We are looking for the signs of shared PEI glory tales...but no luck today! Septemebr 21, 2012

Is it possible to reverse time by getting in the truck and throwing it into reverse?  Wouldn't that be cool?  I find myself considering these kind of thoughts as we drove towards Prince Edward Island (PEI) this morning.  Please don't get me wrong, Ken and I have been looking forward to discovering PEI, however our experiences this far have been superior to anything we thought possible!  Like anything else, when things go better than expected and the experience is bigger than life itself, writing a blog which points out to you in blaring fashion you are now on day 20 of 30, makes me a bit anxious inside. Again, don't get me wrong, I love my life back in Guelph - every aspect of it.  Would I miss it if I stayed?  Absolutely.  But I ponder which would be the less of two evils?

Seriously, we haven't made our way into a Real Estate agency yet, but that's likely more because it would be WAY too difficult to walk out!  To jump ahead just for one moment, we drove past a property today just east on Hwy 13 heading towards Cavendish, where a farm, in immaculate condition, overlooking rolling hills and lush landscape which lead to a treed outline of bountiful beauty, to see a posted real estate sign which boasted 2 addendum stickers.  One which read, "on water" and the other which read "$139,000".  Dangerous, that's all I can say!

This morning we packed up in good time and were on the road by 9:15 - seems to be a magic number for us!  Foggy with a light drizzle, we continued to observe our "soon to be behind us, home away from home" as mystical as ever.  I just can't get enough of these cloud hanging cliffs!  To our TC friends following along, we thought this might make an awesome postcard...okay, granted, we'd have to remove "Vanna White" from the forefront, but he does make a cute model eh???  As you can see, we are being treated to sporadic colours within the foliage.  Also, it's important to note, we thought there must have been some strange species of Trembling Aspen across from our site...turns out there was a babbling brook within about 30 metres away!  Our "regular" camping experiences would have drawn us right to discovering what the constant rush of nature's noise was all about, but apparently we need to find it as we are pulling out of the campground!  Shame on us!

We drove for a little more than an hour when Ken and I darted off the Trans Canada highway in search for a Tim Horton's and TD Canada Trust.  Frankly, I'm surprised Ken lasted this long!!  We took a meander through New Glasgow NS to take care of business then off we went again.  New Glasgow has a very fast flowing river in it which seems to divide the town with connecting bridges.  The streets are narrow and busy, but like a pro, Ken  manoeuvred the TC through the streets. 



Pre-op pose of Myles.  He's weather
many ports in the storm along the way!

 We do have a bit of a confession to tell though.  Any of you wondering why it's been so long since you've seen Myles as of late?  Well Myles had a bit of an "incident" on the Cabot Trail...he got too close to a seat belt!  As a result, he lost an antler and an ear.  He was quite self-conscious about it actually for a moose, and as a result, he was quite camera shy.  I actually took a picture of his elongated, spring loaded appendages, but he made me promise I would not post them.  For his self-confidence, I will respect his wishes, however I do have his "post-op" pictures which he did not make any bones about me photographing him - I think he was too nervous - he's never been under anaesthetic!  Ideally he was booked for his operation during the ferry ride to PEI, but that was far too exciting ,so he agreed to the operation once we settled into our new campsite for the night.  He's such a brave moose!

The drive from Whycocomagh was very pleasant.  Both the highways and views were quite pleasing to driver, passenger and truck/trailer.  More importantly, we didn't get lost - not even with our stop in New Glasgow!

Our timing to catch the Ferry from Caribou NS to Wood Island PEI was impeccable.  With 25 minutes to spare and no reservation, we lined up in "Trailer Line 8" and watched the Ferry approach.  Turns out lots of folk were making the passage with us, and although we kept our fingers crossed we would make it on, we also resolved ourselves that waiting for the next ferry wouldn't be a terrible thing either. 

For those of you who are not aware, it's a well known fact here to almost everyone the best way to travel to PEI is by Ferry, and exit by the Confederation Bridge.  Why you ask?  The ferry service is more expensive, but you only pay on exit from the island.  So the most "thrifty" way to travel DAN A., is ferry over, bridge back.  The difference you might ask yourself DAN is as follows;  We figured the ferry would cost us between $89.00 if we measured at 40 feet with truck, trailer and bikes on back, or $107.00 if we were measured at 50 feet.  To cross the Confederation Bridge, they charge $44.25 including passengers and then $7.25 for each axle after that.  The trailer has a tandem axle, and as long as they don't count the axles on the bikes (I'm kidding!), we are pretty sure the bridge will cost us $58.75 when we leave.  Do the math Dan, do the math!  Don't let Ken know this, but from what I understand, it's long, high and presents a wide open space.  If he thought Cabot Trail was a challenge, I think we may have to stop by a Lawton Drug's and buy shares in Gravol before we leave the island...the drowsy kind!

