Wed July 30 - Bracklay Beach, bicycles and Richard's

Wed July 30 - Bracklay Beach, bicycles and Richards

Getting ready for the ride

Was supposed to rain again...whoopee brilliant sunshine very little wind and 27 degrees. PEI is sure treating us right!

Leaving the bay!

Robinsons Island Map

Decided to go off on a bike ride, so we drove over to the Brackley Dalvay section of the National park and parked about half way along at Cove Head, Started out westward and got to the end at Robinsons Island, then returned to the truck and indulged ourselves with Lobster Roll and the best battered fish ever at Richards. Its very well known and has a well deserved reputation. After meeting a really nice couple originally from PEI and now living in Okotoks, Alberta. We shared stories (and their clams). Suitably revived, we carried on westward and went to the Dalvay end of the park and back again. In total we cycled some 28 km and, although it was all flat, we both felt it was quite the workout due to the temp and humidity.

We took the long way home via the great Canadian Soap co, and PEI Preserve Company. Got some awesome mint jelly!

Taking a break at Robinsons Island

Back home at 5.30 we washed the rig and got going on the blog as the rain is finally beginning.

The bay by Richard's Seafood

The best Fish (and lobster roll) so far!

Kids having great fun ..

Just a beautiful place

Total route - from one end to the other and back

Tue July 29th – Cavendish and Green Gables

Tuesday July 29^th – Cavendish and Green Gables

Today it was supposed to be thundershowers but we awoke to a bright beautiful sunny day. Packed a picnic lunch and off to see Green Gables in Cavendish. Its part of Canada's National Park and historic buildings stuff so we got in free with our Discovery Pass...it has certainly paid its way since we bought it in Alberta last year. So we retraced the footsteps of Lucy Maude Montgomery and visited the Green Gable house...its not strictly original but has been decorated and furnished in the style of Green Gables in the novel. We walked through Lovers Lane to Balsam Hollow and then over to the Haunted Woods. All places from Montgomery's life and in the Anne novels  The recreation of this 19th century icon is actually very well done. We saw the footings that remain of the McNeil home where LMM’s grandparents raised her from a baby after her mother died when she was almost 2 yr old,  and the lane that she would run home from school. There were numerous early pictures of her life and thus it was easy to reconstruct her childhood and draw the similarities to Anne (with an E of course).

Lovers Lane

We got a few groceries and drove along the Cavendish beach front, stopping for a while on the beach and listening to the ocean. BBQ pork tenderloin and a Skype with Grant finished off our wonderful day.

Haunted Woods

Whats left of LM Mongomery's childhood home

View from the ruins

Lunch on the beach

Not a soul in sight - well one anyway!

Monday Jul 28th – Charlottetown Lobster and Anne Shirley

Monday Jul 28^th – Charlottetown Lobster and Anne Shirley

Province House Charlottetown

Great Island Beer

A wonderful day. Started with a drive into Charlottetown to the wharf where we had booked a Lobster tour aboard a real lobster boat. We were a bit early so enjoyed a quick bowl of seafood chowder and a local PEI beer at a restaurant on the wharf… very tasty. We then boarded the fishing boat ‘Top Notch”, joining Captain Mark and his brother Cody (4th generation Lobster fishermen) and another few people for the tour of a lifetime. An informative talk by Capt Mark about lobsters and general fishing in PEI. (did you know that a lobster can REGROW parts of its body such as eyes, claws, tentacles internal organs etc) … we need to do some stem cell research there for sure!!!!)

Charlottetown Harbour

We were invited to help bring the traps up and were up close and personal with crab and lobster and a third trap contained a 14lb lobster (affectionately named Larry). 

The anchor was dropped in the bay and we were treated to a lobster dinner and local beer on-board. A superb 2.5 hour adventure.

Hello! can I come out now?

Back ashore we had some time to kill and found the Kettle Black Coffee House. Well we think we know coffee and these folks do too. Best cappuccino since Orotava on the cruise.

Brave beyond measure

Hauling in the big one

 A quick change in the truck, a short walk through town and we were off to see Anne of Green Gables - The Musical at the Confederation Center for the Arts. Not being fans of musicals we were a bit hesitant, but were delighted to discover that it was a truly entertaining show, we laughed, tapped our feet and even shed a tear (well Janice did anyway, when Matthew died). What a great performance… very professional and well directed. We were also treated to a special live appearance before the show by Don Heron (Charlie Farquharson) (non-Canadians once again go to Wikipedia),  who co-wrote the musical. He is now almost 90 years old, but still got stage presence and a sense of humour.     

