We left Halifax on a Sunday morning. The MacDonald Bridge was closed due to a marathon, with runners literally crossing the bridge as we drove under it and onto the MacKay Bridge instead to traverse The Narrows. Once clear of the city, a seamless run up the 102 saw us in Truro for gas and breakfast.
It was quite the experience. Between our negative experience at the local McDonald's - subject of a comically scathing review later by June at our behest - and watching a deer run down the main street and nearly out into traffic as I pumped gas - the second coffee was greatly needed by this point.
Given that our friends live on the eastern end of PEI, the ferry from Caribou to Wood Islands made more sense than the Confederation Bridge. On the way up to Caribou, another deer ran right out in front of us near the Pictou roundabout.....right AT a deer crossing sign!
After boarding the brand new MV Northumberland, which just came into service last year, Jane remarked that it felt a Norwegian ferry. Lo and behold, once we got looking around....it WAS a Norwegian ferry for the first part of its life before being brought over. We enjoyed a pleasant crossing under sunny skies, and just over an hour later we were speeding north towards Montague.
We had a good visit with our friends, including the obligatory dinner at Peake's Tee.....followed by a surprise deep-dish blueberry pie. Knowing that we were coming, apparently Kay asked her SIL Darlene at the restaurant to make one for us all to have for dessert.
We stayed local at the Riverside Inn, near to our friends but out of their hair for the night. We enjoyed our room and the serene balcony overlooking Montague harbour as sunset came....and still later with lights in the darkness over the fishing fleet.
The next morning, we squeezed in another good visit with Kay and Geoff (and Bibs and Wilson!) for breakfast and coffee, before bidding them farewell. The ferry was full on a holiday Monday, and we hadn't pre-booked since we didn't know how long we were staying. We took the Bridge instead, so we got a different tour of the Island as we wound our way back to Borden....and ended up sitting parked ON the ocean (gulf) for about 15 minutes as they had it reduced to one lane for resurfacing.
Back briefly into a small corner of New Brunswick, we had a quick washroom and hotdog stop at the Irving before returning to Nova Scotia and making our way back to Halifax and the Harrows for a few more nights of fun.
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