Day 1 End to End 2026 Rideau Trail Hike

     This is the true tale of an 11 day solo hike on the Rideau Trail. Here was the plan:  I start on Parliament Hill, Monday morning, August 17th and complete the trek by Saturday evening, August 29th on the Kingston waterfront. Each night is spent in the comfort of pre-booked roofed accommodations. We enjoy a nice recovery mid-hike weekend in Perth.  

     What could possibly go wrong?  After all, earlier in the year, we had travelled around the world coordinating 3 months of air travel, excursions and accommodations.  And... as a long distance runner, my assumption was that walking is much easier than running.   Right?  RIGHT? 

     Let's just say that the 2 hour car ride home on August 30th, after all was said and done, never felt so wonderfully comfortable! 

     

    I carried a small 5 compartment backpack containing snacks, lunch, a thermos of coffee along with 2 bottles of water, a portable phone charger wrapped in plastic, some plastic bags and an extra pair of socks. I also wore a 2 compartment Nike waist pack containing my Iphone, some Kleenex and bandages. A Running Room water bottle belt with a pouch for emergency contact info and a whistle completed the ensemble. But...No walking sticks. No mosquito net. No hiking shoes. Hmm. 

      

 

Day 1 10 AM!  I started at Waypoint 19H (Map 19) near the Chateau Laurier, downtown Ottawa and walked on bike paths (green ribbon) to Waypoint 18F (Map 18). Arrival time:  4:15 PM.  3 Rest stops... at the Bistro picnic area, Duchenes Rapids and a bench on Watts Creek Parkway. 

So many bikers! 

So few walkers! 

   Enjoyed beautiful views of the Ottawa River  - imagining how early explorers would have headed west along this waterway. No GPS back then!

 

My amazing wife, Ellie could track my progress via location sharing on Google maps.  

       
          
      

  

  Coming away from the river, I passed the futuristic-looking LRT station at Moodie Dr., then followed a long straight section of bike path before heading into the woods and eventually approaching the LRT railway sheds that flank the busy 417 highway.  This section of trail along a parallel railway track is clearly visible from the right hand lane of the west-bound 417. The hectic traffic contrasts with the peace of the woodland trail to the north. 

Shortly after passing underneath the highway with its thunderous cacophony, we noted  the ominous Trail Closed sign at Timm Dr. that signaled the washout damage caused by the July 1st storm: 

   I jogged home west along Timm Drive and Katimivik Rd. from 18F (red arrow), crossing the Marianne Wilkinson Bridge to our apartment in Kanata (4.2 km) where we spent the night.  Ended up with a sore right knee because walking is not the same as running! However, all in all, a relatively easy first day!    In contrast, the next 10 hiking days would not be without significant challenges! Stay tuned!