We are in PEI - Sept 25 - 27th

Friday morning at 8:30 am, after a delicious breakfast, we were on our way to the ferry to PEI. It's only a 10 minute drive away and of course we were early. Ray went out to take some pictures. Another beautiful day. We've been so lucky with the weather.

See the car and truck coming out of the "basement". That's where we wen,t then they close that door and the large trucks are loaded on top of us.

I'd a busy day planned for us as we don't arrive in PEI until about 11:15 and of course we were one of the last to get off the ferry because we were in the basement lol

First stop was the Woods Island Lighthouse, right beside the ferry. 

Back in the car, we noticed these bright red fields of wild blueberry bushes. Gorgeous colour.

We're hungry and I noticed a place called The Fiddling Fisherman Lookout Restaurant. It's about an hours drive along our planned route so that is where we headed. It turned out to be a great choice as Ray had the best Lobster Roll ever here. I had snow crab grilled cheese sandwich that is pretty good too.

View from the restaurant

The Souris Lighthouse (pronounced Sorry), is a short distance away so we went there first before carrying on. Gorgeous views. Here are those "Red Cliffs" Ray so wanted to see.

View from inside the top of the lighthouse.

They had a gift shop lol Look at all the sea glass Pat!!!

There is also a ferry that leaves from here for a 5 hour ride to Quebec's Madeleine Islands. The only way off those islands is to come to PEI

Back in the car for the next spot which is Basin Head Provincial Park. They say they have "singing sands" here. We were pretty skeptical, but Ray did make the sand sing! 

Apparently with sandals and bare feet you slough along the sand and it squeaks like a small dog barking. Who Knew!

I'm sure this beach is very popular in the summer with changing rooms, bathrooms and ice cream for sale!

Onward to East Point Lighthouse, the most easterly part of PEI. The lighthouse itself is closed so Ray couldn't go inside this one.

The final stop for today is the trail to the Greenwich Dune boardwalk. We knew this would "finish us" for the day and it did. Ray walked at least 4.5 km and I did 3.5 km., A LOT more than we usually do,  and more than we should have lol The views are worth it though. We will be sore tomorrow. (Over 10,000 steps by bedtime!) We pushed it because it's supposed to rain Saturday and Sunday. Fortunately the forecast improved to just clouds with some sunny breaks, but when it comes to picture taking for Ray, sunshine is always best.

This is a floating boardwalk over the water. It moves a little especially when other people are walking on it. Not sure my friend Dianne would like this. lol

I sat on one of the benches and Ray continued on for a bit and then he actually climbed over the dune to see the other side!  Probably a 100 feet up in soft sand. He will be a hurtin unit.

The lichen.

We finished the trail and back in the car at 4:15 pm which is good as we have an hour plus to drive to our B & B, and they only receive you between 4 and 6 pm. The Dawson House.

122 North River Road is a wood framed, Italianate style, former home that is located on a large treed lot. The fine home or "Model Cottage" as it was once known, was built in approximately 1858. It served as a single residence for many years but now serves as the Dawson House Bed and Breakfast. The designation encompasses the building's exterior and parcel; it does not include the building's interior.

The home was built for City Tannery owner, William B. Dawson. His tannery operated from Grafton Street in the City of Charlottetown. His large operation supplied many of the boot and shoe factories, as well as the saddlers in Charlottetown. In 1867, Dawson left suddenly for Illinois, owing a great deal of money to various creditors. According to the 16 November 1867 edition of the Daily Patriot newspaper, the estate of W.B. Dawson including the "Model Cottage" was to be sold at auction in front of the Colonial Building (Province House). The property was described as including 2 acres of grounds, a stable, a coach house, a milk house, a coalhouse and a large garden all surrounded by a "substantial fence".

Unfortunately, the home was struck by fire in 1891, however it was rebuilt. A beautiful home, it has been remodeled a number of times.

The home is Italianate influenced in its style. The Italianate style was a common choice in Charlottetown for public buildings however, 122 North River Road is a fine example of the style in a residential form. The Italianate style comes from the English Picturesque tradition and was a response to the widely used formal classical styles. Italianate homes are similar to the villas of the Italian countryside with their asymmetrical massing, square towers with a low pitched roof and round headed windows with wooden mouldings.

We had to change sides of the bed to sleep. He banged his head on this dormer! I am short enough it didn't bother me lol

After checking in and dropping off our luggage in our room, we headed out for dinner at the Slaymaker and Nichols Gastsro Pub, downtown Charlottetown. 

