6/11/14 Ottawa

We needed to replace our wash-down pump, so Ron rode 10 km to the Chandlery and picked up the replacement.  While he was gone, I met Jim from Joint Adventure.  He is on the looper boat in front of us.  Learned that he is traveling with a friend who had to leave due to a death in his family.  Both of their wives are educators in the Boston area, but they will be joining the crew for the summer. 

Duke was on the aft deck this morning when he was approached by a number of Chinese tourists.  I'm so sorry I didn't get a picture of them. Each one of them (10 or 11) posed with Duke for several camera shots and videos.  Only one of the tourists spoke enough English to communicate, but all bowed their thanks for the photo op.

Ron installed the wash-down pump when he returned and we are headed for the downtown mall food court for lunch.

While in the mall, we found a FIDO (phone and data) store.  Last year, we tried unsuccessfully to get a Canadian data plan after trying several Rogers stores.  FIDO is owned by Rogers.  This time, we were successful in getting an affordable data plan.  Verizon, in Canada, charges an exorbitant amount for data, leaving U.S. citizens without service unless they have WIFI. 

This time we gave FIDO a Canadian address (of a friend) and that, plus two forms of ID, seemed to do the trick.  We are trying it out tonight to see if it really works. 

Although rain continued throughout the day, there were busloads of students walking around town for end of year field trips. Kids everywhere!  They were in the mall, along the Rideau, on the tourist boats and on ghost tours.  Too bad the weather was so rainy.