I have been more than a little lax in publishing our blog lately and for no other reason than just lazy!

As we mentioned previously, this area is beautiful. We have everything anyone could want to do within a short drive. We have ventured out for a couple of touring days, a couple of bike outings and a boating adventure down part of the Sydenham River in Owen Sound.

The rail beds were abandoned here in 1984 and soon after, were converted into biking/hiking trails. Most of the trail is covered with crushed lime stone and easy to navigate. So far, we have covered 18 Kms.

On Aug 19th, we wandered over to Walter Falls for a look see. On our way to the next destination, the skies opened with a torrential down pour and we cut our trip short. Decided to do laundry instead and wouldn’t you know it, the skies cleared and the afternoon was perfect!

It’s that time of the year to renew our vehicle sticker but have to do an E-test. Drivers up here are not required to have Emission testing so the closest Drive Clean facility is in Collingwood. We drove down to get’r done then turned around and went back to Owen Sound to boat the Sydenham River. We spent a considerable amount of time trying to find a launch point. The lower part of the river out to the lake has wharf style sides and we couldn’t get close enough to put in. Finally (lots of construction in downtown
Owen Sound makes it slow getting around) we found our way to Harrison Park and were able to put in there and off we go. It was shallow in places but we managed to maneuver around trees and rocks. It was a very pleasant trip, water fowl and fish jumping around us.

Stay tuned as we continue to explore this area.

Aug 6
Ok, so now we are trying to find a suitable campground to get the jacks down for a month before we head off to the Escapee Escapade in Goshen In. We’re not asking for much, full hook ups (don’t want pump out service because then we have to dump to someone else’s schedule!), satellite friendly, lake or river nearby since we now have a boat and finally, something fairly close to conveniences and all that at a fair price! Well, we have toured 4 different campgrounds that range in price from $500 to $1,100 per month! Ouch, the $1,100 one was parking us in the ‘field transient sites’ at the daily rate of $40/day and discounting the rate to $1,100! Now, how good is that? We don’t want to buy the campground, we just want to rent a site for a month! Most of the cg’s are shabby looking at the entrance and tight roads with grass sites! We wouldn’t mind paying a little more per month if we received some benefit like cement pads and a patio. Instead, we get the privilege to park on the grass and step out into the mud where the previous tenant had their patio mat! I guess this is competition for the cottage industry!

Aug 9
We moved out of Larry’s and into our present campground. The drive up was uneventful except for the construction.

This one is near perfect! If the roads were a bit wider for maneuvering, all would be good. The entrance was clean, the campground is clean, no shabby units or clutter lying around and the price is reasonable! Now if was only on the water!

Aug 11
We toured around Owen Sound for a bit and there is a lot to do here so we’ll be exploring some more!

Heading Home

July 22
Moving day and it is pouring rain! We drove in and out of rain showers all day, all the way to Woodstock. We arrive at the campground and were lucky enough to set up in the rain! By the time we were done, the sun was shining, go figure.

After we were set up, we met up with Dave & Zen, our long time friends since London, before we moved to Toronto in 1980.

July 23
We’re on our own today so we toured around Woodstock, the Covered Bridge Potato Chip factory in Hartland and of course, the world’s longest covered bridge in Hartland. The evening was spent sharing stories, laughs and having a good time with old friends.

July 24
Today, we thought we would drive over to Millville to see the reported (according to the tourist info) world largest maple leaf! Huh! I think that was misinformation! Not much to see but the drive over the ridge was nice except for the road construction! On our way we saw a covered bridge route sign and thought we would go find it! Well, we started out down a gravel road that became narrow and very rocky and then muddy so we decided that it was not for us. On the circular route back to Woodstock, we see another covered bridge sign and thought maybe it was the other entry to the first one so down we go. This road is better but again narrows and we are soon at a cross road but it is an ATV and snowmobile trail! Yikes how do we get ourselves into these circumstances? Still no covered bridge in site so get us outta here!

