Our Final Ride

Our final ride was from Summerside east back to Charlottetown.  We wanted a different look so we settled on Highway Two with a targeted lunch once again at Hunter River.  The road was busy but the vehicle traffic was cooperative as usual.

Highway #2 For Our Final Ride 

We have ridden our bicycles extensively in B.C., California, Arizona, Nevada and Italy but we have never witnessed such bike aware and courteous drivers as those in Prince Edward Island.  The pervasive carry and friendliness of the PEI folks extends to how they treat their guests whether they are on foot, car or bicycle.

With all eight of us back on the road we headed out with a welcoming wind at our backs.  The prevailing winds blow from the south west this time of year so if you’re going one way, include that in your plans, it makes a difference.

One More Hilltop - All Accounted For

The trade off for the shorter route (65 K highway instead of 80 trail) is continuous hills and dales of 6 to 10% grades to replace the 2% grades.  We had periodic stops to ensure our posse was never extended too far apart (usually at the top of a large hill for a well deserved rest).

Trust Me - These Hills Are Tough 

We arrived in Hunter River for lunch and then tackled the final bit before cruising into Charlottetown’s Triangle Bar for stinky beers on the deck and our final toast to our accomplishments (500 kilometres in 7 days) and to those not present who had wished to be.

Lunch at The Bakery

Arrived Charlottetown - Looking For Beers

Found Beers at The Old Triangle

Well Done!

A few blocks later we were assembled on the deck of Eden Hall for our final pre dinner drinks before dinner at Hunter’s Ale House (highly recommended).  This was our last night together.  Deborah and I were headed to a friend’s house on the PEI seashore for one more day before heading home.  The rest of the group was headed to Nova Scotia in their rental van for an extra week of touring.

Cavendish - Green Gables

Our second western PEI ride was to Cavendish, home of the Green Gables experience.  One of Canada’s most famous authors, Lucy Maud Montgomery, wrote her Anne of Green Gables novel while living in Cavendish.

The historical site is a joint venture between the government of PEI and the family trust.  The house that served as the muse for Montgomery is still there.  It belonged to LMM’s cousin and was built in 1830 and renovated in 1870.  LMM spent many hours in that house while being raised by her grandparents in a nearby house (the foundation is still there to view).  LMM was an only child just like here character Anne and she spent time with in her grandparent’s cousins.  They were sister and brother just like her characters Mirella and Mathew.

House Built in 1830 & Renovated in 1870

Looking Good For Over 100 Years (Anne, Not Deborah)

We knew the ride was to be challenging.  It was only 33 kilometres there but the road grades included many 10%+ hills.  We were luck to catch a tailwind on the way out and arrived in one hour and 58 minutes.  Linda and Dianne graciously chose not to ride and took a taxi to a Farmer’s Market and purchased supplies for a picnic lunch at the historical site.  After lunching and walking around the site it was time to return.  It proved to be a little more difficult.

Phil & Glen

Picnic - Thanks to Dianne and Linda

In addition to the normal afternoon lag, we were greeted with head winds that threatened to knock you off your steed.  We worked together to share (breaking wind doesn’t sound good but in fact we took turns doing just that) the challenges and made it home in just slightly over two and one-half hours.  We were spent and the beers disappeared quickly.

Kensington For Lunch

To say that the Moving Day 80 kilometer ride took it out of most of us would be an understatement.  I pride myself in riding regularly but not every day.  The following day many of us declared we wanted a day of rest but Ken, our Summerside B&B host, suggested we take a leisurely circle route to Kensington and back for lunch.  He said he regularly took his five kids on the ride and convinced us it was doable. 

We set off on quiet country roads and it was a relaxing, rejuvenating, slower ride.  We went to Kensington’s former rail station for a delicious Pub lunch.  It was great sitting on the old 1905 railway station platform, in the sun, enjoying a Miss Piggy sandwich (bun, bacon, with fried Kessler Ham, and of course fries), accompanied by a local craft beer (Island Red is my favourite). 

Our return home to the B&B included red gravel road rides as well as timeouts, stopping to watch farmers fertilizing their fields and monitor their crops.  A stop for ice cream finished the final bit and we arrived back home just short of 57 kilometers.  A little longer than we planned but it felt good none-the-less.

We finished the evening at Lin’s Restaurant.  It is not much too look at from the outside but inside European gourmet food is served by Lin.  He is a one-man show and so shy he hovers by your shoulder until there is a break in the conversation before placing your entre in front of you.  Voted “best food” on tour.  I highly recommend the stuffed rosemary pork chop.

Moving Day

It has been awhile since our last blog entry.  We have been simply too busy.  The daily routine hasn’t left much time for reflection or the recording of our activities. 

Typically, we get up and enjoy a B&B breakfast.  Deborah eats heaps but healthy.  I do not.  Scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage (and of course potatoes – you can’t insult the locals by not eating potatoes).  And then we ride, ride, ride, stop for lunch, and ride some more.  All our rides end the same way, with “stinky beers”.  No one is allowed to shower and change until the first few beers are inhaled.  And then we shower and meet for predinner drinks.  And then we walk to dinner and enjoy wine with great food.  And then we walk home and fall into our beds.  And then we wake up and repeat the previous day.

I am now sitting on a plane trying to put our past few days into words to remember.

Confederation Trail: Charlottetown to Summerside

In our last entry we mentioned finishing our first three rides out of Charlottetown and were about to set off on the Confederation Trail from Charlottetown, west to Summerside.

The Trail is 273 kilometers from sea to sea and traverses the entire island.  We completed 80 kilometers on this leg.  The Trail is former rail bed so the inclines are limited to about 2% “ups and downs”.  While some of our group routinely complete 100 k road rides on their road bikes, riding a hybrid or mountain bike on compact sand/gravel is considerably more taxing.

The weather continued to favour us until the last couple of hours in our seven hour riding day.  Just before reaching our goal the skies opened up and dropped rain all over us.  This made riding the softening sand/gravel even more challenging and the only “not much fun” section of the experience.

Along the way we stopped and visited a potato farmer hilling his crop.  When the planted potatoes breach the surface, the farmer drags his hilling implement over the barely discernible crop forming hills.  His John Deere tractor was equipped with a computerised navigation system that guided him down the rows so as not to disturb the growing potatoes.

Proud Farmer - Family Farm For 200 Years

Our goal was to stop about midway for lunch at the Hunter River Bakery.  There isn’t much in the way of amenities when riding the trail.  Lots of scenery but you had better take your lunch or plan to stop at Hunter River; there isn’t any other spot.

Again, I’ll let the pictures tell the story.

Boys Will Be Boys

Our Home in Summerside