We are
off to Prince Edward Island for a cycling adventure. We are joining our “active holiday” friends Nola & Glen,
Warren & Diane, and Phil and Linda for a week of bicycling the many
designated paths of P.E.I.
Warren,
Diane, Phil, Linda, Deborah and I took the same Vancouver – Toronto –
Charlottetown 6:30 am flight on West Jet, while Nola and Glen took the same
flight a day later, remaining home to attend to a family matter.
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Dianne & Warren
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Linda & Phil
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Linda did most of the work arranging the hotels and we rented bikes for seven days in Charlottetown. Thank you Linda.
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First Glimpse at the Red Soil and the Patchwork of Farms
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Our plan is to stay in Charlottetown and do different “out and
backs” from the city during the day and then explore Charlottetown’s many pubs
and eateries during the evening. About mid-week we will put our luggage on a bus
and cycle the 70+ kms to Summerside. Our Summerside plan is similar with day rides out and back to
our Bed & Breakfast. One of our rides will be to Kensington (about 60 km round trip) to
the home of Canada’s mythical Anne of Green Gables.
PEI is a bicycler’s dream. The highest point of elevation is only 152
meters so most of our riding will be flat. As well, PEI’s government’s bureaucratic folly
of the late 19th century has provided cyclers seemingly endless
kilometres of designated bike paths. In 1871 the PEI government decided to build a railway
spanning the island from Georgetown to Alberton. A construction company was given a contract to
build at a fixed price per mile but set no limit to the number of miles built. As a result each village
demanded to be connected to the main line and soon the entire island was criss crossed with railways with
an average of one train station for every five km of track. There are now “No” railways
remaining in P.E.I. today but many have been designated for bicycle touring.
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Historical Railway Map - late 1800's
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Bike Paths Today
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First Night Out
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Our flight arrived right on time and we were greeted by 25 degree C and blue sky as we disembarked at 5:30 in Charlottetown. We arrived at Eden Hall, a B&B in a Victorian House, located a stone’s throw from the sea and a ten-minute walk to the centre of Charlottetown. We enjoyed a glass of complimentary P.E.I.’s own Blueberry wine on the veranda before venturing out to the Brownsville Brewery for dinner.
The only downside of the day was
when I arrived in P.E.I. but my luggage did not. I remained standing by
the carousel as everyone else departed the building. West Jet promised to
track it down and return it the next day. Hopefully they are true to
their word.
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One Bag Missing
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West Jet Negotiations
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