 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Confederation
Bridge: Dave Begins |
|
Trip
Notes:
Wednesday, October 2nd, 2002
Got
an early 9:30 am start from the P.E.I. side of the Confederation
Bridge, and headed east along the southern coast of the island,
following the “Blue Herron” scenic route. I’ve
been waiting to fill my lungs with ocean air, and it didn’t
take long as the route faithfully followed the Northumberland Straight,
and water is never out of sight for long.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
strong ocean breeze was often reminiscent
of a seafood potpourri, and by mid day, it was tempting to stop and
eat some, while washing it down with a quart of cold white wine.
Unfortunately, on a “stage tour” like this, booze is a killer,
so I’ll have to hold my thirst in check for several days yet
…
At this time the tide was receding, and tidal pools that look
like small inland lakes when the tide is in, were rushing out to sea.
I wondered how many times the tide has come and gone before Dave’s
Ride got here to witness one. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gettin'
Hungry...
There are endless potato farms along the shoreline, and many
of the fields slope down and end right at the ocean’s edge. The
farmers are just bringing in the potato crops and there are dump trucks
everywhere, with tires and under carriages encrusted with the distinctive
red P.E.I. dirt. We must have seen 1000 potatoes lying along the edges
of the road that had fallen from the over laden trucks. I had to
dodge potatoes on several occasions. |
|
Dave
and the Red Dirt of the PEI Potato Fields |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Victoria
Pier Shops |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"LEESON
Lobsters"???
It seems that nearly everyone in P.E.I. must have the requisite old
fishing boat sitting in their yard, and the most popular garden
ornament is the lobster trap. Cheryl is arranging a truckload of used
lobster traps to be shipped to Ontario – her latest sideline??
J Maybe we can sell them for Dave’s Ride! We will look for the
consummate old fishing boat and send in the photo – stay tuned! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The
people who told me the roads in P.E.I. are mostly flat must
have toured the island in a tour bus while sleeping with sunglasses
on at night during a thick fog. The last 30 km. were into a very
stiff headwind, with one long winding hill after another. CBC
radio said the wind was gusting to 55km/hr. at times. At one point
while riding downhill, I had to pedal to defeat the wind. Believe
me, this was tough sledding! Today’s tally was 128 Km, at a disappointing
average of 24 km./hr. The good news is we were only scheduled to do
85 km today! Right after today’s ride, a large thunderstorm developed.
It is supposed to stay in the area until mid day tomorrow. That
may affect tomorrow’s mileage. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Points
of Interest |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Charlottetown,
PEI
Charlottetown
is commonly referred to as the "Birthplace of Canada",
as it was here that the Fathers of Confederation first met in 1864
to discuss the union of states that would form Canada 3 years later.
They met in the Charlottetown Confederation Building (pictured
left)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Charlottetown,
the capital city of Prince Edward Island, was named by surveyor
Samuel Holland in 1765 for Charlotte Sophia, consort of George III.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charlottetown
is also known across the country for its arts community, namely the
annual Charlottetown Theatre Festival within the Confederation
Centre of the Arts. The company mounts a beautiful production of L.M.
Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables" every year to
the delight of local and tourist audiences. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Don't
forget to sample some mouthwatering Cows Ice Cream while in
town! The locals swear by it! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
