s defence by allowing boats to travel from Montreal to the Great Lakes without having to travel down the St. Lawrence River, in gunshot range of the Americans.  Today the canal is used primarily for recreation.  You can see million dollar homes and cabin cruisers, quaint cottages, canoes, kayaks and sail boats, and loons swimming in a sheltered, undisturbed bay, all in the same day.  There are also lots of opportunities for sightseeing, shopping and eating in the towns and villages along the way.

The tour will start and finish in Ottawa’s west end (Kanata).  We will spend Day 2 here giving you an opportunity to explore the Ottawa area.  On Day 3 we head for Perth which is on the Tay River which flows into the Upper Rideau Lake. Boutiques, specialty shops, cafés and restaurants, including crafts, antiques and flea markets, and summer Farmers' and Craft Markets can be found in Perth’s heritage downtown core close to our hotel.  Westport is our destination on Day 4.  We’ll pass through Rideau Ferry and Portland along the way.  Both communities play a key role in supplying local cottagers and boaters passing through with groceries.   On our way to Westport we will cross on the swing bridge at the Narrows Locks which links the Big Rideau to the Upper Rideau Lake.  You can stop to see the Blockhouse.  Day 5 has us biking from Westport to Kingston.  Our ride will take us past the Newboro Locks, one of only four electric locks along the canal and then the swing bridge over the locks at Chaffeys.  The balance of our ride into Kingston takes us away from the canal and through the villages of Perth Road Village and Inverary.

With the rest day in Kingston you can explore the many museums and historic sites in the area (Old Fort Henry, former home of Canada’s first prime minister, Canada’s Penitentiary Museum, Great Lakes Museum, Pump House Museum), join a one to three hour boat cruise, or you can ride one of the optional rides that will be available.

Day 7 takes us away from the canal along quieter back roads.  The only village we will pass through, Morton, is only a few miles from our destination, Jones Falls.  We will stay in a 1870’s classic seasonal Canadiana waterside resort rich in history.  For generations, families came to stay, fish in the area and watch the boats go by and through the locks.  The next day we are off to Smiths Falls, via the back roads.  We will pass through the villages/hamlets of Elgin, Toledo, Newbliss, and Jasper before reaching Smiths Falls.  Its claim to fame for many years was as the chocolate capital of Canada.  Hershey closed its operation in 2008 and sold the facility.  It was subsequently repurchased it in 2023 but it still isn’t clear what Hersey’s plans are for the facility but we will definitely have some chocolate at happy hour to celbrate the history!

Day 9 has us heading to downtown Ottawa.  Our route will follow the canal system more closely than the last couple of days.  We will travel through Merrickville, Kars, and Manotick.  All have a general store, grocery store and/or restaurant.  During our rest day in Ottawa you can visit Parliament Hill, one of our many museums (Museum of Nature, National Art Gallery, Museum of Civilization, War Museum, or Rideau Hall the home of Canada’s Governor General (King Charles III’s representative in Canada)), listen to the music from the Jazz festival that will be happening in the park across the street from our hotel, or take advantage of the cycling routes in and around the City.

Our final day of riding together is day 11.  After a leisurely breakfast, we will follow a winding bike path along the Ottawa River and return to our starting point.  Or if your legs are up to it after a day of dancing at the Ottawa Jazz Festival, you can take a scenic longer route back to Kanata. Options will be available if you want a longer ride that day.  We say goodbye after breakfast on Day 12.

RIDE RATING

This trip is rated a 1B with an average daily distance of 41 miles (65 km) and 822 ft. (250 m) of elevation gain per day (ranges from 120 ft (36.6 m) to 1320 ft (402 m)) and no steep grades (if the repair work on the bike path behind the Parliament Building in Ottawa is completed before our tour, the maximum grade will be less than 3%, otherwise there is a section with a grade of 7%.) There are two days that exceed the ride rating with required distances of 50.3 miles (81 km) and 64 miles (103 km).  Most of the rides are along well travelled bike routes with most riding surfaces (~97%) paved. There are some sections of several miles that are unpaved on our travel from Kingston to Jones Falls and from Jones Falls to Smiths Falls.  Some additional scouting is anticipated before the tour begins. The exact routing will be finalized at that time.

CUE SHEETS, MAPS, GPS FILES

GPS files for all routes will be created using Ride with GPS.  A link will be provided well before the tour to all the GPS files in an "Event" and you will be able to download all the files to your computer, bicycle computer or smartphone.  You will also be able to print maps and cue sheets if wanted.  Note: It is up to the rider to know how to use his or her GPS device before the trip begins.

