Day 77: PEI to Baddeck NS

 Dear Gilles, 

Today we moved out of our cute little cabin that saved us from the rain for a few nights and took the ferry to Nova Scotia and onward to Cape Breton Island.  We travelled about 350 km. 

It was a really nice day of 26 C- a shame to be in the truck. 

We took the Wood Islands Ferry across. It saved me some driving, which meant that my mental capacity for paying attention to everything around me was spared. 

We made it to the Baddeck Cabot Trail Campground and they graciously upgraded us to a cabin with a 2 piece bathroom in the same space. Luxurious. Though, when the weather is NOT wet and rainy, it sure is nice to be outside in a tent. 

We're on a lake, with a sandy beach, so if the weather stays nice I'm sure there will be some swimming.

We're about one hour away from the Newfoundland ferry, so we'll stay put here until the day our scheduled crossing. Our time in Newfoundland is still only very loosley planned as I want to see wait for weather and adjust accordingly. It's easier to tent than find lodging - but I really don't want to do freezing overnight temperatures again. 

The blackflies are out and they're nipping above my sock line as I sit outside on the porch. 

I'm looking forward to the next few days in Cape Breton. 

Day 76: ZERO Day PEI

 Dear Gilles, 

We took it easy today. 

We went for a bike ride. We're getting good at loading and unloading the bikes from the back. 

The ferry is booked for tomorrow at 3pm to take us back to Nova Scotia and then a 2.5 hour drive to our campground on Cape Breton Island. 

Not too much else to report. It's going to be interesting putting ourselves back together after this 6-day experience on Prince Edward Island. I really like it here and would love to come back again in the future for another week or two. 

Day 75: All Places Lucy Maud Montgomery

 Dear Gilles. 

It was 23C today. It was beautiful. 

We started the day with egg sandwhiches that I made at the campground and headed to the Green Gables Historic site around 10am. There were four tour buses there already. 

We toured the house. Posed for some photos with NO ONE in them. 

Tourists from Japan with dyed red hair were with us and also enjoyed the novelty of only themselves in the photos. 

We walked the Haunted Wood to a privately run site of the house LMM grew up in. It's no longer a house, just a foundation. There is a bookstore there that offers a stamped LMM signature in any book that you purchase. 

Then we walked to LMM's final resting place, with her husband. Patric found his own interesting markers (see alternate post). 

Then it was a short drive to LMM's birthplace. And after that to the Green Gables Museum. 

All places were the same, but different. 

The most interactive was the birthplace. She gave us a verbal history of the importance of the house, her family and other bits and pieces. She let me touch and open the Waterloo cook stove.

We finished all four sites just after 2:00 and it was so nice and sunshiny that I didn't want to go back to the campsite just yet. We headed to Cavendish National Park to visit a beach. We spent more than an hour on the beach - doing beach things in the sand. 

It was a nice and easy and restful day. 

I have more than 100 photos of today. 

Tomorrow will be a ZERO day - the weather promises to be summer again. We'll take the bikes out to the nearby trails. 

Day 74: O'Leary PEI - Potato Museum

 Dear Gilles, 

We made it to the Po-day-do Musuem today (that's how you say it here). 

It was a really cool place. I have no idea how they preserved the specimens - or replicated the potatoes - but they described all the possible diseases and what it looks like in a potato - like weevils, scabs and fungus and how the centre gets hollowed out - or the outside gets funny looking. 

As newer museums are going today - there were a few stations with video explanations. These ones included Rick Mercer segments. One of them was with the Covered Bridge factory before it burned down. I love how they got excited to recognize that it was Rick Mercer, and that the video was worth stopping to watch. 

Rick Mercer - Covered Bridge

Rick Mercer - potatoes

There was also a back room that included old farm equipment and a scavenger hunt for the random potatoes hidden throughout. 

We ate at the restaurant. I took half of my pulled pork baked potatoe home with me. Luc and Patric also felt they had too much food - but not enough left for any doggy bags. 

Then we were on a mission for trading cards. (I know). But we had some time, and Summerside was sort of on the way back (nothing is very far away here). We chatted with the Mayor - though he didn't introduce himself as the Mayor - we only realized by looking at photos on the wall. 

Mayor Dan Kutcher. 

Summerside didn't have what we were looking for, so we went back downtown Charlottetown where we knew we could find it. We popped in to the City Hall, chatted with City Councillor Kevin Ramsey and was able to get a pin from Charlottetown to add to our collection. 

We finished our errands and headed back to the site for the night. It was a really nice day. We could see blue sky and it was noticeably warmer. 

