We left the Walmart parking lot, stopped in at Home Depot to pick up a roll of silver foil bubble wrap for window heat insulation, then headed back onto the eastbound 401.
We were making steady progress until I saw a road side direction sign pointing to Jabulani Winery. Who would use a Zulu word for “rejoice” and “happiness” in Canada? Out of curiosity, we left the 401 and headed north on County Road 15.
The narrow road wound slowly through farms, lakes and forests. All of a sudden, we rounded a bend, and rolled into an amazing village of Merrikville.
We pulled up into the first parking spot we found, and couldn’t wait to explore the town.
William Merrick, a Loyalist settler originally from Springfield, Massachusetts, founded the village of Merrickville in 1794. Attracted to the site by waterpower, he constructed a dam across the river and then built grist, saw and carding mills. It was not long before a community sprang up around the milling activity.
When the construction crews arrived in 1827 to build the Rideau Canal, the village of Merrick’s Mills, as it was then known, was a thriving community of about 300.
Unlike most of the pre-canal sites, Merrick’s Mills was not displaced or overshadowed by canal construction. After the canal was completed, the excess water once again turned the wheels of the mills and the improved transportation system caused a surge in commercial activity in the village. By 1851, Merrick’s Mills was an impressive industrial centre.
Merrick’s Mills continued to thrive into the mid-1860s. The end of the community’s industrial growth is closely related to the decline of the commercial phase of the Rideau canal. The rise of the nearby town of Smiths Falls as a major railway hub displaced Merrick’s Mills as an industrial leader in the region. Despite the decline, some industry continued in the community. In 1915 a power company was formed at Merrickville to provide electricity for the mills and a foundry. The woolen mill continued to function until 1954. Ruins of the original mills stand to mark their place in history.
Merricksville was acknowledged as one of Canada’s Most Beautiful Villages, with its charming streets, lined with heritage architecture, artists’ studios, specialty boutiques and restaurants. There is a thriving artisan community with more than 30 artists in the area, and more than 100 historic and heritage properties.
We left Merriksville, and continued on our way to Jabulani Winery. We were pleasantly surprised at the size of the operation, and a broad selection of red, rose, and white wines.
Upon arrival, we met Tom and Janet. We learned that Tom was from Southern Rhodesia, hence the Zulu name, and started making wine when he was fourteen. He also has a biltong factory, with a unique recipe and presentation style. Some of the red wine paired well with his biltong.
Today, Tom’s wine making experience is evident in the quality of his award winning wines. I highly recommend a visit to Jabulani.
We left Jabulani, with three bottles of wine, a triangle of cheese, and a bag of biltong, then headed to Wesley Clover Parks Campground, located 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa.
After supper, we headed into Ottawa to explore ByWard Market – a buzzing hub of outdoor farmers’ stalls and specialty food shops.
It’s also known for its colorful street art and trendy stores filled with crafts and clothes by local designers. The surrounding eateries cater to a broad selection of tastes, and BeaverTails (sweet fried pastries in the shape of a beaver’s tail).
Nightlife encompasses a number of rustic Irish and English taverns. Wikipedia has more information about the rich history of ByWard Market
Later in the evening, we walked around Majors Hill Park, overlooking the Ottawa River with Hull, Quebec on the opposite shore. Once the sun had dipped below the horizon, we walked up to the Parliament Buildings to take in the laser light show projected onto it’s surface. What a wonderful story outlining the history of Canada, with frequent reference to the war of 1812.
After a full day, we headed back to the peace and quiet of our trailer in a treed campground to rest for the night before exploring downtown Ottawa and the Rideau Canal.
The morning greeted us with bright sun streaming through the maple trees, and shadows dancing on the ground.
After a quick breakfast, we headed to the outskirts of Ottawa looking for a parking spot next to the Rideau Canal.
We unloaded the bicycles, and headed to the trail. What an amazing experience. The kilometres rolled by next to the canal, under shady trees and bridges, until we arrived at the locks on the Ottawa River. We walked over the lock gates, and rode on the opposite side of the Canal.
After a quick stop at the National Gallery, we continued in the direction of our truck until we came across a shady spot for a picnic lunch.
We had a short ride back to the truck, loaded the bicycles, then headed back to the campground for wifi access so Susan could catch up on work while I caught up on reading and blogging.
We’re excited to get on the road tomorrow, and cross over from Ontario into Quebec. I’m sure smoked meat sandwiches, cherry pop, and poutine will be on the menu.