Final Days

We returned our bikes in the morning after the Charlottetown ride.  We said our good byes to the rest of the group as they headed off in their rental van to explore Nova Scotia.  Deborah and I had plans to link up with former colleague and friend Natalie (a former resident of Abbotsford, current resident of Victoria, but a summer resident of PEI, her ancestral home.)

But before meeting Natalie … we received a phone call from our Summerside B&B, I had forgotten my Kobo E-Reader in the B&B back in Summerside.  As we fretted about how we were going to retrieve it, Judy, our Eden Hall host, pulled her car keys out of her pocket and tossed them my way, “away you go, you can’t leave your reader, be back by three pm when I’m off”.  So typical of PEI.

We had a relaxing 45-minute drive, retrieved the reader, bought take out food at Lin’s, sat on the beach, and enjoyed our picnic.

Lin's Take Out Picnic

Summerside Beach

Summerside Lighthouse

Nice Fixer Upper Waiting For A Family

We were back at Eden Hall by the early afternoon just in time to see Natalie pull up to take us to here house in Belfast, Lot #57 on the southeast coast of the island.

Most Of This Point of Land Belonged to the McWilliams

Natalie’s family has lived here since 1805.  The Earl of Selkirk bought the entire Lot #57 Township from the Smith brothers and brought a contingent of Scottish Presbyterian settlers to the shores immediately in front of Natalie and John’s current summer home.  Her great, great + grandfather, Mr. McWilliams was amongst them.

Natalie took us on a tour of her neck of the woods.  You can’t traverse a kilometer without traipsing over property once or currently owned by her family.  We saw the house she was raised in, the school she attended and the various farms and businesses once held by her family.

Natalie’s summer home is next door to her sister (from Chilliwack) and her view also includes homes of her many relatives.

Nat and John's House

Sister Kathy's House

From Natalie's Living Room

We enjoyed a great meal and lots of laughs as we learned even more of the local history of the place.  After too many wines we flopped into bed early the next morning but were up early for our 10:40 flight.

Bad Pic But Good Company

Socks 

Back home now but still enjoying the glow of our new found fitness levels and a new respect for the folks and the lands of Prince Edward Island.

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.