July delights

 I had quite the adventure in July and went to Prince Edward Island. It was a relatively easy thing for me to do as I could fly from a near by airport and arrive directly in their main town Charlottetown. The one thing that I did know is that I would be staying on the East Coast of the island (which is less touristy) and that I would need a car for my time there. The slight fly in the ointment is that I had to stay in Charlottetown for one night as we arrived at 10:30 pm and the hire car company was closed. But this gave me an opportunity to have a look about the town and see what the deal was. Turns out a main street and lots of interesting building and groups of different types of shops and churches. I wasn't disappointed to not be there for the 2 weeks. By being on the east coast and a 50 minute drive from Charlottetown meant that if we did go to the 'big town', that was quite the drive and we would get a feeling for the island. So with no knowledge apart from potatoes and Annie of Green Gables off we went.

In general I have to say that staying in the house that we did, the biggest plus was having a sea view, that was a genius move. The next thing I noticed is that there are houses everywhere on PEI but it is sparsely populated. Lots of arable land use and of course the red sandstone beaches and side roads (that weren't paved). Oh and lots and lots of trees. I also enjoyed that the land had a lot of water not just around the island but lots of inlets, that created interest.

Initially I was a bit non plused by PEI but what I found as the days went by that the simple beauty of the place is the captivating feature. Just water, land, sky, trees and empty roads. It had a  mesmerizing affect on me and I found that I was getting into Island time and that there is a quite dignity to the people. The whole atmosphere is very calming. That people were genuinely welcoming and friendly. Happy to talk and be open. Happy to answer questions about "how do you manage winter ?" Yes that is from October to April!!!! and to "why does Georgetown have so many drive thrus?"That last ones answer kind of answers the first question. They simply don't get out of the car. You see simple, to the point and practical. That was PEI.

The people are proud of their houses and even if their shakes need a lick of paint the grass is mowed and the properties really looked neat. I loved the houses and the barns. The care and ease of the people and bless them no Range Rovers insight, just pick-ups of mostly a normal size. These are working people and they aren't fancy. Of course time keeping isn't a thing and if they say the farmers market is from 9am they actually mean 10am. I quickly felt that I was an islander, waving at pedestrians who move onto the mowed side walk by the road as you drive by and other vehicles being generally courteous. Of course you had the boy racers and white vans, and of course farm machinery to contend with on the small roads. But people seemed to drive well and who doesn't like to wave kindly at other drivers! 

Charlottetown is midway on the Island centrally really. Imagine a moustache shape, that's PEI. Charlottetown sort of to the middle to the South. It is quite lovely, with great buildings.

Heavily influenced by the Scottish people that came during the Scottish clearances, PEI really rocked the scottishness

The buildings of Charlottetown were all rather lovely and the spires of this church could be seen for miles

The view from the top look out windows in the property where we stayed and that fantastic horizon and sea! This is the West and looking at Pictou Island (inhabitants around 20 or so) and Nova Scotia

Murray River was just down the road from the house and we would pop here for chips

Lobster pots were in abundance on PEI and we saw lots of these!!!

This night time pic was super fast as the mosquitoes were murderous

It is also very windy as can be seen from the washing line. WE had this a day before it broke! They had previously fixed this before badly. Nothing like using a line to dry clothing. But from this picture you can see the look out at the top and the view down to the sea.

PEI has wonderful light houses

And coastline that is spectacular

Just so tantalizing

They are famed for their light houses and this one was a beauty

At the property where we stayed there were humming birds and from the tiny Juliet balcony outside my bedroom window, I would be able to hear them buzzing. But do they ever move fast

The views were stunning

Lupins have gone mad on PEI, much to local annoyance. Of course touristy peeps love them. 

The smoky evening purple light as night comes in was soothing

And moonscapes...just breathtaking

Look at that moon on the water!!!!

I just managed to get this guy. 