July 25
We have a tee time tomorrow to play golf with Dave & Zen! We haven’t played much so we need a driving range to work the rust out of our swings so not to embarrass ourselves too much. Dave takes us to their golf course and range to hit some balls and give Mack a few tips. All is good now, just need some luck and blue skies tomorrow!

Back to Dave & Zen’s for dinner and an evening of card games and more laughs. A great time had by all.

July 26
Golf day or should I say it was golf course irrigation day! Some of us teed off on one and the skies opened up and down poured – where’s the shelter? Ok, so we crowded into the unused starters hut on the first tee! That was a sight! After a few minutes, the rain was gone and some sunshine sneaked through and that was what it was like for the whole way around, 3-4 minutes of rain then some sun! We all had a good time anyway and it was a nice golf course with great views! After dinner and more laughs, we said our farewells once more.

July 27
Moving day again! We had a short drive to Edmundston, NB, parked in the visitors centre and walked around the downtown, cute city. Off to WalMart there and settle for the night. Another trailer was behind us and asked for help with his electric brakes. He had come from Labrador and a trucker informed him that he did not have any brake lights. After checking the wiring of the brake control unit and checked the fuses, it was a bad connection at the trailer/truck plug! Isn’t it always the most logical and simplest answers that fix the problems!

July 28
We move onto a campground about 30 minutes from Quebec City. We arrive early and get set up but soon the rains chase us inside for the remainder of the day!


July 29
We decide to follow the ? mark for an information centre. The closest one took us to Levis. The information centre did not have any English info! What happened to this bilingual country? Do only the predominately English provinces have to provide both French and English information? Enough on my soap box!

We decided that since the ferry was right here, we’d take it instead of driving down to the bridge and having to find parking in Quebec City! It was a good decision! Soon we are prowling around the old town of Quecbec City, up to see the Chateau Frontenac and of course, browse through some of the shops. It was a great day!

July 30
Up early so we can get through Montreal before the rush hour of Friday on a long weekend! We got through Montreal with no delays and decided to do lunch on the west side. We see a Parks Canada historical site and thought that it would be a good place to pull into to have a break and lunch! Wrong! It took us down some very narrow streets we would have to make a right turn that I know we couldn’t do! So, took a left which wasn’t much better and ended up on a no exit street so had to make another left with parked cars along the right! Wow, it was tight but thank goodness, the curbs were low and allowed us to get around and out we went!

The rest of the drive to Kemptville where Kristi (our niece) lives was uneventful! We arrived there a little after dinner time, surveyed the turn into her driveway and decided that after we trim a few limbs, we could do it! Whack, whack, snip, snip and we’re backing in. It took a little back and forth but we made it.

Kristi and Cal have a beautiful home, a little bigger than the one they had in Inuvik, NWT! We caught up with their new lives in their new home and traded stories with them on ours.

Aug 1
It is moving day again and back to the Toronto area. We had a great trip to NB and PEI. We’re both exhausted and looking forward to leaving the jacks down for a month before we’re off on another adventure!

Back to New Brunswick

July 19
We had an enjoyable ride to the Confederation Bridge but could not cross until we stopped at the Gateway Village again for more souvenirs! You can’t spend this much time on PEI without getting an original PEI Dirt Shirt!

While we’re stopped here, we called ahead for a camp site in Alma, NB. We don’t normally make reservations but we found out that the Canadian National Parks charge for the privilege of making a reservation, the campsite and you are charged the daily rate to access the park. So for 3 nights in a National Park with a reservation could cost you $10 for the reservation, $30 for the campsite and $13 for the day pass would be $139! Ouch!

