Prince Edward Island

Today (Sunday, August 10), is our first non travel day since leaving home. It's a very overcast, part rain, sun and windy kind of a day and perfect for just resting and getting this updated. We're over half way up eastern shore of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Broad Cove Campground. Can't believe I have a good connection from my iPhone's hot spot to do this, had trouble everywhere else.
I'm afraid this blog so far is a little light on information, but after a full day of driving and sightseeing, we're just too pooched. Hope to do better in Newfoundland.

Sunday, August 3

Crossing Confederation Bridge into PEI. It's free going across but $45 coming back. It was a 13 km drive.

Monday, August 4

First night on PEI and a great sunset in Summerside. Guess where we stayed?

Collecting clams

North Cape is the furthest point on the north side of PEI

Information Centre

Harbour at Seacow Pond. 

Getting a lesson on catching lobsters from local fishermen. Most make their own wooden traps. 

The fall season opens on August 8 and all had their traps and colourful bouys ready. 

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Wouldn't want to untangle this if it got messed up.

This has to be the most organized and clean harbour anywhere. It's even pictured on many postcards.

We met Bob and Jillian H. from Cambridge, New Zealand of all places. They bought their
motorhome in California and are traveling for over a year in the US and Canada. 

We had such a great time during happy hour. We met them at North Cape and they mentioned they were going to stay at a Boondocking site in Tignish, which we also had considered. We both belong to Boondockers Welcome, where other RVrs open their property to other members, free for the night.

We both stayed in Larry's backyard. He was away untill 2015. How generous is that!

 Tuesday, August 5

We did the North Cape Costal Drive and stopped in at Seal Point on Howard's Cove-another pretty spot. 

Lots of activity and you can just feel the excitement of the pending fall lobster season.

A stubby lighthouse, but it was high on a cliff.

This would have been a perfect overnight stay.

Took in the Potato Museum in O'Leary. This spud's for you!

Old potato farming machinery

We got a little too far off the beaten path. Fortunately there was no opposing traffic.

Nature's patchwork

Water in the foreground is Lake of Shining Waters, made famous in the writings of  Lucy M. Montgomery.

This lookout rest area was such a fabulous spot that we spent several hours relaxing and taking in the very picturesque view. Almost considered spending the night there.

 View of the fishing harbour from the rest stop.

We stopped in at the Prince Edward Aqua Farms plant. I had met Jerry B., the plant manager
at a recent Food and Drink show I covered in Kitchener. He explained the year-round operation of
the business. They ship mussels on a daily basis to Canada and the US, mainly Boston. Asked if
we might be able to stay the night and it was no problem.

Here we spent a perfectly quiet night.

The company, located on New London Bay, owns it's own fleet of boats and also buys from local fishermen. They are expanding again. 

 Wednesday, August 6

We took a camping site for the night at PEI National Park, Cavendish.

This red fox must have been the camp mascot, since he sure wasn't shy.

Had a great site and time to air the bedding.

This was the first spot we took our bikes off and spent several hours biking the fantastic trail system along the water, marsh and woods.

Just about to ride over the floating bridge

Thursday, August 7

Grace, being an Anne fan, opted to take in the Green Gables Heritage Place attraction (I think I was busy walking the parking lot at the time).

Replica site of how and where Lucy M. Montgomery grew up.

Lucy's bedroom

My size?

Site of the original post office

A family of osprey at the North Rustico harbour.

Love the boat names....

....love the colours

Local craft 

Many types of soap, all made on site, at the....

....Great Canadian Soap Co.

Our next stop was the provincial capital, Charlottetown.

We parked at and took a quick look inside the Culinary Institute of Canada.

Tiny to the mega yacht size are in the harbour. It is also a port for large cruise ships.

Jumping for joy.

Red sand sculpture of the Fathers of Confederation. Amazing detailed work.

This year marked the 150th anniversay o

Province House, a national historic site

Conference Chamber

Legislative Assembly

So, John, what are you doing later on?

Metal tuna sculpture

After leaving Charlottetown late in the afternoon, we were looking for a spot for  the night and found this great
little fishing harbour at Rice Cove.

This vas the view out one side....

....and out the other. How cool is that? We shared the place with one other small van.

On the hard

Got up early (5:50 a.m.) to see the boats leave for the day, tending the mussel beds. The yellow on the boat are the socks that the mussels grow in. It takes up to two years for them to mature.

Into the sunrise

Plenty of bird activity to view.

Love the warm light of the early morning, such rich colours.