A thing about PEI is that they do love a good word play

I noticed it on many buildings and this farm was no exception

What a fantastic barn. It has lotus flowers and great peely paint

I especially loved their mail box

But their barns were a real draw

and then one day I spied they had cattle

Or rather they spied me

The lines and the squares, that's what this picture should be called

They really look like they are going for a walk together. "Just don't give her eye contact Cybil!" or something like that.

The  night sky was really amazing and the clouds gave great atmosphere

This is Georgetown part of the three rivers. It was a sweet town and little did we know we would get the best treat there

They had been working on this boat for some time in Georgetown. 

More river shots and look how smooth it's like glass

This is one of the rather lovely houses in Georgetown

Montague is a larger town just a bit further on from Murray River also on the three rivers and I very much liked it. It also could boast over 5 drive thrus 

The boat huts were very lovely

And back to Murray River and the sweet cottages

This is the town of Murray River as you enter

It isn't a big place, literally one side of the river. Love the paint job on this old store. And of course where we first saw some wonderful word play

Look at the river view from the church

They really did like word play!

This is the other side of the river

That's the bridge to cross said river

The best chips ever!!! You just had to deal with the grumpy people working there. But they were teenagers and it was 30C degrees. But they were so busy that they gave you a timer for the wait for your order!

Many evenings were spent waiting for chips outside the chip hut. The reflection on the river of the sky, amazing

Dramatic skies

Now that's preparation for winter!

The inlets were everywhere 

proverbial bird on a wire

One morning I took a drive to photo inlets

This is the Trans Canada Highway! Not so much traffic then and I am indeed standing in the middle of the road

Beaches and ferries

This ferry goes to Nova Scotia and takes 75 minutes from Wood Island, 5 minutes down the road from where we stayed

It could literally be the advert for PEI this photo. It has all the elements

This is what we found one day going to Georgetown, a summer parade, what a treat!!!! and the streets were lined with the residents and it was just the most lovely heartwarming thing ever! This police car had the best siren

And this person certainly knew their way round pipes!!!

Some just happy to be there

lots of decorations

I loved this Hallmark Christmas tree pick up!

Absolute classic

Such fun

dressing up all the way round

Not sure the theme but it looks fun

Very congenial, just step over to the parade and have a chat with your mate

Fire wagons and sirens blazing

Classic cars galore

I bet he is a real character

Well he had a comfy seat

Yes and a St Paddy's Day nod

This was the am dram society

and these rascal's brought up the rear

them be real cow horns

I nearly forgot the unicorn coming down the street

accompanied by a very fed up young person. I did get a hug from the unicorn and was so excited!!!!

More lovey houses in Georgetown

The barns were my favorite

They've been at that word play again. This one made me laugh out loud

This is in Montague where the was an old train turntable. Apparently the trains bankrupted PEI and that's why they joined the confederation. The lines zig zagged everywhere as every town wanted connecting but it made no sense and lost money.

I know that Murray River bridge looks rusty but I rather like it, lovely round portholes. Someone really thought about the design 

and the river is just beautiful

This particular evening it was still and serene

and the humming bird continues to allude me

we had a drive up the east coast and what views we saw

I think that is potato flowers

but the scenes felt unreal

empty roads

more potatoes 

sea scapes

Oh and more barns and houses

 I think are abandoned but what a lovely house

and his cute barn. But this property is directly in line for the North Atlantic. So I would imagine quite stormy at times

The side roads are often unpaved

and the main roads stretch out before you

Golden field and then the bus field that I got Isaac to photo. Yes that's my finger pointing, quite get the bus field

In Charlottetown we found this car from BC. Later we heard the driver talking about how they had driven across the country and were I think going onto Quebec. I just was impressed with the shovel, that and the fact he seemed to have a child with him of about 9 years old! Impressed with the epic car journey and I think that that is a thing people do here. That is a lot of driving. I couldn't help wonder how many times he had to fill up and if he ever broke down!!!! And air-conditioning, forget it, that's called opening windows.

