It is Labor Day today and the Canadians also celebrate the day. We have seen a few less people at the park this morning and we continue to see travelers at the sites of attraction. Our first stop was a cup of coffee for Walt and then we traveled east on Route 6. The Prince Edward Island National Park, Brackley-Dalvay was our first park for the day. We arrived before 10 a.m. so we did not have to pay an entrance fee. The park was known for the sand dunes which were covered with sea grass and other vegetation. They were very high so we could not see the St. Lawrence Bay. We also took some pictures of the lighthouse at Covehead Bay. The beach was wide and went for miles. There were a few brave souls in the water but they froze when they came out of the water and stood in the strong ocean breezes. I would have loved to see one empty beach during this trip but that has not happened as of today. When we left the park it was 10:30 and it was 67 degrees with a stiff breeze.
Our next stop was the information center at Mount Stewart. We pick up one map and they suggested that we go to St. Peter for more information. After stopping at St Peter and receiving a whole handful of information and suggestions on were to stop for lunch we left the center and did a few shops in the little shopping mall. Most of the stores had only a few things to sell and they were on sale. It seems after Labor Day most of these stores close for the season. There was a bookstore and a high end home décor shop which had many things but they were not on sale. Then we started on our way to find a little café to eat a quick lunch. We found only one place open in the town and they had fish and chips and sandwiches. None of the items were on our diet so we split a fish and chips. The most difficult part about it all was that we had to sit outdoors on the deck and the wind was very strong and raw. We finally got our winter coats out of the car and ate our lunch.
The harbor at Naufrage claimed they had white beaches. We looked high and low for the white sand and only found some sand that looked a little beige in color only when the sun shined directly on it. I guess we are to accustomed to the white sands of Destin, Florida.
Just as we were about to look for the town of Hermanville we saw a distillery. The ladies in the St. Peter information center had told us about this place so we were watching for the spot. The person who was in charge said she had been a descendent of a person who had run a distillery so she came to PEI to do the same thing. They make their vodka from potatoes and another vodka is made from blueberries. The mash from the potato vodka was fed to the hogs they had on the back of their property. When the hogs went to market they were tagged and marketed as hogs who had been fed potato mash from making vodka. It was a big hit in the expensive restaurants on the island. – Well, I guess you can make a buck on anything if you have the right strategy. Walt took a tour and he said the sample was a very few drops but it went down smooth. The bottle of the vodka was 47 dollars. Needless to say, we don’t drink that type of alcohol. Just give the men a good dark ale.
North Lake Harbor was a place noted for fishing boats and fishing. They had fishing boats anchored all over the harbor. Since today is Labor Day the fishing boats all seemed to be safe in harbor. Also, they all tied them down real well for Earl who was to come over PEI last Saturday. Just next to the fishing harbor were many farms. It seems most of the men who were fisherman were also farmers when they came to PEI. They worked together very well. Like our farmer friend in Bedeque said “Everyone works well with the farmer because they are everywhere on the island.” We also saw some farmers combining their wheat the conventional way with a combine. In the southern part of PEI we saw wheat that had been cut and rolled into piles like we do the hay and then when it was dry they ran a combine thru the field. I do not know why they did it.
We reached East Point and the lighthouse at the very north east point of PEI. This area is known for the area where 3 tides meet at one point. The Atlantic Ocean Tide, the Gulf of St. Lawrence Tide, and the Northumberland Strait Tide meet to make the most treacherous area for ships in this part of the world. The pictures we took are breath taking just as it was to stand on the cliff above the area and watch as the tides met and made huge rough waves against the shore. You could be put in a trace by watching the waves.
As Walt went to the lighthouse I went into the gift shop and they had an area where you could use a computer. I finally got a chance to see the email that Krista had wanted me to see for a few days. It was so nice to have a computer that did not fight me when I was trying to get on the internet. By the way, we will be grandparents again in March of 2011. That will make 21 grandchildren. We have 11 granddaughters and 9 grandsons, so we will be happy with whatever sex we can add to the family tree.
After we left the lighthouse it was getting very late so we stopped at Sourie for a short time and then found the shortest way home. Since our GPS has died I have been the map watcher. It definitely takes the joy out of traveling when you must be sure we are always on the right road. We have found they do not have the signs done like we see in the states. Sometimes we do not know what road will be coming next and if that is the road we want to take so we can get home. They have so many gravel roads so you need to be right the first time.
When we got home it was about 7:30 pm and the sun was just setting over the hills to the west, so we were able to get the most wonderful pictures of the sunset. As some people know I am the “Sunset Grandma” and Walt is the “Ice Cream Grandpa”.
Good night again.
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