GATINEAU PARK

Getting there:

Fortunately, Jackie was free that day and was able to give us a guided tour and the benefit of her excellent knowledge of the area.

Just across the river from Ottawa, and between the Gatineau and Ottawa rivers, this 360 sq km ( 140 sq ml ) oasis of 63 lakes and rolling hills, has long been popular with Ottawa's bikers and hikers. 

The park was founded in 1938 when the government snapped up  the land to stop its deforestation for firewood during the hard years of the Depression.

It's a vast area and outstandingly beautiful. Photos can not do justice to it.

The Pink Lake:

The Eardley Escarpment:

Mackenzie King Estate:

The park contains the private estate of the longest-serving Canadian Prime Minister (whose official residence, Laurier House, we had visited in Ottawa).

Kingswood

 dating from the early years of the 20th century, was where the guests were housed, and many of the original houses have been carefully renovated.

Kingsmere Lake:

Moorside

was the more modern house and farm Mackenzie King had built for himself in the 1920s. When we had visited Laurier House earlier one of the guides there had told us that Canadians had been less than impressed that their Prime Minister had lavished such money on himself at a time when most people in Canada were suffering poverty and unemployment in the Depression.

As with his Ottawa residence, seances were held in Moorside.

An austere bedroom, but note the large radio.

The beautiful grounds, as seen from the veranda. 

There were even ruins, 'acquired' from Europe, in the grounds.