PEI Osprey

Osprey seen in PEI near Dalvey lake

few more photos from PEI

Hi from PEI

Hello from Cavendish

Around Cavendish

JellyFish at Greenwich

Lighthouse at Stanhope

Hello from Greenwich beach

Day 2 - Prince Edward Island is always charming

Stanhope Campground

We went to a few of the beaches around Stanhope and then drove to Souris.  This was likely the third time I'd been.  I've gone with my parents when we went to "Les Iles de la Madeleine" and we'd passed through last year together.

Souris Beach

This year we went to the  beach and looked for sea glass. We found lots of it but most of it was of poor quality.  It was mostly broken glass vs sea glass. I will at some point show the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to sea glass vs broken glass.

Greenwich Beach

On the way back from Souris we stopped at Greenwich beach. It's very nice and peaceful, most people go to Cavendish, so Greenwich is pretty deserted. Unfortunately for us, it was full of Jelly fish. Ick.

Cavendish cliffs

We drove back and went to Cavendish beach. It was a nice beach but I think Greenwich is nicer.  There was tons of people at Cavendish and Jellyfish there too.

Cavendish Beach

There was an Osprey's nest near Dalvey lake. I managed to take a couple of photos.  We also saw lots of cormorants. Those black duck looking coastal birds.

Osprey

Day 1 - We camp at PEI's National Park!

We got to Stanhope Campground in the Prince Edward Island National park by 9am. We left Montreal around 9:00pm after I had a nap.

Our site, the last one available for the two nights we wanted when we checked a few nights earlier, did not get freed before 11:30. We checked out several beaches along the long strip of land around Stanhope.

I ran into a local woman on the beach near the lighthouse. She heard my shutter going, saw me take panoramic views of the beach behind the lighthouse and asked me what type of camera I had. When I told her I clicked a lot to remember where I'd been she asked where home was.  She also told me about the beach glass festival at Souris for that week-end. Of course at first I had no idea what place she meant when she said Souris in English.  And then it hit me.

We stopped at the Blue water Grill Take-out at the Covehead Wharf for dinner though Terry wanted to try Richards. However Richards had a 20 people line-up pretty much from 5-8pm.  Funny part is that the owner of "Richards" restaurant, and sea tours is a ex pat Quebecois!

At some point we went to park to chill for a few minutes and I looked up to see the cutest little fox. Terry threw some potato chips out and she ran to eat them. Of course we're not supposed to feed the animals but how do you say no to a really cute little fox????

Finally it's that time again.

So sometime this evening we are hitting the road. First stop is Stanhope campground at PEI national park.  Terry really wanted to go hang on the beaches there last year but it was so fully booked, because the first Monday in August is New Brunswick provincial holiday and it's also a day off in Nova Scotia.

Wednesday night when trying to decide what our first stop would be before getting to Corney Brook in Cape Breton, we looked at Amherst Shores, it was fully booked, we looked at a few other places and it seemed hopeless. Then he suggests PEI national park. I figured it would be fully booked, but the Stanhope campground had ONE SPOT that was free for Saturday and Sunday night. So we booked it. 

This is all sorts of awesome because with the entrance to Federal parks free... we'll really be able to enjoy both the Cavendish area, the Stanhope area, and the third area of the federal park in PEI.   I went to Cavendish beach with my parents as a teen and with husband #1 in the 1980's. Haven't been since, though not looking forward to spending that much time on the beach. Will have to get myself the mother of all fucking hats to wear on my head. not supposed to get sun on my scar... could make it look bad. Other than the fact I really don't want to have more skin cancer. 

After Corney Brook, we're thinking Broadcove, then Mira River.  This year were definitely going to do the bird island boat tour, and it will be the 5:15 photographer's one next Friday.  Will be reserving that very shortly.   Also will be doing a lot of the trails in Cape Breton highlands National park. I've done many trails on the Cheticamp side, this year I hope to go on trails on the Ingonish side.

Once we leave Cape Breton, we'll be going to the Halifax area. We plan on staying at Graves Island Provincial park, which is 45 minutes from Hatchet lake, and also we want to visit the Thomas Raddall Provincial park. Would also like to visit the Kejimkujik Federal park, but don't know if it's going to happen. The seaside Kejimkujik is right across the bay from Raddall Provincial park.

Day 3: Panmure Island Provincial Park

Lighthouse in Souris PEI

East Point Lighthouse, PEI

At red point we were right near Souris, which is the port to take the Ferry to les Iles de la Madeleine. After which we drove north to the East point lighthouse, before slowly driving down to Panmure Island Provincial Park. PEI is always very scenic. Terry spotted a seal lounging on the rocks at the bottom near the East Point lighthouse, but it would be a few days before I saw any seals!

Red Point Provincial Park beach

Souris where the Ferry docks

There is a small population of Amish/Mennonites on the East Side

Beach at Panmure Island Provincial Park.

Have I ever told you how much I LOVE Fireweed??????

In PEI

Yes all the pink IS fireweed

More fields of Fireweed

I was thrilled to see that there are fields of Fireweed, all around coastal New Brunswick, all around PEI and all around Cape Breton and the Eastern part of Nova Scotia.

I discovered I loved Fireweed when I went to La Tuque about 10 years ago in Early September. The fields were pink with Fireweed. It's one of my favourite wild flowers and it is native here. It grows far up north too.

Day 2: Red Point Provincial Park

 We drove along the West side of PEI and went to the beach in various spots. Along the way we encountered our 2nd lighthouse, the one at Howards Cove. It's tiny!

Howard's Cove Lighthouse

We took a drive in the evening to Cape North lighthouse as Terry pointed out that he'd actually like to see a lighthouse at night. But the Cape North lighthouse is nothing special and not very big so he was a bit disappointed.  We ended up walking into the darkness and went to sit on a bench overlooking the cliff. Of course we have no idea how dangerous it was to do so.

Cape North Lighthouse at Dark

After a nice evening at Cedar Dunes, we drove to Cabot Beach, and got there around 11am. But it was Sunday Morning and we learned afterwards that it was a long week-end at least in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The lady told us to come back at 2pm, that she'd know then if she had any spots, so we drove to Cavendish and other federal campground, they were booked solid, no overflow sites.

Lighthouse at Cabot Beach Provincial Park

 We decided to keep going so end up at Red Point Provincial Park. After being told there was no room in 3 different campgrounds, being told that we could camp in the big lawn as an overflow site, made our day. She said she'd have a spot for us the next day but we decided to just book 1 night.

It's EVERYWHERE in Eastern Canada!!!!

I don't think I've been to a Provincial Park this year that did NOT have POISON IVY all around the edges of the campsite. Thankfully neither Terry or I have managed to touch it or get welts from it.

But seriously, there was some at Plaisance around our campsite, there was some in Mauricie National park, there was some at Charleston lake and this photo comes from Cedar Dunes Provincial park.

This is not good when one needs to tarp the campsite for rain. This is usually when I walk in the bush to bungee a tarp.

Day 1: Cedar dunes Provincial Park

Currently  arrived around 10am after driving since 7pm from Montreal.  I was so  exhausted after my full 40 hours of work.  

At least the weather is spectacular! Currently it's 23 and not a cloud in the sky. I'm busy chasing dragonflies!

Beach at Cedar Dunes Provincial Park

West Point Lighthouse