The ferry ride to PEI was awesome.  Like the Chi-Cheemaun out of Tobermory, they really pack them in, and yes, we got on without wait, but we were one of the last 3 trailers on.  Excellent timing I'd say!  They were pulling away from the dock long before the doors were closed.  I thought it was fascinating, Ken was waiting for me at the exit door!  He also thought it funny that I took a picture of our parking level...I called it insurance (to find our vehicles again)!  Although the vehicle bay was stuffed to the brim, the deck was fairly empty as most folks stayed inside. It was obviously a wet day, but the whole time we cruised on the boat, the rain stopped and it was gorgeous on deck!

After leaving port, and watching Nova Scotia float away from us, I dropped by the visitor centre desk for PEI information.  Other than retrieving a PEI map and tourist handbook, for the first time the person manning the desk was pretty much not very helpful at all.  We then made our way to the bow of the boat with the intent of reviewing the information I retrieved, but the bow was far too exciting for written material - there was sea life to observe! 

Zoom right in and see our
PORPOISE PROOF!

Almost immediately upon our arrival a small whale, I think it was a calf, breached for only a second.  Honestly, I thought the boat might list starboard with the on rush of onlookers when that happened!  No matter, we had front row views.  Although we didn't capture it on camera or video,we know what happened!  For most of the trip we were teased and entertained by playful porpoises along the way.  Ken and I both believe we saw 2 more whales, this time much further off in the distance.  The first just off the bow on the starboard side, the other on port side.  This one lingered much longer into a graceful arch under the surface.  One lady off a motor coach bus kept bouncing from one side to the other, eventually hovered over us in a desperate search to get a glimpse!  Some folks are just impatient!

The view into the Wood Island Port was spectacular.  Our approach was two greeting Lighthouses, once I believe was operational, the other, I'm not so certain.  Without a question the famous red sand and rocks stood out from shore like a soar thumb, put was so pleasing to the eye and welcoming to our cameras.  This is PEI as I pictured it, and then there was Charlottetown!

Now, before I rant about Charlottetown, I will give it a prelude...it was raining, overcast, and we were travelling through at exactly the right time school was being released.  The streets were extremely narrow and  ridden with cars; parked, travelling and well, going everywhere.  Pedestrians were popping out from behind every parked car and corner imaginable and my "spidy-senses" were on high alert!  Put on top of all these over stimulating factors, we have no idea where we are going! 

Charlottetown was kind of like what Anchorage was to me: like a small metropolis of Toronto, but after 2+ weeks of calm, easy going and laid back towns and villages, I wanted Charlottetown to go away - no offence intended!  Maybe others have enjoyed this city, and I am the first to admit we did not give it a chance, but we both wanted out.  We found the first exit - well kind of - we had to drive right through the shopping district, Friday at 3:30 pm, to get back on the Trans Canada Highway.  Did I tell you we did NOT get lost!!  Yeah us!

After removing ourselves from the hustle and bustle, we veered off into a shopping plaza to re-evaluate our camping location destination plans.  Originally it was Charlottetown, but after a burger at "Boom Burger" and an awesome tourist discussion with the staff within, they agreed with our polite opinion of Charlottetown, and highly recommended us to head to Cavendish.  Originally we aimed for the National Park, but the travel time was beginning to drag along again.  We listened to our inner voice and pulled off at the Cavendish KOA.  With "little to none" personality by the attendant behind the counter, we accepted our assigned site and gate key and headed back to the truck and trailer.  I'm not sure why KOA girl, of whom we have dubbed Dotty Downer didn't have a personality.  After all, it was us who had to walk back to the truck and trailer in the rain - she wouldn't even lift the gate for us to come in and pay!  What was even more upsetting was there was a monitor right in front of her that clearly indicated we were here to stay the night! Even when we asked for the Wi-Fi login, she quipped at us to see how many devices we would be linking to, then tossed the password slips at us.  We hope Dotty has a good night sleep if she's returning tomorrow!

Perhaps it's because we are tired of driving today, but neither of us have experienced the "WOW" of PEI yet.  Don't get us wrong, the entry was pretty spectacular, and our conversation with the staff in Boom Burger was great.  We are hopeful tomorrow is a better day.  That's not a complaint though, after all, 20 days in, and just today we find ourselves searching for the first time for the redeeming qualities so many of you saw in this province on your visits.

I think Myles is waking from his anaesthetic.  Best tend to the walking wounded and head to bed.  We'll  be giving PEI an opportunity to wow us tomorrow, or Ken will be given gravel in his cereal to wake up and find himself back in New Brunswick!  Here's hoping it's option #1!

A good night sleep will surely make us both less "owly", a term used here to describe a bad mood.  Otherwise we may just become a little "shackwacky" (cabin fever) with no chance of recovery!

Until tomorrow,

Cheers!

Ken & Tricia