After putting in, we paddled east then north (downstream) along the shoreline until we reached a point just above a set of rapids immediately west of the Richmond Village boundary at a location locally known as the Rock Cut. On this day, there was a heavy flow of water running through the rapids, so we chose to tie up above them on the east shore next to a beaver-felled tree. This area of shoreline is just west of the north-south CN Ottawa-Toronto railway tracks which pass through this area. At the tie-up location, Manitoba maple, hawthorne, red osier dogwood, red ash, black currant and Canada anemone grew along the shoreline. Bullfrogs and greenfrogs could be heard calling from the shoreline. Birds heard or sighted were catbird, northern oriole, bobolink, yellow warbler, common yellowthroat, black-billed cuckoo. A tadpole with a leech on it was found in the shallows against the riverbank.
WPT#22 - 13:00:04 hrs.
N45.10.113 W075.10.113

We walked east and then north along a lightly used path which follows the river and the railway line. A ruffed grouse flew up out of the brush alongside the trail. We arrived at the southernmost point in an alvar-like area which lies on the east side of the river adjacent to the rapids.




At this point, large, flat sections of limestone could be seen extending out into the river. From my vantage point on the east shore, it looked like the west side of the river might be fairly clear of rocks, but that the east side could pose some risk of collision against the rocks depending on the water level and flow rate if one intended to paddle through the area of the river. This alvar-like area of exposed limestone and dolomite forms a type of pavement which hosts only a variety of mosses, lichens.




In a few areas, there are deposits of richer soil which host grasses and herbaceous plants. A great blue heron feather was found here. Eric called a male common yellowthroat down from a tree next to the river.
WPT#23 - 13:15:57 hrs.
N45.10.193 W075.50.036







Continued on Page Three.