Two Bridges (Part 2)

 29 September:  Two Bridges (Part 2)

 

 

The old CN rail bridge across the Ottawa River - view from the Quebec side

It didn’t take us very long to return to the Ottawa River to complete our bridge exploration – just two weeks in fact.  Today’s explorations turned out to be much more than just a visit to the second bridge mentioned in my 15 September blog. 

This old rail bridge crosses the Ottawa River from Morris Island, east of Arnprior, into Quebec.  It seems to be known as the Fitzroy Harbour bridge, despite not being particularly close to that location.

This bridge has a latticed steel superstructure making it a more interesting sight than the Dingo Crossing bridge further upstream.  And it is slightly longer.  We crossed the bridge on our bikes, into Quebec, and then continued along the rail line for a few kilometres as far as Pontiac Station.  Here the line emerges from the gloomy forest, drawing near to the northern shore of the wide Ottawa River.  On the distant southern shore lies the town of Arnprior.

The surface of the track is very rough, and only suited (barely) to mountain bikes, which we both had.  We made surprisingly good, if bumpy, progress, as long as we concentrated on the stony route beneath our tires.

Back at the Morris Island Conservation Area, we now set out on part two of our day’s adventure. 

The long straight pathway leading eastwards through the Conservation Area is actually the railbed of the original Canadian Northern railway, built in 1915.  The route of the line had to be shifted a few hundred metres to the south when the Chat Falls Dam was built in 1928-31.  We found a forest trail leading to that line and turned east for a couple of kilometres to a fine railway bridge over a wide swampy river.  The downstream side of the Chat Dam was partially visible to the north, with the overhead power lines striding southwards across the landscape. 

The rail surface along this section was even more challenging, but we made it all the way back to the parking lot, making the day’s journey just under twenty kilometres – and with no punctures!

I doubt if many cyclists will have done what we did today.  They are missing a good challenge, and a rewarding experience. 

Sudden signs of Fall at the Morris Island Conservation Area

The route heads north to the river

At the bridge

A more interesting bridge than at Dingo Crossing

And a slightly longer bridge

The bridge structure

A sturdy superstructure

Into Quebec on a rocky surface

Baie du Chat, Pontiac, Quebec

Heading back

Deterring unwanted visitors

Ottawa River from the Quebec side of the bridge

Close-up:  Arnprior on the far shore

The original Canadian Northern railbed - now a trail

Another fine bridge not far from Chat Falls Dam

A swampy arm of the river downstream from Chat Dam

This bridge was our easterly point (turned around here)

The first leg: 10.6 km

The second leg: 8.4 km