Saturday – August 4, 2018
Prince Edward Island
After breakfast we took our leave of Randy and Marian and headed to PEI. You cross the 8 mile long Confederation Bridge over the Abegweit Passage of Northumberland Strait to reach the island. Prior to the bridge opening in the 1997 you traveled that route by ferry.
PEI has a different feel and topography from New Brunswick. You find it is less forested and has rolling hills with a red soil. There seems to be more farming and apparently potatoes are big because the Canadian Potato Museum can be found there. It wasn’t on our route so we didn’t go but I think it’s a must see on the next trip.
Cavendish Cliffs
We did make it to the Cavendish Cliffs on the north side of the island. There we found calm waters and enchanting red cliffs that had been carved by the wind, rain, and sea. We did have to dodge some of that rain while doing the scenic drive through that area. Unfortunately the rain and overcast didn’t help with my quest for the perfect pictures at every scenic location but I’m trying make the best of the hand I’m dealt. We have seen various postings on Facebook about the rain and winds in Upstate New York and would appreciate it not being sent eastward to us. Enough rain and mist!
I think PEI would make a good northern beach destination to relax for a few days. We had to miss Charlottetown on this trip but next time will be sure to spend a night or two. If you are an Ann of Green Gables fan then PEI is certainly a place for you to visit.
MV Confederation – 1st Ship of the Trip
Nova Scotia was calling to us so we drove to the southeastern town of Wood Islands to pick up our first boat of the trip. The MV Confederation makes the 75 minute run across the strait to Caribou Nova Scotia. We planned to stay in nearby New Glasgow and reserved a hotel earlier in the day. We got a call earlier in the day that the hotel had received the reservation from Priceline but had been full for weeks. Apparently the Special Olympics was being held in the area and virtually everything was full. We did want to continue to Nova Scotia that night as we already had the ferry reservation and needed to be all way to the east by 3:30 on Sunday for the next ship.
Fortunately we managed to find the MacKenzie Guest House in Port Hawkesbury which is essentially the gateway to Cape Breton Island. This is a house in a neighborhood that rents out the rooms to travelers and provides breakfast in the morning. It is basically a B&B but a little different.
Before heading there we stopped in New Glasgow in the pouring rain for some dinner at The Dock. It was very comfortable feeling Irish pub and worth stopping for some good food and drink. That was my first beer of the trip and I try to drink local so got a refreshing Hunky Dory Pale Ale from Boxing Rock Brewing in Shelburne, Nova Scotia.
Today we drove 208 miles over 5 hours and 35 minutes for a trip total of 1011. Since we have added travel by water I suppose I should put that in now. We sailed 16 miles by water over 1 hour and 15 minutes. This number is definitely going up later. Stay tuned.
My first grade teacher was from PEI. It was common for new teachers to come to northern Canada for a year. Very few stayed, those who did quickly rose in seniority, and by high school, I had more older and longer term teachers, but still plenty of first and second year people. The north gets under your skin somehow, and some people cannot abide it, some never leave again.
Anyway, Miss Fitzpatrick, my first grade teacher, told us how they used to go cliff jumping, perhaps off those very cliffs in your photo. Her seven year old brother jumped and bashed his head on an underwater rock, killing him. I imagine that these days, telling a classroom of first graders that story would be cause for firing, but I took it as an important life lesson. She also taught me to read.
Aynway, onwards. You (had) driving to do, and I have reading to enjoy.
Interesting and tragic story about that boy. I think medical people sometimes end up starting their careers in the far north. We met a young doctor at the hospital in Inuvik who seems to have fit that formula. I hope my sometimes overly descriptive prose isn’t boring you too much. I tried to add a little more flourish in my Alaskan trip writing.