Day 61 - Thursday, July 31 - Green Gables Coastal Drive

Today we set out to drive the Green Gables Coast.  It is overcast today but still warm.  

Just before Kensington are some very big grain elevators and a plant called Cavendish Agri Services.  Grain seems to be as important to PEI as potatoes.  Kensington is a fairly large town and it looks like the old railway station has been turned into a pub.  I notice that in this town, as in many other small towns or villages, that there are two churches side by side.  One always seems to be Roman Catholic and the other one is either Baptist, Protestant or United.  It seems the churches were in competition with each other for congregations.  These are not new churches they were usually built in the 1800's.    

This is the church in the historic town of Malpeque - the Princetown United Church.  A beautiful building - they were advertising a singer coming soon.  Just north of Malpeque is the Cabot Beach Provincial Park.  This is the largest of all the provincial parks in PEI.  There is a day use area here, as well as playground equipment, and life guards on the beach.  We stopped there and took a walk along the red sand beach.  There were almost a dozen kayaks in a group not far from shore.  

The red sand cliffs are amazing.  As we were coming back from the beach Dan found a trail that we took - it took us on top of the cliffs.  

Looking down you can see the different levels of sand cliffs that run along the gulf.

Gidget and I are near the edge with the Gulf of St. Lawrence behind us.

As we drive along smells of flowers are very evident - nice area.  These two homes display the pride that these people have in their province.  This is what I meant when I said it looks like everyone cuts their lawns on the same days.  Most homes have huge lawns.

Dan wanted to take this red dirt side road as he read that the rum runners used to use this very steep road to move their contraband.  This was supposed to be very steep so he thought he might get to the top of a very steep hill and scare me - but it wasn't really steep so I wasn't scared.  This was also supposed to have a "magnetic hill" but we never saw a sign for that. Hmmm a bit of a disappointment.  

On our way to the Green Gables Museum we pass many farms - they do have some nice crops and the smell of fresh cut hay is a very pleasant aroma.  

Green Gables Museum, Park Corner near Cavendish - here Lucy Montgomery spent some of her childhood with her aunt and uncle.   It was the inspiration for many of her stories.  

The parlour where Lucy married. 

The estate is now owned by Liv, a 9th generation Campbell. 

Above is the French River where both the sea and the farm come together and can be seen at a glance.  Beautiful view that is a popular among artists.  

Below is the historic fishing village of North Rustico Harbour.  We didn't find out why it was so historic, other than everything was very old. 

They had some very nice windmills, but very expensive.

Next stop - the Great Canadian Soap company.  They have a herd of about 40 goats but only about 20 are being milked.  They make a lot of soaps and 99% are fragrant.  Wow too many fragrances clashing with each other as you enter the shop.  I tried a sample of one of the soaps - nice lather, but couldn't figure out a scent that I wanted.  I also tried the goat cheese on a cracker, but the smells overwhelmed me and we left.  

As we left the shop we carried on down the road and came across this sign - very small settlement, but of course I had to take a picture as it was of Scottish interest! 

So by now Dan is starving and we are almost to New Glasgow - yes another New Glasgow!!  We read about the Lobster Suppers here and they had a very high rating.  The church lobster or community suppers are a thing of the past apparently.  They still have one at St. Ann's church here but the reviews are not great.  It started out as a fundraiser with volunteers working, but now it still donates some funds to charity but it is more of a commercial run operation.  The one in New Gladgow is huge with the same sort of feel as a community supper - plain and simple, but seats 500.  There were probably 250 people there, we could hardly find a parking spot.  Two huge parking lots full and along the road as well.  But the food. Was delicious and lots of it.  We went there hungry and good thing too.  You start out with a bucket of blue mussels cooked in sea water - delicious!  The you get a small bowl of seafood chowder and warm homemade buns and butter.  You can have as much of that as you want.  We went small - only one round of the appetizers. Then you are served a lobster along with a plate of potato salad, coleslaw and tossed salad.  Wow- was that lobster ever tender!!  Then they come along with dessert and coffee or tea.  So I had apple pie, Dan had blueberry of course. Then the waitress wanted to know if we would like more dessert, it is unlimited like the appetizers!  No thanks we are stuffed.  Good thing we went there hungry and it was only $31 per person.  Now that we are full we are heading back to camp.  What a day!  Awesome! 

Day 60 - Wednesday, July 30 - Borden-Carleton - Bug Shelter

Today it is 2 months since we left home.  Wow how time flies.  

Yesterday we met a couple, Barb and Ron Smith, at the East Point Lighthouse that were from Vancouver - we had a very long conversation with them about our trips and adventures.  They are heading out today to Newfoundland for a month.  Then they are going down the east coast of the United States and staying the winter in Florida.  They will not be back home for 10 months!  Wow what a trip they will be having.  We are sharing blogs and when we go to Alaska Barb told us to contact them for some tips.  Very nice people.  I hope they have a wonderful time in Newfoundland.  We are not going to have time on this trip to go to Newfoundland.  We have met so many people that have  told us you need at least two to three weeks to properly see the island.  So we are planning to do that next summer or the summer after that.  We plan to fly there and rent an RV and do the tour.  The only sad part is that the icebergs are apparently awesome this year and they may not be when we can go.  Hmmm. 

