First Few Days in PEI

The internet at Eden Hall is very spotty to say the least.  I guess a house over 130 years old has a few quirks.  I don't know how uptodated these entries will be.

We have enjoyed Charlottetown.  The history is played out in the streets with various sculptures and signage depicting Charlottetown as the meeting place of the independent colonial leaders of Ontario, Quebec, PEI, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to discuss a union of provinces to form Canada.

Alsom, on a positive note, West Jet found my luggage.  Despite being pissed it went missing at all, they did give me $100 for the first day to replace necessary items and when it didn't arrive until the evening of the second day, they gave me another $150.  I am now the proud owner of a new PEI Potato cycling shirt.

I'll let the pictures tell the story of our first two days.

We Have Been Here Every Day.

Our Home - Eden Hall

Our View Across the Road.

The Breakfast Room

Linda, Deborah and Dianne

Original Main Train Station

The Cathedral - Home of the Bishop

Joined in a Discuss Between Sir John A and Mr. Cartier

Province House - First Confederation Meeting 1864

Picked Up Bikes at Outer Limits Sports

Province House

Nola and Glen Arrived - Better Late Than Never.

Off On A Cycling Adventure to Prince Edward Island

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.

Dianne & Warren

Linda & Phil

Linda did most of the work arranging the hotels and we rented bikes for seven days in Charlottetown.  Thank you Linda.

First Glimpse at the Red Soil and the Patchwork of Farms

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 19^th 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.

Historical Railway Map - late 1800's

Bike Paths Today

First Night Out

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.

One Bag Missing

West Jet Negotiations

Final Caribbean Days

Well it is time to say good-bye to this adventure.  Pam and Glen have been great hosts and it was good to set foot on the Blue Pearl again.  There is something very special about the blue sky, warm sunshine, warm waters, starry nights and the cool breezes of the Caribbean.  When you add the great company, some sailing and exposure to different places, people and things, it makes for some very special memories.  

I cannot forget to mention how special it was to be reunited with Jinder and Glen alone on the boat.  Our histories are forever intertwined and to spend time on our own was unique.

Our last day was spent sailing from North Sound back to Hermitage in Five Islands Bay.  We rode a silent gentle wind most of the way.  We stopped at Deep Bay for lunch and a hike to the historic lookout before the last hour to what has become my new Antigua home, Hermitage Bay.  Our final night was my sixth of this trip.

Ever Present Goats By The Sea

Island Tropical Freight Leaving St. John's

We had our last swim in the sea and our last meal and night on the Pearl.  Our evening was made more special by Glen and Pam's long time friends/sailors/cruisers Sid and Kate.  We had met Sid before and Kate for the first time.  The evening was filled with cruising stories and smiles all around.

Our last morning was a motor into Jolly Harbour right around the corner and a walk of the plank (actually a short Murphy the Dinghy ferry ride) to catch a taxi into town for our afternoon flight home.

All is good!

Until next time.

North to Bird Island and Jumby

We haven’t gone far or done much but it has been well worth it. 

We spent two nights at Carlisle Bay.  Our days were filled with sitting, visiting, eating and drinking, punctuated with dinghy rides to shore for brief walks and swims in the sea.  All of which were most relaxing and enjoyable.

 Our evenings began at sunset with cocktails and followed by sumptuous meals cooked and served by either Glen or Pam.  Post meal times were equally divided between more discussions, or a movie in the salon.  Bedtime reading commenced around 10 or 11 pm. 

After two nights at Carlisle we set sail for Jolly Harbour.  Just before we pulled up the anchor Deborah, Glen and I went for a snorkel along the nearby shore.  There were lots of weeds on the bottom and maybe the fish were hiding because we only saw a few green speckle-backed and some single bright blue ones. 

We enjoyed a nice sail up the leeward coast.  There is something very special when the only sound is the wind in the rigging and the splash of water as the boat cut through the waves.  The wind was with us most of the way but we did motor in to Jolly to get groceries.  After a quick trip to shore we motored around the headland to set anchor at Hermitage Bay (and the source of the strong free Internet).

The Hermitage anchorage provided much the same as Carlisle.  More great meals and some more bobs in the blue.  On the first night we enjoyed a steel drum band in concert at the resort on the shore.

In For A Swim at Heritage Bay

We took a side trip into St. John's from Jolly Harbour.  It was by local bus and took around 25 minutes.  The bus delivered us downtown to the Markets.  Fish on one side of the street, vegetables and fruit on the other.  It was a Monday so the markets were quiet but still worth a gawk.

Fortunately for us, there were no cruise ships in the harbour.  Walking was difficult as it was with the narrow sidewalks full of locals.  We strolled to the Cruise Terminal and saw all the high end shops with their $200 US sunglasses.

We visited the Museum.  It was worth it for the great displays and the fabulous air conditioning.   The building was built in the 1700's and served as the Island's original Court House.  The displays told the story of the original Indian inhabitants, the plantations of sugarcane, and the triangular trade of manufactured goods to Africa's west coast, slaves to the West Indies, and rum and molasses back to Europe.  It included a full statue of International West Indies Cricket icon, Dr. Vivian Richards.

After washing down a Shwarma with a local beer and picking up a few fresh supplies at the market, we headed back to the boat on the bus.

We left Hermitage for the trip over the northern tip.  This was new ground for both Deb and I.  Glen and Pam have tried to take other guests around the north in the past but have been turned back by heavy seas.  Going clockwise around the island means venturing straight into the wind from the east.  There is no chance of sailing directly into the wind but even motoring can be problematic with facing large swells that act as speed bumps to the Pearl.  Luckily for us the conditions were good and after seeing St. John’s from the sea we safely anchored off Bird Island for the night.

The next morning we had a quick hike to the top of the island for a great view of our surroundings.  We were not alone for long. At least five different boats arrived full of day tourists from the various resorts and cruise ships.  They were all there to snorkel.  We simply joined them and enjoyed the best snorkeling of the trip.  There were large numbers of varied coloured fish amongst the coral.

Bird Island

We Weren't Alone

We Weren't Alone

After a great lunch we motored over to Davis Bay on Long Island.  The island is one huge resort for the rich and famous called Jumby Bay.  We might have been able to go ashore but didn’t want to chance it with the island’s security forces.

Jumby Bay Resort

One more night here and it is a sail (hopefully) with the wind at our back, back to Jolly Harbour and from there a quick taxi to the airport for our return home.