Charlottetown is quite stately

with lots of nods to the past people who have been here and some of us remain or keep coming!

They also like a good mural in PEI

I loved this coffee shop and their cookies were total yum. Look at those bricks and that tin ceiling!!!

This was their university at one time

This was rather an old row. I must say it was lovely to see some heritage and Charlottetown is full of it. Think these houses were the newspaper owner, the editor of said newspaper and the small office at the end, a vetinary clinic back in the day

I liked the random nature of the designs and the clap board sides

This Warehouse in Charlottetown was for sale. Just think what a fab place to convert to live in! and you would always be able to get furniture to the top floors.

Near to Murray River is Montague and had the 5 drive trus mentioned and the supermarkets, we went often! This was the museum at Montague and was previously a post office and customs house. Montague was a busy port and lots of goods came in this way on the railway and the river

The murals in Murray River

Just wonderful

and told stories of the history of PEI

I found the seaweed here very interesting

It is rather like straw

The geese on Wood Island, where the ferry goes to Nova Scotia

Sweet lighthouse

It was quite the compound all told.

I liked the shed/garage also like a lightbhouse

But one is mindful of the crumbling cliffs, even if the flowers are lovely

The road to the light house was interesting and yes the sand is slippy when wet!

Such a great place to watch the ferry

As it pulled out car alarms blaring it was all quite exciting

This is the loader, you have to drive up that frame to get onto the ferry

Nesting ospreys were nearby on Wood Island

The sea was always changing and I wouldn't have fancied a ferry crossing this day

Back in Charlottetown more houses. They are each and everyone lovely

Such interesting paint colours and just imagine them in winter!

The snow would really make those colours glow

Some of them were super close together

And a lot of Pride going on. Which is lovely and not something that you would associated with an island. But they are definitely welcoming people

The murals continue. What a riot of colour!

I loved this solution to bike parking

and John Cleese!

This was a salmon run up one of those three Rivers I keep talking about

Panmur Island. Either side of the road was beach and mostly empty

This guy was in the bay on Panmur, we weren't sure but it is so shallow, maybe cockle picking or something like that?

Panmur lighthouse close too, I realised that pictures of light houses are hard to do close up

More shots of Georgetown.

I love the tumble downed shed and the fabulous Wheel House Restaurant that was an old railway station moved here

These signs were everywhere. Took some time to track down their meaning and no it wasn't straightforward. We never found the look out they were indicating! and they are signs only for the east?!

 

This summed up Georgetown. A little place with a welcome heart

I lost count of how many people I saw doing this activity.

What a fabulous float swing

A street in Georgetown and down to the river and look at those lovely lawns!

Georgetown was as I said quite a surprising little town and I loved this little shed/hut/summerhouse

These were very inviting chairs

lovely clap board

Great sheds to stay in

Historic Houses

and this beauty being done up. I would love this one!

and simply everyone had one of these ovens in the back yard

This is Cardigan

Pretty darned cute

Great station wagon

Big intersection. There really wasn't much there

yet it was beautiful

And the proud owner of this, the smallest library in Canada

and the view from inside. Utterly delightful.

One of the things I really wanted to see on PEI was the geology and boy was I in for a treat. This was on the coastal drive along the North Shore of PEI

First looking right

and then looking left

Out to sea

But that arch way was amazing and probably not there for that much longer, maybe 15 years?

The cliffs are very prone to eroding here and now that they don't get sea ice to protect them, the shoreline is disappearing in the winter storms. I am glad I got to see this. 

I know that this was a mega long blog.  PEI is such a rich place visually and now somewhere I will talk of fondly and dream of going back to. I have joined the ranks of loving PEI. I have had lobster roll, the scallop burger (no good reason to do that to a good scallop) eaten wonderful ice cream, the best chips with the freshest of fish. Waved at locals and enjoyed their many varied signage.