My cousin Pam recommended this place to me and it certainly delivered. Ray had the best salmon dish at a restaurant he has ever had, he said. I had the 1/2 Chef's board of cheese and meat which is delicious too. I can't believe I didn't take a picture of this dish. lol

How this pub got it's name. The interesting stories (or not) that come out of digging a little deeper. lol

In the spring of 1864, hoping to ride on the coattails of the likes of other larger circus’ Henry Slaymaker & William Nichols launched the Slaymaker & Nichols Olympic Circus.

Nichols had been performing in another circus that was run by James M Nixon, but decided it was time to leave as the show started to struggle. Nixon’s wife Caroline decided to join Nichols’ journey as she had enough of Nixon’s philandering ways and she brought with her James Cooke, an Irish Clown, as well as her prize horse General Scott. Slaymaker too was running to escape his mundane day to day life and thought the circus seemed like the right amount of exciting.

The Slaymaker & Nichols Olympic Circus rolled into Charlottetown PEI on August 30th 1864. It created a buzz in the city like never before. People flocked from all over the island as well as New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to take part in this spectacular event. The circus relied on trick riding, vaulting and somersaulting through hoops and over poles while on horseback, trained monkeys riding dogs, acrobats, and James Cooke performing in a jester’s outfit between acts.

On July 20, while the circus was performing in Bangor, Maine. Caroline Nixon died at the age of thirty five. It’s not clear what happened but most believe the death was related in some way to the breakup of her marriage. After Caroline’s death, her daughter, Miss Frank Nixon, joined the company as the young “danseuse” – an attempt to stay close to her mother. Even though Caroline had been dead six weeks before they arrived in Charlottetown, the posters for the show suggest she was still performing with them in Charlottetown. She and her performing horse General Scott are listed alongside the late additions, including Miss Frank Nixon. Caroline’s daughter had only joined the show after her mother’s death, so it was no accident to leave Caroline’s name on the bill. Perhaps it was an ode to her, it’s hard not to imagine her in the ring at Charlottetown, making her last appearance, the ghost of a heartbroken woman on horseback.

Slaymaker & Nichols’ Olympic Circus set up its tents on what was then an abandoned lot at the south corner of Queen and Fitzroy Streets. On August 30, they began a four-day run of performances.

At the same time, some may say there was a bit of a circus going on in political terms in this country. The Maritime Colonies had decided to meet in Charlottetown in September to discuss a possible union. When the other Canadian leaders learned of the meeting, they were determined to join even though they were not invited hoping to persuade the Maritime leaders to a potential union of the country. This seemed on the outset as an almost impossible task.

None the less, a steamship carrying the Canadian delegates, the Queen Victoria, arrived in Charlottetown Harbour on August 31st, 1864. Their arrival coincided with the Slaymaker & Nichols Circus, and with so much excitement in regard to the circus, their arrival went virtually unnoticed. There was no one in the harbour to greet them and most if not all of the lodging were filled up with circus goers. While a few found lodging ashore, most delegates had to sleep back on the boat. Nevertheless, the Charlottetown Conference took place as planned over the next six days with the circus in full swing over the weekend. The city buzzed with energy and excitement. As the men were meeting to discuss forming a nation, they could hear the people in the streets, the oohs and aahs as people watched the equestrian feats and the laughter as the clown took the stage.

If it wasn’t for the coincidence of the Circus arrival, the nation may never have been born. As mentioned, the East and West at the time didn’t get along, but they knew that coming together would make them a stronger nation and so with the help of the party atmosphere of the city, they were able to they let their guard down. After a couple of days of meetings and spending some time enjoying the circus, as well as a lot of champagne, they began to get to know each other outside of the political arena and the meetings started to go very well, their excitement grew over the possibility of forming a nation.

The fate of our Country fared far better than the fate of the circus. They attempted to make a go of it and head west from Charlottetown but ran out of money very quickly. Slaymaker left the business all together and went back to ordinary life while Nichols joined back up with James Nixon. They together formed the Nixon Circus Company, Nichols was co-owner and supplied all the ring horses from the Slaymaker gig including the performing horse, General Scott.

On October 23, 1865, the Nixon Circus Company was aboard a ship heading to Texas to begin an extensive tour when they encountered a severe storm. The animals including the much loved performing horse General Scott had been secured on the open deck but the storm was too much and they were all washed to sea and drowned. Nichols managed to survive the storm however his circus days too never made it back to shore.