Another fascinating creature!

Baby starfsh... awwww!!

Larry the Lobster... dinner anyone?

Nothing like a fresh lobster!

Thankyou Mark and Cody - brilliant tour

Street in Charlottetown

St Dunstan's  Basilica, Charlottetown

Chatting with Sir John A MacDonald

Macdonald's story

Back of Prov Hse Fathers of confederation met here 1864

Fascinating creatures

Croquet anyone?

Fabulous coffee at the Kettle Black

Sun Jul 27th - Pictou NS to New Glasgow PEI

Sunday Jul 27^th Pictou, NS – New Glasgow, PEI

Leaving Pictou, Harbour Lights campground

Ferry Dock, Pictou

What a great day. We left the campsite about 8.00am so that we would be in plenty of time to catch the 9:30am ferry to PEI (now that we didn’t have tickets). We were 2^nd in line in the RV/Truck lane so we felt pretty confident. A coffee while we waited and wandered. We boarded without a problem and totally enjoyed our free journey from NS to PEI aboard the ‘Confederation’ ferry. Only a 75 minute ride, but saves a few hours of driving and diesel!  So a small piece of advice … if you are going to PEI and Nova Scotia… do Nova Scotia first , then take the free ferry to PEI and leave PEI  via the Confederation bridge!!

Here it comes!!

Harbour near ferry

Our rig on-board

We went straight to New Glasgow Highlands campground near New Glasgow and after settling into our site (#24) we went out on a reconnaissance drive to ‘suss’ the area out. After making what we thought was a ‘wrong’ turn, we happened upon a fresh sea food vendor/hut and decided to have a quick look inside… WOW… fresh clams, mussels, oysters, lobster… Be still my beating heart!!!! The chappy there was very informative and even let us try a free oyster… by the way… you have to chew them for best flavour!! Needless to say our ‘wrong turn’ cost us a bit, as we tottered out of Carr’s seafood place with a dozen fresh oysters, a ‘tourist’ shucker and a 1 1/2lb freshly cooked female lobster.  Slavering as we drove home, we totally enjoyed our decadent pre-dinner feast!!  Diet?? What diet??

And we are off.. PEI bound

OUR LAST PROVINCE

Fresh lobster and Oysters... appetizers!!

Well shucked by Derek

Sat Jul 26 - Baddeck to Pictou

Jul 26 - Baddeck to Pictou

Ad to get passengers to sail on The Hector

It was with a little sadness that we left Baddeck. Cape Breton is a wonderful place and we felt that 4-5 days is just not enough to thoroughly explore this area. But we have a plan this time, and sites are pre-booked so off we went. Of course once we are on the road, we again feel that rush of 'new adventure'. It happens every time we head to new destinations. We are heading toward PEI, but first we are stopping overnight in Pictou, NS. We arrived early afternoon and were pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the campground welcome (a whole bunch of people sitting outside the camp office shooting the breeze) looked like a welcoming party! After setting up and meeting our neighbours, we headed out to check out the ferry area. It is a weird setup. Trying to be brief... it is free going from NS to PEI... any size vehicle and any number of passengers (you pay only from PEI to NS). Now we had tried to book but you can't book one way... only return. We wanted to ensure we got on the ferry so we booked a berth leaving PEI tonight at 6:30 (which we wouldn't use) and then 'returning' tomorrow morning at 9:30am. After discussing the situation briefly with the lady in the canteen and the chappy outside who seems to usher the trucks/cars onto the ferry, the feeling was that, with only one hour left to our bogus trip 'from' PEI,  we should cancel and take our chances in the morning... So we did!! refunded $120 ... here's hoping we can get on the ferry tomorrow! 

On board the replica of the Hector

Route showing being blown back off course

We drove then into Pictou... what a great little town, and the final destination of the 'Hector' back in 1773 .. one of the first ships carrying (approx 200) Scottish people to 'Nova Scotia'. The migration of the Scots was a result of many factors, mostly to do with the battles with the English, and Scottish failure to maintain their independence after the devastating loss at Culloden in 1746. The history of this migration, and the factors influencing it, are well told at the Hector Heritage Quay in Pictou in the Museum, which also has a replica of the Hector berthed and available for viewing. We watched a movie that followed the building of the replica in the 90's. It was really interesting and quite emotional when it was finally launched. We were fascinated by the history and loved our very short stay in this lovely town.

The Hector (replica) in the harbour