TIP TO TIP

I don’t know about you, but for me, visiting ruins has a way of making history come to life in a way that school or books never could. It provides a tangible connection to the past, a window into the trials and tribulations our ancestors would have endured. It’s a practical approach to understanding the evolution of industry and life in general. That, for me is the spark that ignites my curiosity and fuels my imagination.

Our day trip, a blend of history and exercise, is a recipe for immersive learning. We are hiking the Tip-to-Tip Trail in Burritts Rapids, a hamlet near Merrickville, Ontario, founded in the 18th century. This place once prospered because of its proximity to the Rideau Canal. Although the trail is only a 4-kilometer round trip, there is much to see. We drive across the narrow swing bridge, the oldest one on the Rideau Canal system, and park on Grenville Street near a white clapboard building. This is the former Bridgemaster’s House, and until recently it served as the town’s public library. Three blasts from a boat whistle would signal the Bridgemaster to open the bridge, which he would do manually, letting the boat through.

From here we start our walk in the middle of the trail and decide to head downriver first. I notice a stone marker, a government initiative to identify crown land boundaries. This part of the trail is a little unusual because it is on a strip of land behind residential backyards. Over my left shoulder beyond a hedge, I spot a white church, a former Methodist Church, which has been converted into a private home. A little further down a sign confirms that we are on the right path. The mid-village island on which we are treading was man-made for the construction of the canal to bypass the rapids. Interestingly, altering this landscape divided the hamlet of Burritts Rapids into two sections, part of it located in Grenville and the other in the City of Ottawa.

As I walk along the path, I try to imagine what the construction work would have looked like back then. Without the benefit of modern machinery, the perilous work of digging out the canal would have been done manually with shovels, wheelbarrows, and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. When we can walk no further, we know that we have reached the eastern tip also known as the Rideau Canal Lock Station #17. There is green space here offering camping accommodations for paddlers and pleasure crafts travelling though the lock system.

We turn around to hike to the western tip, but rather than backtrack the entire section again, when the opportunity arises, we take the road through the hamlet towards the Bridgemaster’s house. There are converted old homes along the way, bearing plaques such as “Harness Shop,” and “Shoe Store,” lending testament to the deep-rooted past of this settlement.

Once we reach our starting point, we cross the street to follow the path in the opposite direction. Across the narrow river, I see a one-legged Great-Blue Heron standing motionless on a rock. I can’t tell if it is truly missing a limb or if it is purposely doing a one-legged stance which they are prone to do to conserve heat, camouflage, or rest their feet. For its sake I hope it is the latter. We pause briefly at a look-out overlooking a marshy area, but don’t see any signs of wildlife.

An equestrian facility backs onto the river, and I expect to see a few horses, but I am not prepared for the beautiful white horse standing on the edge of the river to have a drink with an entourage of Canada Geese. Soon enough a few other horses follow suit. What a treat to watch!
We continue to the dam and stop for a moment to enjoy the view and the rush of water. In the distance I see a kayaker enjoying a leisurely paddle. It is only a few more meters to reach the narrow tip of the island where two red Adirondack Parks Canada chair await, but as enticing as that might be, our growling stomachs win the battle. A promise of lunch in Merrickville, followed by more history lures us away.

What a lovely experience! Don’t you agree that touring is the best way to soak in history?

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