Montague & Georgetown

Traffic on PEI is very light at the best of times, but on a Sunday it’s practically non existent.  So today we thought it might be fun if we explored the east end of the island.  It had been several years since we had driven to the eastern part of the island and it seemed like the perfect day to go.  The leaves on the trees are starting to change color and the temperature was a comfortable (with a jacket) 15 degrees.

I packed a light lunch to take with us, bundled up the dog, took the GPS and off we went.  We decided to head to Montague for our first stop.  In order to get there, the GPS took us through Charlottetown.  What we didn’t realize until we got there was that there was a major Marathon running through the streets of Charlottetown.  They had a lot of police manning the intersections and some roads were blocked off completely.  We decided to get off the main drag and go through some side streets to by pass the runners.  Once we crossed the bridge from Charlottetown to Stratford it was clear sailing.  Traffic returned to normal … which meant only one or two cars in sight.

The drive to Montague was very colorful with all the leaves changing.  Since it’s close to Halloween a lot of properties along the way had their houses decorated with pumpkins, ghosts, witches etc.  One place we passed was setting their front yard up to look like a graveyard.  That’s one thing I notice on PEI … everyone gets into the holiday spirit (no pun intended) no matter what seasonal time it is.

We arrived in Montague and found a lovely spot to park, right on the water.  It was a park like setting with a couple of picnic tables, a little playground area for the kids, a wooden gazebo and a wooden boardwalk that took you along the waters edge toward the Visitor’s Centre.  Unfortunately it was closed for the season.  They also had a Christmas Store there.  Ron said that we would have to come back to Montague so I could go shopping there.  Since it was Sunday … it was closed.  L 

We walked back to the car and had our lunch.  We watched three men in a boat go by us.  I wondered what they were going to fish for.  By the time we finished our lunch the same three men motored back with a drum of something on the boat.  I guess I’ll never know what was in that drum … but I can always use my imagination!

It was still early in the day so we thought we might continue exploring and head to Georgetown.  The last time we went to Georgetown, we found it to be a very quiet little town.  So quiet in fact that we only saw 2 people on the streets the whole time we were driving around.  Today was not much different. 

We rolled into Georgetown and the streets were empty.  There doesn’t appear to be much to see or do in Georgetown.  They have a post office, fire department, a school, a corner grocery store (small) and a theatre for plays.  And that is it. 

Georgetown is located right on the water.  We found a nice little spot to park called Veteran’s Landing.  PEI loves its wooden boardwalks because in this sleepy little town, there was another one.  Maybe there’s a theme!  What made this little spot unique was that someone had built and erected a wooden train.  It had several cars attached to it and sat on wooden rails.  Back in 1875, PEI’s railroad was opened for service which ultimately attracted tourists to the island.  This train was a symbol of the olden days.

As we were walking around it started to sprinkle a bit of rain.  We thought it was a good time to start to head home.  It was a good thing as the rain drops got heavier and faster.  Before we knew it, we were in a down pour.  It reminded us of the BC weather that we left behind.  By the time we got back to Kensington, the skies had parted a bit and the sun was peeking through.  The streets were a lot drier too.  As we drove onto our property, we couldn’t help but think, this was another great day on PEI, but it sure felt good to be back home.  J

Love this "non" traffic!

The town of Montague

Montague Harbour

Enjoying a Sunday in Montague

Beautiful waterfront

Playground for the kids ... and Bailey!

Waterfront

Enlarge to read

Carving dedicated to the
Montague Waterfront in 2004

The Christmas Store!  Let me in!!!

View from the upper deck

Info sign

Info sign

Info sign

Welcome Centre

Wooden Gazebo

Georgetown Harbour

Wooden Train

Georgetown Confederation Trail

Enlarge to read sign

Bailey's having a good time

All Aboard!!

Bailey's thinking ... Is this my stop?

Walking the Boardwalk in Georgetown

Taking a rest on the Boardwalk

Enlarge photo to read history of Georgetown

Reading about the heritage buildings in Georgetown

Georgetown waterfront

Veterans Landing

Fall Is Coming!

Yesterday was another stellar day here on PEI.  The morning temperature was a little nippy … only 6 degrees … but it warmed up to 14 degrees by the afternoon.  We decided to take advantage of the nice weather while we could and thought that it would be nice to take a walk on the Boardwalk in Summerside.  We love that area and at this time of year the shops are all closed and it is so peaceful and quiet there.

We put a sweater on Bailey so he wouldn’t be too chilled and I bundled up with a scarf, sweater and my wind jacket on top.  I feel the cold more than others so I wanted to make sure I would be warm enough.  It was perfect … for me.  Ron had a light jacket under his wind jacket and found it a bit too warm for him.  To each their own, I guess.  J

We parked at the Silver Fox Marina and found that all the boats were out of the water already.  That was our sign that Fall has arrived.  They have to take all the boats out of the water in the Fall because the harbour freezes during the winter months and it would do a lot of damage to the boats.  The place was very quiet.

We started off on our walk along the Boardwalk which takes you along the marina and behind all the shops on Spinnaker’s Landing.  There wasn’t another sole as we walked along our scenic route.  However, there was some activity in the sky that Ron noticed.  He saw a military Hercules plane doing maneuvers over the water.  It would fly from New Brunswick over the water towards Summerside and bank its wings in a sharp turn and head back out over the water.  This went on the whole time we were walking.  On one of the passes, we noticed that the tail gate was open.  Ron said that they were probably practicing area drops and that there was a boat out in the water somewhere picking up what ever they dropped out of their planes.  Ron used to be with the auxiliary coast guard and used to do that when the military planes would do their practice runs.