WEATHER

For the period planned for this tour, the weather can vary quite dramatically from year to year.  Typically, temperatures range from 54°F -78°F (12°C - 25°C) in Ottawa in June with temperatures in Kingston slightly cooler during the day and warmer at night due to the lake effect. Temperatures considerably warmer are not unusual.  On average, about 4 inches (105 mm) of rain falls during June over 12 days.  Come prepared for rain!

LODGING & MEALS

Hotels will range from chain hotels (e.g., Best Western, Hilton, and Holiday Inn), to 100+ year old hotels/resorts either on or near the Rideau Canal system.  Overnights in order are Ottawa (Kanata) (2 nights), Perth, Westport, Kingston (2 nights), Jones Falls, Smiths Falls, Ottawa (Downtown) (2 nights), and Ottawa (Kanata).

At least seven breakfasts and three group dinners are included in the tour.

LOGISTICS

The tour starts in Ottawa (Kanata) at 5:00pm with happy hour on Friday, June 11, 2027 and ends back in Ottawa (Kanata) after breakfast on Tuesday, June 22. 2027. Participants who fly can use the Macdonald Cartier International Airport (YOW) which has direct flights from Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), New York (EWR, JFK and LGA), and Washington (IAD).  Connecting flights are also available through Montreal and Toronto.  To get to our first hotel from the airport, an Uber is probably the most convenient and cost effective.  Public transit at approximately $3 USD is the least expensive but takes almost two hours. 

We expect that vehicles may be left at our first/last hotel for the duration of the tour. This will be confirmed as we getting closer to the start of the tour.  We will have a driver whose primary role will be to transport luggage and supplies. While the van will be available to assist with any emergencies, it will not serve as a SAG vehicle and participants are expected to complete the ride each day.

Tandems and e-bikes are welcome on this tour.

Bike rentals are available from Escape Tours and Rentals and RentABike.  Both companies are located in downtown Ottawa close to the corner of Wellington and Elgin Streets (2 blocks from the Canadian Parliament Buildings), which is about a 70 minute ride by public transit from our hotel.

COST & ADMINISTRATION

Cost estimate is $2,400 per person double occupancy for 11 hotel nights, at least seven breakfasts, happy hour drinks and snacks most afternoons, at least 3 group dinners, daily route review, luggage transfer, and routes and sightseeing information.  The initial deposit is $1,270 with the final payment of $1,130 due January 15, 2027. Costs have been converted assuming the Canadian dollar is worth $0.80 USD. Depending on currency exchange rates, there may be an adjustment in the amount of the final payment.

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY

We welcome single participants, whether you share a room with another single or you choose to pay a solo supplement. If you are thinking of participating as a single, please contact the Ride Leader to determine whether a room for additional singles are still available.  In one location there are only two rooms with two beds in them.  It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. Priority for the two rooms with two beds will be given to singles with an identified roommate.  Solos and singles without a roommate will not be accepted until after September 30, 2026 if the tour has not filled.  Any singles accepted after September 30, 2026 without a roommate, will after receipt of the initial deposit, be placed on the ride and given two weeks to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fee) or pay the $1,270 Solo Supplement by the due date and stay on the ride. If a single commits to paying the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary. The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride. Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office by January 15, 2027.

The solo supplement payment of (insert amount), is due by January 15, 2027 and can be paid by Zelle or check. To pay using Zelle:

• In your bank's website, add Bicycle Adventure Club as a new recipient, with email address treasurer@bicycleadventureclub.org
• Initiate a payment
• In the Message block, enter the name of your ride.

If you have questions, contact Nancy Bohnett nbohnett@bicycleadventureclub.org. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check and mailed to:  Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193

CANCELLATION POLICY

The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. For individual cancellations, refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and whether costs can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the cancelling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped, the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY

Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leader(s) and communicated to all individuals.  The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.

We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

Insurance Statement: BAC maintains two insurance policies: a) United States, and b) Foreign (all other countries). Both the U.S. and Foreign policies are considered secondary policies to your personal medical insurance policy. They are subject to a $1000 deductible and may not cover all expenses related to an accident. Copies of the current policies are located under the “Docs” tab on the BAC website.

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. While touring in the U.S, the BAC insurance includes coverage for injuries due to accidents during the bike trip. Members’ personal insurance will need to cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected illness (i.e. treatment for unexpected illnesses, including Covid, are not covered).

While touring internationally, i.e., outside of the U.S., BAC maintains Foreign accident insurance to assist with expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies (including sudden and unexpected sickness), and repatriation. Insurance will apply door-to-door for treatment and travel for a maximum of 90 days overall. Coverage extends to a limited period spanning the published BAC trip dates, allowing for side trips occurring before and after the BAC ride; the limitation period is 7 days before or after the published BAC trip dates. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine.

Sign-up: To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee by credit card. There is an $85.00 domestic ride fee and $150.00 international ride fee. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.