Prince Edward Island (PEI)

From Alma, we made our way toward PEI.  Just before we crossed the bridge from New Brunswick to PEI, we stopped at a visitors center at Cape Jourimain.  The Confederation Bridge was opened in 1997.  Before then a ferry was the only way to get to the island.

We stopped at the visitors center on the other side to pick up maps and other information about cultural events.  I even was able to get a bird checklist.  Unfortunately, it is in French.

In Charlottetown, we found a bank to exchange some money, lunch, and groceries.  We had reserved bicycles for the week and a bike rack to cart them around with.  Unfortunately, the rental car has either plastic or fiberglass body parts, so neither we nor the bike rental company was comfortable using it.  So, we arranged to have them delivered to the house in Murray Harbour.  For a fee, of course.




Murray Harbor is in the southeastern part of the island and about 60 km from Charlottetown.  It is a small little village.  The 100 year-old red house is a lovingly kept, 3 bedroom, 2 bath house.  The back porch has a view of the harbor.  Unfortunately, I don't know if I will be able to enjoy it much.  The mosquitos here love me like all mosquitos do.  I've got repellent, so we'll see how much use I'll be able to get out of it.





This morning, we took a short bicycle ride (about
17 km) around the country roads.  There are hills, but not the kind that make me dread riding the bike  on.  The bikes we rented have good gear ratios, so getting up them is no problem, and going down and on flats, the high gears can really help to pick up speed.





We cycled out to the Cape Bear Lighthouse.  The light house now houses a little museum and gift shop.  The Marconi wireless telegraph station that was built there in 1905, was the first to pick up the SOS distress call from the sinking Titanic in 1907.  The Marconi station is no longer there, but they have made a lovely little picnic area were we took a short break before heading back to the house.

That was our first outing on PEI.  We will be here all week.  Something that I am very much looking forward to.  Touring around with the bikes, and relaxing at the house.  Vacation!

Culturally, I am looking forward to the ceilidhs.  These are community gathering involving folk music and dancing.  They have them every night somewhere on the island.  There are at least three of them in our neck of the island this week.  We will be going to at least one of them.

The next day's weather forecast showed rain on our side of the island, so we packed the car and headed west.  Stopped in Charlottetown again for lunch, then on to the College of Piping and Celtic Performance Arts in Summerside.  Stayed for their mini concert where they came out and spoke to the four disciplines they teach: Piping, drumming, island dancing and step dancing.  It was informative and enjoyable.

On our way home we stopped and got fresh muscles, clams and fish for dinner that night.  Lynn & Steve cooked up a seafood pasta dinner that couldn't be beat!