We packed up this morning heading for our new campsite near the Confederation Bridge.  Not far really but the road in and out of this one is so rough and steep if it rains we could be in trouble.  There is a KOA that has a special on and we are going there - besides as usual I need to do laundry.  

As we are driving along we remark on how well manicured the lawns and yards are here on the Island.  It almost looks like everyone mows their lawn on the same day.  Maybe they all have wonderful landscapers and caretakers like we do.  I bet our lawn and gardens look just as good or better than theirs thanks to our caretakers, Robin and Maggie!! 

My husband is on the hunt for a screened in shelter for me so I can sit outside and enjoy the outdoors without getting sick with bites!  And he was successful at Target in Charlottetown.  So I can hardly wait until we get to our site to set it up.

We passed an RV wash so we turned around and Dan went into find out the scoop.  Apparently they wash it and you pick it up when done.  Dan has been looking for a wash for a long time as he wants to get the bugs off, so we left the unit there to be washed.  It seemed very appropriate as it was called "Jacks" and that is his brothers name.

The Moho looks pretty small in here - they do transports and other big rigs as well.  

While that was happening we went off to "Mary's Cornwall Bakery" to find cinnamon buns that are proclaimed to be fantastic.  After we picked some of those up we went for lunch at "Deckers".   This place has a special - homemade hamburger with all the fixings, fries and a drink for $5.99 - you can't  go wrong there.  So we had our lunch - only 1 pm so not too far off the lunch time.  

The Moho was ready so we headed out to our next stop.  We arrived at the KOA at about 3:00 pm and got set up.  Off to do the laundry and I come back and what a wonderful surprise this is. 

My bug free palace - fit for a Princess.  Oh that's the princess there in the red chair!  Awesome, now I can relax outside potentially bug free!!! Thanks Dan - you are awesome.  It was advertised as a One Minute Set Up but it took much longer than a minute Dan said.  Maybe one minute if you had 6 helpers Dan said, but none the less it is my salvation.  Thanks!!! 

Laundry done, time to relax before getting supper together.  Tomorrow is another day. 

Day 59 - Tuesday, July 29 - Prince Edward Distillery

Our journey started today with finding an easier route out of this area.  The road here is a scenic route and it seems all scenic routes in the Maritimes are very rough, full of patches and narrow with little or no shoulder.  So Dan found a better route to the main highway so to is not so rough for our Moho.  And the kicker is the road up to the camp site was rough and straight uphill, so our trip down will be very slow and precarious.  This picture does not quite show the steepness of the road, but trust me it is rough and steep!  Although I must say this is the only site where we have an internet signal without difficulty. The other camp site was in Nova Scotia on the Ceidihl Trail at Port Hood.  

This could be a very nice site - it has a wonderful view, but lots of bugs and the road could use some TLC.

Anyway on the way to the Points East Coastal Drive.  Funny thing about the weather here in the east - it is cloudy in the morning and as the day progresses it's gets really warm and sometimes very muggy.  So don't get fooled, pack on a day trip for all kinds of weather.   Our first stop is the Prince Edward Distillery.  Dan finds a comfy chair and wonders when I am bringing his refreshment to him!  Ha, ha, he only wishes.  

We decide to have a tour to find out all the ins and outs of the products they make.  The potato vodka starts with 5000 lbs of potatoes delivered, all washed and ready to go into the cooker.  Yes 5000 lbs of potatoes at a time.  Then the mash is transferred to the copper still - specially made for their operation.

The vodka is distilled  three times and then only the middle or heart of the vodka is bottled.  Then they make blueberry vodka with fresh island wild blueberries, same process.  They also make gin with juniper berries imported from BC.  Ha!  Those are all triple distilled.  Then they make a Whisky, a Canadian Rye and a Rum.  These use the same still but only are distilled once.  Each one is then put in barrels from Kentucky and left for three years before bottling.  Quite a process.  They are a small operation but are expanding,  their product is sold only on the Maritimes and in a few European Counties.  They are trying to get a Canadian market approval.  

Now you are probably wondering about the taste text!  Hmmm, well the potato vodka tasted very earthy - not our favorite.  The Wild Blueberry Vodka was very nice, smooth with a hint of blueberry taste.  The tour guide said that one of the local inns mixes it with lemonade and is a very popular drink.  We did not try the gin as we are not fans of gin.  We did try the Whisky and it was very light and smooth, a nice sipping after dinner drink.  The Canadian Rye was smooth and Dan liked it but I didn't.  Very interesting that we have a market on vodka in Canada made with PEI's number one crop. 

Now we are thinking after all that taste testing we should find a coffee shop and get something into our bellies!  So our next stop is East Point.  This is where three tidal waters meet and clash!  The Northumbetlad Strait, the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean.  Unfortunately we were not able to see this phenomenon due to the high winds and the Atlantic Tide was overtaking the other two.  

