Pinhey's Point

July 21, 2007

Rubby asked me if I had any preferences for doing a geocache and being very pregnant, I asked for someplace along a river with no mosquitoes. And we ended up at Pinhey's Point.

Pinhey's Point is along the Ottawa River just west of Ottawa. It is a historic site but there was no admission fee. The grounds are beautiful with a park, an ecologically sensitive area, a playground, lots of picnic spots, and a boat dock. Because it's along the water and up a hill a bit, the breeze coming off the water made for a gorgeous mosquito free day. Unfortunately we only got one of the 2 caches, but the day was a fun one anyway.

Hamnett Kirkes Pinhey was an English merchant and ship-owner who came to Upper Canada in 1820. He received a 1000 acre land grant on the Ottawa River for his services in the Napoleonic Wars and built up and estate which he named Horaceville after his elder son. It included a manor and barns as well as mills, a store and a church. The estate stayed in family hands until the NCC bought it in 1959.

Samantha is ready for adventure.

A gorgeous day looking out over the Ottawa River.

This house has a museum in it but we didn't check it out.

The identity of this ash house was discovered by archaeological excavation.
The ash content showed it was used to store ashes for making lye soap.

Samantha enjoyed the terraced gardens.

Samantha liked the lavender...

... and the many other flowers.

The Ottawa River was the primary transporation route for the riverfront settlers of March Township.

These ducks also prefer the river over Highway 417. ;-)

The natural promontory owned by Pinhey was originally named Fortune Point.
Pinhey's Point is ecologically fragile and so access to the point is not allowed.

 
A cedar waxwing and a monarch butterfly.

Samantha enjoyed the playground, especially after she discovered she could climb this seesaw by herself.

An american goldfinch.

Picnic time!

Sammy enjoying some 'wurst'.

Time to rest from all that fun!