We booked into Bayview Cabins and campground and told the lady that we needed space for a 40 foot 5th wheel. She said ‘no problem’! As we roll up the campground driveway, she greets us smiling and apologizing! The only site left is only suitable for a camper to van type RV! She was very nice about the mix up – she admitted that she didn’t know how long 40 feet was! She suggested we leave our rig there in the yard while we go into town to try and find a more suitable camp site. After our short tour, we find nothing so we return to Bayview and agree to stay in the parking lot until AM when another more suitable site is available! We recommend this campground to anyone coming this way! Very nice to deal with!

July 20
We move onto a nice deep site and finish setting up for another 2 nights. After lunch we tour over to Cape Enrage and were not disappointed! The drive over was spectacular. We stopped at Waterside to walk on the beach with the tides out, view the seaside cliffs and just be in awe of the tides here too.

Cape Enrage provides spectacular views. We arrived just as the fog was clearing and we could just start to see the coast of Nova Scotia peeking through! We stood next to the lighthouse as it was sounding the fog horn – you could feel it as well as hear it! We went down the 90+ steps to the ocean floor for a little fossil hunting.

The tides are starting to come back in and we wanted to return to Waterside to see the difference. Wow, almost as dramatic as Hopewell Rocks! We continued back to Alma, we needed an ice cream fix! We watched the activities on the fishing wharf, talked to some of the fishermen on how they set the stand (cribs) for the fishing boats to sit on when the tides were out and watched one of them drop off frozen herring as bait for the lobster traps.

The boats are starting to return and the wharf is getting crowed with onlookers like us to see the catch. Wow, we watched one boat unload their cases. Each case averaged 120 pounds and they had 8 cases. There were 6 boats – that’s a lot of lobster in only one fishing village! Look at the size of these 2! There is enough meat there to feed a small country!

July 21
The day before moving day so we decide to kick back and have a slower paced day. We play a few games then head into town to pick up a lobster for dinner. The lobsters in the tank are huge! The same guy we spoke with on the wharf is also behind the counter here and helps us select one. Did you know a 1 pound lobster is 10 years old? He took us out the back to show us their process for the live lobsters. They have 2 tanks of cooled salt water. The first tank is used to purge the graded lobsters – let them poop out the bait etc that they have eaten while in the traps. Then they transfer them to the second tank that has cool, clear salt water. They will stay here for shipping and/or selling through their store.

We picked out a 3 pounder for Mack & I and ½ pound of scallops for Barb and back to the trailer for our little feast after a rousing game of Mexican train on the picnic table! Hummmm good!

July 17
Up and at’em today, no sleeping in! We’re off to Cavendish Beach and North Rustico for the ‘cardboard boat’ races! What, cardboard boats with people in them? Yikes!

Again, our navigator took us via the more scenic routes and we arrive in Cavendish and head to the beach. Beautiful white sand beaches with red cliffs is a very dramatic contrast. It is a terrific vacation area and lots of tourists with lots of things to do. We continue down the road and found a nice little spot to pull over and sit at the sea shore, have a picnic lunch, skip rocks and watch the ocean! And who forgot to put the lawn chairs in the truck?!

Soon we arrive at North Rustico for the boat races! There were 9 teams building their boats from sheets of cardboard, duct tape and plastic sheets (for water proofing). Some were decorated up and some were pretty simple! Then, down to the dock to launch! They had to paddle their boats out about 500 feet, around the bouy and back to the dock. Two didn’t make it out more than 50 feet before the ‘captain’ was fully in the water, dragging his/her boat behind them! It was good fun and something we had not seen before.

Before leaving, we drive out to the lighthouse for a view and ice cream, then to the fish market for some fresh mussels. Hummmm good! Back to the campground for a snack and to watch the kite boarders zipping up and down the shore.

July 18
Today we try a lobster roll at a local eatery then bike our way into Summerside and arrive at Spinnakers Landing, Summerside’s harbor shopping spot! The remainder of the day was hanging out at the park, putting stuff away and getting ready to move on.

Our next entry will be from New Brunswick as we start our trek homeward. It’s been a fun filled time on this beautiful island paradise!

