Colours of Prince Edward Island

Before we started an adventure to Prince Edward Island, we had a chance to visit all the grandchildren and to be amazed at the place they are in their lives. Torrey now has her drivers license and her own car(and having lots of fun in a very responsible way.)

Simon and Azure have grown so much and in this picture are on their way to the school bus.

We learned that Azure will have her own traps and will be lobstering with another girl this summer. Her dad will be teaching them the ins and outs of fishing, and Simon will be working on the boat with his Dad.

And the new venture for Sari and Lyla is the start of an egg business! They have seven chickens and the new coop that dad (and mom) built. Each one has a great name...Rosie, Star, Roxie, Riley, Spotty, Snowflake and Penny. Sweet pets but new responsibilities!

From New Hampshire, we traveled through Maine to Calais, crossed into St. Stephens and spent a few nights in New Brunswick on our way to Prince Edward Island. We have had this destination in mind for a few years and happily crossed the Confederation Bridge into PEI. This is the longest bridge in Canada.

As is true with all our travels, we can only pick a few highlights of what we have seen and experienced to share. I want to use the theme of colours to loosely organize these pictures.

The lupines covered every roadside we traveled. The colours were always breathtaking.

Arriving on Canada Day, we saw the red and white of the country flag everywhere.

We ventured cross country to the Northern Cape. We saw the red cliffs and the sandstone,

And the Bank Swallows building homes.

                                         

    

The North Cape Lighthouse...one of many on this island.

                       

    

As we crossed the country side, we saw the red fields of potatoes growing and the raised strawberry beds and a country road that looked like Georgia.

Along the waters edge we learned about the beds of Blue Mussels cultivated here...so we tried them! 

Yum! Along with the local beer brewed on the island.

In addition to lobsters, the other shellfish that is native to these waters is oysters. They are harvested from the natural beds by long rakes and are considered one of the finest products,of the sea here.

The colour of the churches in each town stood out to us as well...we noticed,that they were usually white!

            

                                                             

One of the great joys of this trip has been reading Anne of Green Gables in preparation for a visit to the site that inspired the book by LM Montgomery. I would recommend this to anyone who would enjoy a delightful "children's" book. The fictional story and character infuse the island in so many ways. Anne Shirley can be felt and seen after reading the book.

House of Green Gables

Anne's room and the wonderful puffy sleeved dress.

We visited Lennox Island and heard description of the local First Nation people from a young man named Gilbert.  We learned a great deal from him and have a new appreciation of Saint Ann, the patron saint of the Mi'kmaq. It was exciting to learn from him and to hear him share about his people, past and present. The current chief is a woman!

                                         

        

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Many more things we learned eg. Bobolinks are everywhere.

Jacques Cartier "discovered" PEI for the Europeans

Colours are everywhere.

Some are "man made"

 Most are not!

We visited the capital, Charlottetown, where the country of Canada was formed. Here we visited many historical sites! and during our walking tour happened upon this shop that looked like it came off the streets of London.

          

Latona visited with this sculpture of two men who were delegates to the Confederation where Canada was formed and who had the exact same name...

     And this old bird, wearing her Great Blue Heron shirt, found another sculpture to hug!

We realize now that we must return to PEI and visit all that we have missed. But until then we will enjoy all the colours of PEI that have nourished us. Tomorrow, we will recross the Confederation Bridge and head for Nova Scotia!