We did get something to eat there - a bowl of seafood chowder and a cup of coffee.  The coffee was excellent.  

The original fog horns from the building in 1908.

Once our appetites were sated we decided to explore the lighthouse.  

So we paid our dues and climbed the stairs to see what the inside of a lighthouse is like.  The first floor was just a collection of tools and items used by the lighthouse keeper.  The second floor was where they lived complete with bed, stove and a few items needed for survival.

Now up to the third floor.  This is where the communication centre was.  There was a Marconi radio, similar to the one on the Titanic, that was used to call for help.  The East Point Lighthouse actually got a distress signal from the Titanic, but Bear River was the one that responded.  The next set of stairs took you up to the very bulb of the lighthouse.  The ladder was straight up and I decided that Dan should go up and take a few pictures for me while I waited on the third level for him.  Here is what he saw: 

As you can see the glass had dirt and bird poop on it - well who's gonna clean it? Hmmm.   What a job that would have been in all kinds of weather and very lonely as well.  Some of the lighthouse keepers were there for 28 to 33 years.  What a commitment that was!! 

Off to the Geo and down the road we go.  Which road do we take now?  Well I would like to go to Souris (Surrey), a seaport town.  

On the way we stop at the Basin Head Provincial Park where the "Singing Sands" are.  Well we drive into the parking lot and wow there must be no people or cars left in the rest of PEI because they are all here.  It turns out it is a public beach, with showers and everything and here we are with no bathing suits or place to park.  So we decide this is not for us today, probably no place left on the beach for us anyway.  

Down along the ocean we come upon Souris, a cute seaport town.  We stop at the info centre and grab a coffee at the little place there.  

Fragrant gardens surround the benches on the patio and we sat there taking in all the sights and sounds of the area. 

As we drive along the side roads we notice that instead of removing trees that are hindering the power lines they have chopped them off and left them underneath the lines.  Not sure why that is, seems a bit strange, but there must be a reason.  

Time to head back to camp.  The wind has been blowing very hard and it is hard driving.  So now it's almost 5 pm and time to call it a day! 

Day 58 - Monday, July 28 - The Birthplace of Confederation Celebration

It rained last night and is very cloudy today so a good day to drive around the east coast, or part ways anyway.  

Note there is a Needs Convenience Store at every corner in the Maritimes, much like the 711 at home.  Just wanted to mention that as we just went by another one.  

Driving along the back roads as usual we go through many small townships or communities - most are just farms and they don't have any services, maybe just a church or two.  

There are fields upon fields of potatoes, all in various stages of growth, and some in flower as the picture shows.  PEI is really the Potato Capital of Canada I think.  Really PEI is a farming Island, with fields of grain, strawberry fields forever (ha) corn fields and other root vegetables.  Think of PEI as a big platter - all around the edges are fishing villages and the middle is one big farm!  At least that is what we have seen so far.  

We drove to Georgetown and stopped to wander around.  There is a Confederation Trail here that is about 30km long along the shore line.  This is part of the trail, and there are some kids enjoying the wooden train.

This is also where three rivers meet and has the distinction of being the birthplace of Andrew A. McDonald, Prince Edward Island's Father of Conferederation.

Our next part of the journey brought us to Buffalo Land Provincial Park.  You can view buffalo and white tail deer in the park - these were originally in Alberta.  It looked like the gates were locked so we couldn't go up to the viewing platform, but we did get to see some of the herd.  

Down the road some more and we end up at Murray River and stop for our snack at the park.  Gidget enjoyed the break as well. 

Along Hwy 24 the road ahead of us looks like a roller coaster and we feel like we are on top of the world. Whee, up and down!  

 

As I mentioned earlier most places are just farms - there is a farm at the top of one of the hills in Caledonia.

So that is the end of our drive for today we are now in Charlottetown and going to walk around the waterfront where the 150 years celebration is happening.  

These two ladies were sitting enjoying chatting with everyone as they went by.  They were actors for the celebration and played their roles so well.  

Down the road on the way to the waterfront we came across the George Hotel - it is actually three separate buildings - each one had a different name and as you can see each a different color.  Quite a different concept.  

The marina and waterfront are alive with people laughing, eating, shopping and wandering about.

In the background you can see the concert set up - they have a concert every night, but it is first come first served and we are quite a ways out of town so we won't be going.  Cows is apparently the best ice cream in Canada they say.  It is very good.

Some beautiful flowers adorn one of the shops - the fragrance was heavenly.

Makes me think of my friend Kathy - such an amazing gardener! 

One of the streets was closed off for patio dining and they had live music going all day.  We sat down to have a refreshment - a beer and oysters, mmm.  

The band was really good for a group of young teenagers.  They sang bluesy and soft rock music, and called  themselves "Ripped Paper".   The singer played the harmonica too and very well I might add.  We were both impressed. 

A great way to end our day.

Goodnight from Gidget - she went for a bath and groom today - she was too hot so she got a summer shave!  And yellow bows in her ears!