For Mr. Parkin's Class

 Hi Everyone, 

I'm on Prince Edward Island today. 

Yesterday we went to the Potato Museum. I learned that BC only contributes 2.9% of Canada's potatoes. PEI contributes 30%. I ate a loaded baked potato at the restaurant and got a recipe for potato fudge. 

Today my mom took us to all the places that are associated with Anne of Green Gables. We're also listening to the story while we drive. 

We went to a cemetery today and there were a few memorable names that stood out. 

I really miss seeing my friends at school. 

Day 73: ZERO DAY- PEI

 Dear Gilles.

I just need a down day. 
We all took a break from all electronics until 3pm. 

We're learning useful knots - today was bowline and clove hitch. Testing and review happens every day for all three of us. 

We set up the 4-person Hotcore tent. Smaller than the 6-man dome for sure. But it will be warmer and more wind resistant when we need it. I needed to know that we were trained in setting it up (it took 6 minutes). 

Luc and I walked to the fishing pond about 1 km away - just to give some separation between the brothers. 

I replaced the windshield wiper that I had purchased in April, but just don't remember that it needs replacing when it's not raining. I fixed the old one - so we have a back up. The scraper part was separating from the frame - it had happened when it was frozen to the windshield back in March. 

And we're just generally choosing to not do anything today except be still. 

We have two more days of PEI. Potatoe Museum and all of the Anne of Green Gables sites.

It's Sunday - we have the option of a lobster supper tonight. But I bought some steak, potatoes and veg that I think will suit us better tonight. We're the only ones in the campground and we have access to a 'kitchen' with a stove. Our cast iron and pots have been working well for us - so I think we'll just 'eat in' tonight and maybe watch another movie. 

It's not beautiful out - cloudy and threatening rain all day at +9C. We're safe and secure and content. Hard to believe it's day 73 and still the main attraction to go. 

Day 72: Charlottetown PEI

 Dear Gilles, 

Today, we took our time to wake up and get moving. 

We had pancakes for breakfast on the porch of our cabin. 

By about 11 am, we headed towards Charlottetown. We stopped off at the Toy Factory in New Glasgow.  It's geared towards younger children - but I had an idea to ask and see if they had Devil Sticks. They didn't but brought out some Diablo kits. And it was a diablo I was actually looking for. Super nice owners. They offered me two kits for $40 well below sticker price. So I took two with the intent of learning myself - but also as a screen-free challenge for the boys. 

Then we got talking about summer stock and deliveries of toys. Then it migrated to long-table Lobster Supper. Which is a thing. A thing I didn't know about until one of our neighbours mentioned it. So there is the possibility of one near by at Fisherman's Wharf. I'll think about it. It seems like a lot of food is available. 

Once we finished chatting with the Toy Factory - we made our way to Charlottetown. We parked and went to the first museum we saw - Beaconsfield Historic House. A grade 11 volunteer gave us the tour - and she was fantastic. So enthusiastic. 

A typical Casa Loma (Toronto) story - industrial-wanna-be-rich-person - decided to build themselves a show home and goes bankrupt in the process. Home gets sold to the next person and the next. Home is used as a boarding house. Home is bought and donated to the local historical society. 

What was neat about this home was the amount of plaster work in the crown molding and ceiling medallions. The plaster was reinforced with horse hair. The walls were also insulated with horse hair. And with 8 fireplaces - I took photos of most of the fire screens which were of varying height and varying needlework designs. 

Once we finished with the tour, we just wandered downtown and into the Anne of Green Gables store. I told the boys that I wasn't allowed to buy the store. And I didn't. We did pick up some patches and pins. 

We headed back to the truck for a juice and pizza bun and I decided to drive closer to the theater for Anne and Gilbert the Musical. We parked went searching for supper and waited for the show to start. 

It was WELL DONE. 

I cried. Of course. I would be one of the locals that would go to see it every year. 

We arrived back at the site - in the rain - snuggled in and went to sleep. 

Day 71: Confederation Bridge - Prince Edward Island

 Dear Gilles, 

Today we drove 325 km. We made it to the campground, in the centre of the island. I finally crossed the Confederation Bridge. Wowzers what an impressive structure. 

It's raining. And plans to continue raining. 

We're staying at New Glasgow Highlands Campground. It's a really nice little place. LOTS of cabins. 

I had emailed ahead to ask if they had cabins instead of a non-serviced site that we had reserved. They did. We took it. 

