a shot of the interview with CBC reporter Kerry yesterday afternoon
SNM Tour Day #61
What an absolutely glorious day on the island! It was sunny and very warm for this time of year and this little trio bathed in it and appreciated it greatly!!
Before I get started with the daily blog, I must relate a very funny story. Sue from Calgary emailed me to tell me that she had just finished a work-out at her climbing gym and was in the women's change room when she suddenly came face-to-face with me - staring right at her!! It's true - had you all fooled, here you thought I was in PEI on this so called tour, when really I am still back in Calgary lurking around in gym dressing rooms. Well........... it seems the MIAW (Mental Illness Awareness Week) 2010 campaign is not only getting Canada Post stamps made, they are putting up their posters (which includes my face and story) in washrooms and the like - potty humour? awareness in a can?? all I can say is FLUSH MENTAL ILLNESS AWAY, SHOWER OFF YOUR WORRIES, SCRUB AWAY STRESS, DRY OFF and FEEL REALLY GOOD.
We got off to an early start, cycling like a wildfire to Wood Islands where we will leave PEI tomorrow. We decided to put in the mileage early today, to leave the rest of the day and all morning tomorrow to enjoy Charlottetown before dropping off Leanne and picking up Eric.
Our drive back to the city was interrupted by many stops for sightseeing and photos, the country side is full of little gems and surprises and we enjoyed it immensely. Clearly the piece that CBC had done had aired as the number of encouraging honks was double or triple the "normal" rate. It seemed like everyone was honking at us (but all good, I think....)
Thereafter a bit of cleaning up - clothes and hair and then played the tourist and wandered all around the historic waterfront of Charlottetown. We had met up with Pat last night and caught up on her life, veteran's affairs and upcoming retirement plans etc. We shared a wonderful seafood supper at a restaurant well known by the locals which specialized in oysters. Normally I rarely indulge, but when in Rome...... I think by the end of the East Coast swing of this tour we will have had enough seafood to tide us over for quite a few months, if not years (if it sounds like I'm griping, I am certainly not - eating freshly caught fish is a wonderful treat and a distinct advantage of this part of the country, and we love it!)
Tour Day Sponsor - Boehringer Ingelheim - thanks again for the support with the tour
Random Quotes of the Day
You cannot always have happiness, but you can always give happiness
Author unknown
There can be no transforming of darkness into light and of apathy into movement without emotion
Author Unknown
A photograph is usually looked at, seldom looked into
Ansel Adams
Tomorrow we are in another province (again) - WOW!!
last day with Leanne, last flower photo I will post (sorry Monique)
Leanne, Ted and Monique -
ReplyDeleteHave been following the blog.. and sounds like a lot of work especially background details to be done & yet a great way to experience the people,
country, and sites.
I have enjoyed the pictures posted each day... Compliments to Ted and all for the fine documentation. Must be a lot of extra time keeping the blog page going. It almost like a research safari.
So you're in PEI...How was crossing the 9 mile bridge to reach the island? Heard it's very flat but nice coastline.
I see from the pictures Leanne's outfitted with a jersey/jacket looks good. I also didn't realize that Ted's bike matches the theme - was that custom painted?
Sounds like you've experienced lots of flux in the weather up north. Starting to cool off here in Dayton Ohio but fall color dull at this point. Hope everybody's spirits are up!
Stay safe & enjoy !
Gary
(Written on Oct 1st AM)
ReplyDeleteIt's sunrise on Atlantic time PEI, and my last day on the SADnomore tour. Days have been full and internet access more sparse here (largely because there has been lots to see/do & glorious sunny weather to enjoy!) so haven't posted my comments till today.
The most striking to me about PEI is the reddish-orange soil...the impact of the soft sandstone...and the source of popular souvenirs of 'dirt shirts' dyed this tone. PEI has lovely coastline beaches, rolling farms, and Charlottetown is warm, walkable and welcoming.
We hit the downtown the same time as a massive cruise-ship and were repeatedly asked if with them...and the locals particularly worried about us when still downtown with a camera at 5pm when it was departing. It seemed surreal - or part of a sci-fi movie - this giant modern vessel looming over the historic buildings. We were told the ship holds 9,000...and with its 13 stories seemed taller than any of the buildings downtown).
Prince Edward Island National Park spreads out over several beaches (Cavendish being one of them) During the high tourist season it's apparently very crowded especially given its proximity to Green Gables of Anne of Avonlea fame. But in the off-season...heavenly!
I enjoyed some time on our late afternoon arrival and the next morning on one of the hiking/biking trails that wound through the beach, ponds and marsh of the old 'homestead' area. (Though I love biking and am regularly out for after-work or weekend exercise rides, this year did not provide me with the training time to be anywhere near Ted's 30K pace & magnificent physique that takes hills with an enviable steadiness...)
The park trail was not paved...but firm with the hardened soil - so a new experience for me of 10K biking in some boreal forest terrain, dotted with the occasional apple trees with abundant pickings available. Rose hips are everywhere as well, and have even been able to glean some late-season raspberries. Home-made pies have been in many of the restaurants, so we have enjoyed the early Canadian Thanksgiving pumpkins and berries and apple pie (Ted’s staple).
Charlottetown was the place where "Canada's dream" of Confederation began, and they host a nightly video show that is broadcast onto their Provincial House (place of that first meeting in the mid 1800s). Beautiful images set to narration and music.
A couple of more things about the tour -
Monique is amazing in her multi-tasking driving...able to win at 'horses and graveyards' (a fun counting game that hones one to the scenery) while catching photos of things Ted signals as landscape images to take (he's into old farm buildings and fields!) as well as some of her own...hmmm - wonder why with their foot-long telephoto lens they just might be mistaken for tourists around town?
I will fly back to Ottawa this afternoon for some time with my dear McCanny friends there over the weekend...and be with Ted, Monique and Eric at the MIAW (Mental Illness Awareness Week) Dinner of Champions in Ottawa on Monday night. Looking forward to hearing Ted's two-minute speech he’s been selected to give there. It's been fun to listen in on his interviews.
The week has been a wondrous injection of Canadiana for my soul...Ted's blog and images capture a speck of that beauty. I admire the graciousness of Ted and Monique in welcoming each of us into the segment of the tour, and their interactions as guests with each billet.
I'm grateful for the dedication of Ted and Monique and others who truly live out and inspire each of us to "be the change we want to see in the world". - Mahatma Gandhi
Gary
ReplyDeletethanks for the comments and for your appreciation of the verbal and visual snapshots of the blog.
unfortunately you really can't see (or truly experience) the Confederation bridge when you are driving over it. It is a spectacular structure, but best seen (only seen) from the water or on postcards, I guess.
Leanne
ReplyDeletethanks for your gracious comments