As we continued our walk, we came upon a fishing boat being taken out of the water for the winter.  I asked the owner of the boat what he fished for and he told me lobster.  I was so tempted to ask if he had any he wanted to sell, but I didn’t have my purse with me.  (the one time I don’t take my purse with me!) 

We found it very interesting on how they managed to get the boat out of the water so we stayed and watched them.  They have a very long tow truck that backs down the ramp and into the water.  They attached the winch of the tow truck to a chain they had pulled through the front of the boat.  Very slowly they started to pull the boat out of the water.  There were tire bumpers on the tow truck to stabilize the boat as it was being towed up the ramp.  When the bottom of the boat got too close to the cement ramp, the tow truck driver would stop pulling on the boat and then roll his truck backwards into the water, giving the boat more clearance from the bottom of the ramp.  Eventually the boat got out of the water completely.  The driver then left, with the boat on his flat bed truck, to deliver it to its winter destination.

On walking back to our car, we spotted the Cap Nord Coast Guard boat returning to the harbour.  They came in behind Spinnaker’s Landing and docked it over by the Silver Fox where we had parked our car.  They were at the dock getting more fuel when we arrived back at the Silver Fox.  Ron asked them if they were out “playing” with the Hercules plane.  They responded yes.  Ron told them that he used to do that as well, and then they started talking about boats and engines. It was at that point I kind of lost interest in the conversation.  I turned my questions to the person fueling up the boat.  He said that he was getting about 200 liters of fuel.  When I asked him, how much does the boat hold, I was surprised to hear that the boat held 1500 liters of fuel.  I tried to picture what the size of the gas tank would look like.  It must be HUGE I thought.  When they finished refueling, they pulled away from the dock and crossed the marina to the other side where they normally dock their boat.

It was a wonderful day.  We always seem to find something new and interesting to see when we go out.  Even going to Spinnaker’s Landing and walking along the Boardwalk, which we have done many many times, we always seem to find a new adventure along the way.  Life is good!  J

Military Hercules Plane flying over the water

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Hercules Plane over head

Tow truck for boats

Pulling the boat out of the water

His lobster cage.

Just about out of the water

Finally on the tow truck

Off to his winter home

Cap Nord Coast Guard Boat

Pulling into the Silver Fox Marina

Getting Gas

Where the Cap Nord usually docks.

A Beautiful Day in PEI!

The last couple of days have seemed like summer didn’t want to go away.  We are into October and the temperatures have been around 18 - 19 degrees with sunshine and clear blue skies.  It’s been just gorgeous! 

Today was another beautiful day here on the island so we decided to take a drive.  The Gulf Shore Parkway between Cavandish and North Rustico is now open to the public for free.  During the summer months you have to pay to drive on the Parkway. We always love taking a drive on the Gulf Shore Parkway because it runs right along the coast line and there are plenty of areas to stop and go down to the beach.  Usually we get to see quite a few foxes along the Parkway but sadly we didn’t see any today.  We were a little disappointed in that.

We knew it would be a little windy along the coast but the temperature was still 19 degrees.  Of course I bundled up with a warm jacket then my wind jacket on top of that as well as a winter scarf.  What was I thinking??  We saw other people on the beach dressed in t-shirts and shorts.  They must have thought I was sick or something to be bundled up so warmly!  We even saw a couple of small children playing in the water.  I couldn’t believe it … swimming in October?  It was warm enough to do that today … but you wouldn’t know it looking at me!  J

As we drove around we couldn’t help but feel very lucky that we are able to do this.  Prince Edward Island is such a beautiful island and being retired we can get out and explore it anytime we want.  Although the traffic IS horrendous!  I think we saw only one other car on the Parkway.  You could have counted the number of cars we saw on the road on one hand for the entire drive between Cavendish and home.  You can have a leisurely "Sunday drive" ANY day of the week!  That's one of the features we love on PEI … NO TRAFFIC JAMS!!  J

If you want a place to retire where you can have peace and quiet with beautiful views then Prince Edward Island is the place to be.  If you can’t retire to the island just yet, then make sure you come and visit so you can experience all that we are living.  You won’t be disappointed!  J

This is MY beach!

Not a soul on the beach

Going for a walk on the beach on the Gulf Shore Parkway

Love looking out over the water

We love retirement!!

On the shore at North Rustico Harbor

Bailey loves going to the beach!

Are you coming Mom?

Beach in North Rustico

Very sandy beach in North Rustico

Mother Nature at work.  Pier in North Rustico

I'm sitting.  Can I have a treat daddy?

Bailey loves going for walks at the beach

One happy dog

Ron & Bailey taking a rest

North Rustico Harbor

Fishing boats tied up at the Harbor

Lobster traps stacked up for the season

Lots of lobster traps

On the shore along the Gulf Shore Parkway

All bundled up in 19 degree weather!

Parked on the shore in North Rustico

Gift Shop at the North Rustico Harbor

Panorama View of North Rustico.  Zoom in to have a good look.

It looks cold but it was a warm 19 degrees!

Lighthouse view in October 

Lighthouse view in February!