I forgot to mention that a ‘guy’ came around the campground on Tuesday, July 13th selling ‘fresh’ clams, $2 for a pound. I said sure, lets’ try them. Dinner was ready and it didn’t include clams so we put them in water for the next day. Well, I think if some of us were to see the food before we eat them, we probably wouldn’t, especially with clams! Not appetizing and they even looked worse after we cooked them up (we only did a few so not to waste them)! So I gave them to a neighbor – who was a local – and he took them and cooked them up right away. Later the next day, he said they did not smell good and looked worse, so he didn’t eat them either – so we must have bought ‘old’ clams!

July 14
It’s raining today so no biking or hiking but we do a road trip that takes us to a wool mill and a potato museum! The potato museum was fascinating. Did you know potatoes originated in the Andes of Peru? Lots of information including how nutritious they are for us! Imagine that, and we thought they are not good for our bodies! So what can be so wrong with chips and French fries!

July 15
Moving day again. We’re not far from our next campground so we take the more scenic route along the north shore of PEI and across the island to Summerside. We arrive to a great welcome by the park staff and they have done everything they could to accommodate us. The sites are small but they gave us one of the bigger ones and we could park however we could to fit! So, we pulled it in on a 45 degree angle – getting out may be a problem but we’ll worry about that when we get there!

We got set up, took at look at the beach and decided it was suitable to launch the boat. Finally, we’re able to get out on the water! The three of us took turns in the boat and had a great time. This park is ideal for launching out little craft! The rest of the day was hanging out and enjoying the weather and the beach area. As the tide waters receded, Mack and Barb ventured out several hundred feet to see what goes on under the sea! They found lots of hermit crabs, quahogs, and tusk shells. The tides here are not as dramatic as Fundy Bay but the shallowness makes it neat none the less!

July 16
Today, we spent the day in Charlottetown. It was a relatively short drive over from Summerside but a side trip to the Haunted Mansion in Kensington made it seem shorter! As we entered the Mansion, I had to watch my step because I knew all 3 of us would fall as the other 2 ‘fraidy cats’ were right on my heels! It was well done with a great garden area after the Mansion tour.

We carried onto Charlottetown via the lesser traveled roads for a more scenic route with less traffic! We decided to follow the small walking tour they provide by following a scavenger hunt through the downtown while learning about some of the history of the city. We wandered around the harbor shops and had lunch on a balcony, overlooking the harbor and park. It was very enjoyable! After a fun filled day, we boarded the Hippoboat for a city and harbor tour. It was a great way to end a busy day!

July 7
We’re here on PEI. Our trip was uneventful and only took us about 2 hours from Hopewell to the island. We brought the bridge over and stopped at the ‘touristy’ Gateway Village for lunch, tourist information and to stretch our legs. There was every trinket you could think of on sale there and we’ll probably stop there on the way home to pick anything we missed along the way.

We decided to take highway #2 up to Souris and stay at the Red Point Provincial Park. Somehow, #2 disappeared in Charlottetown and we had to quickly make route adjustments so we took #3 to #4 and made it without any more difficulties. We find that PEI is like Toronto, 2 seasons – winter and construction season. Our trip took us longer than expected due to several construction stops. But we made it and the park is great. We chose 2W hookups so we could be closer to he beach and a better view. The 3W hookups were up the hill and away from the beach. We thought the water was just over the crest of the rise but when we walked down toward the beach, we found we were on a 30 foot bluff, overlooking the beach. It could be a difficult walk for Mack & I carrying the kayak down the 27 steps!

July 8
We did some touring today and our first stop was the historic Souris Lighthouse. We carried on and met friends that made it to the HFH build in Souris. The 2 story house is almost in the finishing stages, they are installing the drywall now. We chatted for a few minutes and made plans to meet up on Friday.

