Maple Leaf Mailbag rock'N roadshow

Ottawa, the capital. The seat of power. The epicenter of the machine of governance. The Corporation's head quarters. Office buildings are occupied by the worker bees of the bureaucracy. The politicians pride inside the House of Commons; Ideological disparity road blocks progression during Question period. Here, inside the halls and back rooms are were the decisions are made that effect the citizens of the democracy. The city is sprinkled with some eye candy as well. The architecture housing the art-work of the nation are built to impress. Parliament Hill being the crown jewel of the city. We take in the views from across the river at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Que. Michel, our guide to the museum, has all the knowledge of the past. Years peel away as one walks by the well constructed tableaux. A week could be easily spent absorbing the vast collection of artifacts. The first nations exhibit in the great hall I found to be particularly poignant. I personally enjoy history museums. I wish we had a few more hours although, I am feeling the fatigue of the end of a long trip. I'm not exactly sure why we came to this museum. Maybe, it was a last minute solution to having no other viable activates for day 21? Maybe, it was to feed Ian's insatiable obsession with the past? Or perhaps, the thought was to gain some historical perspective on the people that helped shaped the country we just drove across? This pertinent question may, never be answerable. Thanks again Michel, you are my friend. It's the last night on the road, it's time for some fine dining. We are all in a celebratory mood. After eating far to much, Marty and I watch Tom and Ian continue their competition around the pool table. The evening fades to black.

Day 22:
The final day. Another sunny one. Shameless promotion of the MLMB is the goal. Hundreds of MLMB stickers make for the ammunition. Rideau Canal Skate-way in Ottawa, our impact point. Skaters drift by as Tom and I fill empty hands with the much desired merchandise. Jones does his part by shouting sardonic comments with regards to my perceived lack of effort. Sure my method may seem ...

Ottawa. Home of government. Home of ice-skating hordes. What else happens here? Well, there's the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Ian has decided this magnificent testament to human endeavour will be our last stop on the road trip. Why? Do we need to visit another museum? I suppose we need to do something. But if I said I was excited about spending the final Saturday of our trip sandwiched between exhibits and tourists, I'd be lying. I've always sucked at pretending I'm excited about something I'm not. It's a struggle, but our guide, Michel, is great. He's a really good sport, and that makes it all worthwhile. And the big totem poles are cool. Dinner at an Italian place, and then a few games of pool. Ian actually manages to beat me once!

Day 22:
Before heading back to Montreal, we've got to hand out some of our stickers. This is going to be tough. They're reverse stickers, designed to be pasted on the inside of your car window. So they're basically white pieces of paper. You can faintly see that something's written on them, but it's written backwards. And the MLMB is hard enough to read as it is. So try selling that to someone! We decide to head down to the canal, which is packed with skaters. It's a beautiful day, and as it turns out, no one can refuse a free sticker, even if it's one they can't read. Afterwards we meet up with some Ottawa locals who we met the night before for some Bailey's and Hot Chocolate. I can't believe it's over. Three weeks on the road, and it ends with the uninspiring two-hour drive back to Montreal. Actually, it ends with a team dinner at the Cage Au Sports in Vaudreuil. Now, we just have to figure out what to do with the 30+ hours of footage we have amassed. We're going to take our time, make something good. It'll be up here before you know it....

(Ottawa): The Business Inn!

Day 22:
Last day of trip...Shooting some nice b-roll of Rideau Canal and Parliament. Having a last coffee and we're back in MTL! Wow what a fun trip! I'll miss you guys!