Back home to Dawson House. After putting away our stuff we had a really early night. Both of us tired and sore.

Saturday's another touring day. This time we did the central PEI National Park and surrounding areas. We expected to pay park fees but the kiosks are all closed until next May ... Bonus!

First stop the Covehead Harbour Lighthouse. You sure can see the sand piling up around the lighthouse base.

Then the North Rustico Harbour Lighthouse.

Now to the McKenzie Brook, Rustico Sea Stack. The arch part washed away in the last Hurricane Fiona.

We decided to see Anne of Green Gables house and property.

Anne of Green Gables is a 1908 novel by the Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. Written for all ages, it has been considered a classic children's novel since the mid-20th century.

The house is kept pretty much as it was with artifacts (furniture) etc.

Time for lunch. I told Ray I would like some oysters and mussels, so he found a place ... the Sou'West Restaurant. Delicious food and beer.

Someone has a lot of balls!

Back on the road to look at 2 more lighthouses pretty close together. First the New London Range Rear Lighthouse.

Cape Tyron Lighthouse is the next one. Just as we were leaving a wedding party showed up to take pictures here. This is an old house on the road. Pretty tiny houses back then.

See caves developing under the cliffs.

I noticed this arch in the distance.

My favourite picture of this stop and I took it!

And the wedding party taking pictures. Her white dress is going to have red marks from the sand.

Last stop Cavendish Beach and Boardwalk.

Finallly we were done and time to go back home. Another 6 hour day, fortunately less walking :)

Lots of kilometers today driving and only 6000 steps lol

At 5:30 pm we headed downtown for sushi. It wasn't the best we've had, nor the worst. Spent the evening working on pictures and writing our blog, we're a little behind. lol

Sunday woke to clouds with sunny breaks. After a great breakfast and visit with the other guests we were out the door at 9 am to tour downtown Charlottetown. We made the most of the morning as by 2 pm the clouds were much thicker and no more sunshine.

We drove through Victoria Park and took some pictures of Government House. The gate is open, no one around so we drove in for some pictures lol

Government House National Historic Site of Canada, located west of the historic area of Charlottetown, faces the harbour where Pond Road joins the waterfront roadway to Victoria Park. Serving as the home for the Prince Edward Island Lieutenant Governor, the house sits on an extensive property known as Fanning Bank. This large, graceful, early 19th-century neoclassical two-storey residence features a double-height gabled portico flanked by verandahs, while the exterior is clad in wood shingles. Official recognition refers to the house and its grounds.

Waterfront houses along Victoria Park.

We also managed to find 2 more lighthouses. Brighton Beach Front Lighthouse and Brighton Beach Rear Lighthouse.

Right in someone's front yard.

We found paid parking on the Wharf downtown, and walked to the rest of the places. There's a bit of a market, so we walked around the booths. We also saw some stores with sweatshirts etc. so we had to have a look lol. We may or may not have bought some more lol. End of summer sale, you know.

St. Dunstan's Basilica

More colourful "jellybean" houses.

Province House National Historic Site, currrently being renovated.

Sydney Street Restaurants.

The "The Great George Hotel" is an upscale, award-winning boutique hotel in downtown Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, made up of a collection of 17 historically restored heritage buildings.

After an hour and a half of walking up and down some streets, it's time for lunch. We were going to one place, but saw a sign across the road at an Irish Pub, oysters for $1.50 a piece. Sign us up! This is the Olde Dublin Pub. Raw oysters 2 days in a row. Yumm. I wouldn't have said that 10 years ago, but Ray converted me. The small ones with sauce are delicious. I still don't eat the larger ones though.

Lovely stained glass windows.

After lunch we continued our walk back towards the harbour.

Cobra

 And Ray is able to have his Cows Ice cream.

I think these birds would give our sea lions a run for their money in Cowichan Bay, BC lol

Back at the car we were back home by 1 pm. A lovely place to visit. 

For tonight's dinner we went to the Pink Crow. Delicious mushroom wood fired pizza and Ray had 1/2 roasted BBQ Chicken. Unfortunately, his was overcooked and dry so he sent it back. It looked good though!

They also cook dry aged island beef ... but one large steak $69

Take away from PEI is that it's a beautiful province, friendly people a very walkable downtown and a wonder food capital. Delicious food everywhere you go.

Tomorrow we drive the Confederation Bridge back to Nova Scotia and continue our trip.