We made our way to the access to the Confederation trail at Harmony Junction, ate our picnic lunch, unloaded the bikes and started out toward New Zealand – yes that’s correct, New Zealand! The ride was good but no photo ops or views to stop at. We rode through woods all the way so after 4.5 Kms, we turned around and headed back to the truck. 9 kms overall isn’t a bad start but the next time we’re going down the trail further so we can experience a more scenic ride.

As most of you know, we don’t retrace our travels as much as we can so we turn out of the parking at Harmony Junction and head north toward East Point and the light house. We’re all hot and sweaty from the ride and trying to find ice cream! We arrive at the light house and see hundreds of gulls dropping out of the sky, diving into the sea for food! It was quite a sight. We all scramble out of the truck and walk over to the edge to watch, I think to go back and get the binoculars only to find the doors locked AND the keys in the ignition! Who the hell was driving and did that? Oppssss….. thank goodness for road service! After an hour or so, we were on our way again, still looking for ice cream! What a day!

July 9
Another great day in paradise! We ride the Confederation Trail again today and do 5.5 Kms before we turn around. It would be so much better if we had 2 vehicles! Oh well, at least we’re doing some of the trail! Later in the day, we joined our friends from the HFH build for a pot luck dinner and chatted and caught up on each others stories and adventures. It was a fun evening as we said our goodbyes until next time we meet up on the road again!

July 10
We decided that we’ve had enough of the bike rides through the woods of PEI and drove down to St Peters and road the trail along the bay. This time, we only did 2.5 Kms but the views and scenery of St Peters bay was magnificent! On route back took us to Georgetown, through small towns and fishing villages. We walked around Georgetown and on the beach, reading about the history of the area. As we were approaching Souris, the skies opened and the rained poured! Lightening and winds greeted us back at the campground. Wow, it was quite a storm.

July 11
On Sunday, we were supposed to leave but it was still raining and we decided to stay another day and wait it out. As the rain slowed and stopped during the day, we started putting stuff away and found that the shower drain had leaked during our stay and the basement was soaked. We had Mack’s bike in the basement and during the rough roads between Toronto and here, it must have shifted and pushed the drain pipe aside and broke the connection! Another repair while on the road!


July 12
We’re on our way but have to detour to the Home Depot in Charlottetown to pick up supplies to repair the shower drain. Barb suggested we fix it in the parking lot so if we need something else, we can get it before driving out to the boonies of PEI! Another good idea! Done and onto Jacques Cartier Provincial Park. This park is not as nice as the Red Point Park but we have site with a view of the Gulf of St Lawrence and the beach is more suitable to launch the kayak from.

After we get set up, we drive up to the North Cape and the lighthouse to get Mack’s Tip to Tip certificate. The sight is beautiful, red cliff walls, calm seas and gulls and seals feasting and NO, I did not lock the keys in the truck again! As we walk along the beach, we run into a gentleman raking up the Irish Moss. His partners are around the point using a horse and tractor to gather the moss. They gather it, spread it to dry then sell it to a couple of plants so the Carrageenan can be extracted. An interesting side job for some lobster fishermen when the season is closed!

July 13
Today we washed the rig, walked along the beach and toured the coastal drive from Tignish to West Point.

As Barb & I were walking along the beach, we find lots of mussels washed ashore with seaweed. Curious, I asked our neighbor about the mussels and he said they were fine to eat, as long as they were still closed! So the 3 of use went back and gathered a dozen for a mid day snack! After cleaning them and then steamed them for 3 minutes, they were ready! Yummmm, very good, even the sand! But then we all need a little roughage for our own digestion don’t we!

The coastal drive was spectacular! The coastal views awesome and the farms are well maintained with beautiful farm houses. We arrived at Miminegash Harbour, toured the Irish Moss interpretive centre and ate a slice of seaweed pie! Yummm, another delicious treat! That’s all we’ll say about it, for more, you’ll have to come out here yourself for this delicacy!