Winds of 59 km/h. It was a Nor'Wester. Crazy rainy.  Crazy windy. 

5C in the cabin when we arrived. Outside weather promised to feel like -2 C with the winds. We thought we would be wearing winter clothes through the night. But when I went to check in - 2 hours after our arrival - they offered us a little (very little) space heater. We ran it all night and were able to get the cabin to a very comfortable 15 C. 

We watched Mufasa on Disney+ with the good wifi available to us. Shivering a bit as the cabin warmed up but generally entertained as a family. 

Day 70: Lunenberg and Peggy's Cove NS

 Dear Gilles, 

There was no wind this morning - so I pulled the wet tent out from the truck and spread it out behind the hotel. It took about two and a half coffees to dry. The boys had breakfast on their own in the breakfast room. Luc mentioned he was chatting with some other guests who had a trike - from Utah. 

Around 10am we headed out to Lunenberg. 

I love travelling during this off-season time. I can find PARKING! Easy parking! 

We wandered through some shops and ended up at the Fisheries Museum. There were three floors and a gorgeous wooden/barn style open display on the first floor. We started at the top floor, with a whole room dedicated to the BlueNose. We stayed to listen to an interpreter give a talk about the history of the BlueNose. And I loved his end spin on the history and the acceptance of the BlueNose II. The II is yes, a re-creation of the first. But it is built in every way as the first. And if the first had not been caught up on a coral reef, every single part of it would have been replaced by now. Similar to house siding/ roofing shingles etc. It would have aged out and been upgraded over the years. 

Another point he made was regarding Canadian currency. It is the only Canadian icon on coins that is man-made rather than a natural icon. 

I asked a university-aged guy where we should eat. He ranked three restaurants in terms of quality and price. We chose one and sat down to a lunch. I ordered the lobster dinner (season is on until May 31). Boys had fish and chips. I was able to share the meal so we could all get lobster. We all decided, it was good, and chewy and no real flavour. Luc liked the melted butter. 

Then we headed to Peggy's Cove. There were at least 4 cruise-ship tour busses that were coming out of there as we headed in. Again, we found easy parking and walked to the lighthouse in extreme wind. 

Wind is exhausting. 

I was able to take photos of the lighthouse without people in it. (Another off-season perk).

Luc was tired for the day - so we came - we saw - we walked a bit - we drove away. 

Long day of driving for me.  Tomorrow is off to PEI - so more driving. I'm going to need a ZERO day soon and I'm planning it in. 

It's one of those days - I'm thankful to be doing this trip now. I'm young-ish, agile for tent camping, healthy and have two very capable teenagers with me. I know you've been working hard at home. I'm thankful for that too. We all miss you and Moka. And we miss Cariboo spring and the neighbours. 

 

Day 69: Halifax NS

 Dear Gilles, 

We had a great day today. Actually every day has been generally great (except those moments when my nose is soooo cold I can't sleep). 

We went to the Halifax Citadel first. We toured the army museum, took the guided tour, witnessed the noon hour gun (which has been fired every day since 1857 except Christmas Day). It's a fantastic destination. 

Then I remembered where we were. We're where we should be able to find an authentic donair. I looked on YELP - but meh I couldn't determine anything helpful. So I started asking the people who should 'know'. One young gentlemen was very helpful in pointing us to Tony's Donairs. After that, I surveyed a few others, and they all said Tony's. 

We kept our truck parked at the Citadel. 

We walked to the Maritime Museum. We saw boats. We learned about the Halifax explosion of 1917 where two boats collided in the harbour and destroyed a large area. We learned about the Bluenose (Bluenose 2 is not nearby at the moment). We saw some artifacts from the Titanic. We inspected a lighthouse light up close and all the glass intricacies in it.

And then we were done with information overload. 

We headed out and walked to Tony's donairs - Got two for supper later. 

Along the way we stopped at two hobby/card/comic shops. 

And walked back up the huge hill to the truck. BUT, since we could still visit the Citadel, we walked in to use the washrooms and got distracted by one of the interactive exhibits that we had missed earlier. 

There were some really cool displays about the history of the four forts that were built on the site previously. The boys dressed up in uniform and had some fun. It's really nice being at these places during the off season. There are no other people to compete with for exhibits. There's lots of room to read, take our time, explore and talk to the interpreters. 

Back to donairs. There is only one selection. Meat, tomato, onion and sauce. That's it. And it was OK. I mean, there was a lot of meat. There was just enough sauce. It was a pretty tasty and satisfying supper. But, I appreciate Karamia's Donair  and all the selection they have on offer.