PEI Road Trip - Part III

We did some more touring around PEI, including a visit to Montague for a walk along the Confederation Trail, and a quick visit to Bogside Brewery for a few samples to go. We had visited Copper Bottom last time through in 2019, but Bogside wasn't quite open yet at that time.

We opted for the quintessential dune and beach stroll on Panmure Island. Jane also discovered the existence of a large buffalo ranch just south of Montague, so we couldn't pass up a chance to see one of her favourite creatures. The animals were a gift from Alberta to honour PEI's centennial in 1973, so they set up Buffaloland Provincial Park, which is apparently now operated by a local Buddhist society.

We were advised by locals that it was a bit of a crap shoot as to whether the herd would be lounging anywhere near the public viewing areas.....but we were in luck! And it was free!

Before leaving town, we also had a car-hop lunch at Gillis' Drive-In diner on their last day of their season. You pull in and park, and turn on your hazard lights - they come to your car and take your order! They've been doing it for 50 years but it seemed perfect for a pandemic!

After a lovely visit with our friends, we said our sad farewells and began the two-day trek back to Ontario. This time we opted for an alternate route and left the TCH at Edmunston to follow the Madawaska River.....which actually forms an international border in a quaint triangle where New Brunswick, Maine and Quebec all converge.

After an eleven-hour day, we also found a great deal on a cozy motel in St. Apollinaire, QC - just off the highway and walking distance to everything we needed....including our first experience with chicken chain Benny & Co and some great takeout!

Early the next day, we were back in Ontario, stopping for a few family visits along the way before arriving home to some needy cats.

Montague

Second brewery in town!

Our affable hosts - Jay, Bibs and Wilson

A walk in Panmure Island Provincial Park

More PEI  goodness

Panmure dunes

Beautiful day for Buffaloland!

What are YOU lookin' at???

Majestic bison

Well they're not water buffalo.....

Lazing in the sun

This beach calls for bare feet!

Our first car-hop at Gillis' Diner

A House Divided

Clamming it Up in Montague

A stroll along the Confederation Trail

Brudenell River Bridge along the Trail

Bye Bye PEI

PEI Road Trip - Part II

We made a run up to the North Shore of PEI for a day out and about, though sticking further to the eastern end of the island than the main North Shore tourist area around Cavendish, Green Gables and the national park. After Labour Day, things are also quieter and the weather much more to our liking. Sure, it was windy, but it was beautiful.

We had actually planned to try to do a boat tour or fishing charter, but the fringes of Hurricane Larry kept things too gusty for tour boats to venture out - likely for the best for us landlubbers anyway.

We spent some time at Kay's family property, and with permission collected a rock for our home landscaping collection of rocks from all the provinces. From there, we made a stop in Naufrage and then on to North Lake, where we had a sit-down breakfast (for lunch) for the first time in nearly two years, at The Boathouse Eatery.

We stopped at the East Point lighthouse, picked up some art, and even enjoyed some ice cream (me) and sorbet (Jane). On the way back to our hosts, we also ventured through Souris and stopped to enjoy some more beach time and fresh maritime air.

All in all, a wonderful day away!

Surf's definitely up!

Making our way down to the beach

Our own private beach!

Flotsam and Jetsam

Wistful Sea-gazing

Bailey Bridge in Naufrage

Naufrage Beach

East Point Lighthouse

Souris beachfront....with the Magdalen Islands ferry leaving in the background!

Souris boardwalk

View from the Bailey Bridge

East Point treats!

North Lake harbour

The North Lake fishing fleet

Breakfast for lunch at The Boathouse Eatery - it was noon Atlantic time!

Red on Red - Mike explores The Shore!

PEI Road Trip - Part I

We set out for our first road trip in two and a half years, to the relative COVID safe-haven of Prince Edward Island. Between COVID and Jane's two knee surgeries before that, we hadn't been anywhere since May 2019. With our proof of vaccination and our PEI Passes, we headed out on Labour Day for a short jaunt as far as Tillsonburg, to visit Dave for the night.

The next day we ramped out to a medium leg, travelling to eastern Ontario and another night of free lodging while visiting family. We departed in earnest in heavy rain, narrowly avoiding an accident on the 401 near Kingston. The rains chased us into Quebec and the Montreal area, where the A-30 bypass once again proved itself more than worthy of the $2.40 bridge toll.

We limited our stops to gas and washroom, plus a few food orders expedited using apps and curbside delivery - the Nagavator has a new job!

The wet weather petered out and we sailed northward through La Belle Province, stopping for the night at Motel Claude in the lovely Degelis area, just minutes from the New Brunswick border. Nice motel and they even conveniently had a Subway attached to the motel, and we were able to order on their app and pick up.

Early the next morning, we sped into New Brunswick and lost an hour to Atlantic Time, but otherwise made good time on our way to PEI. We traversed the Confederation Bridge shortly after lunch time, where our passes were verified and our noses swabbed for a rapid COVID test. PEI has done a great job of locking down and enjoying relative freedom, of course aided by their geography and controlled entry points - they had only 5 active cases when we arrived and had only had 236 cases in TOTAL since the start of COVID, with zero deaths.

After a brief delay, we were then set loose on the Island but warned that we could get a call in the next two hours telling us to come back, and to minimize our social activities in the interim.

Luckily, that was pretty much the time it would take to drive to our destination on the eastern end of the island anyway.....

A damp start to Quebec

Motel Claude in Degelis, QC

Up early but about to lose an hour....

Construction and moose warnings in western NB

COVID screening at the PEI border

Awaiting the nasal swab - at least it wasn't the brain scrape kind!

Waiting our turn at the Gateway Village

Off the Bridge and into the temporary testing facilities!

We're IN!!!