Day 31 - Prince Edward Island

Yesterday was a quiet day; however, today was another story.  It is Saturday, June 30th and we are off for a tour of the Island.  So much to see that the bus picked us up at 8:30 and we didn’t return until 3:30 – lunch included.  PEI is the smallest Province in Canada.  French and Acadian settlers arrived in l720's when it was a French Colony, Isle Saint Jean.  The name was changed by Catherine The Great for her nephew Prince Edward.   You would have to multiply by 123 times to cover the state of Texas.  There are five touring regions.  Tiny fishing ports do a booming business in catches of flounder, mackerel and bluefin tuna as well as lobsters, mussels and scallops.    Agriculture is huge here on the island.  Potato being the largest crop as well as turnips, grains and hay while raising cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry and horses.  Irish moss is gathered off the beaches after a storm.  It’s then hauled away in carts, dried in the sun and used in creating products as diverse as ice cream, tea and hand lotion.

We learned a lot about the process of catching or collecting Mussels and Lobster.  The first picture on the top left is about an acre lot in the river for collecting Mussels.  The fisherman drop ropes with weights for the Mussels to cling onto while they grow.  Once they get to a certain size, they will then be lifted out of the water.  The other pictures have to do with fishing for Lobster.  Today was the last day for Lobster’s.  Fishing for them only lasts for a two month period.  The guys were cleaning up for the season.  The boats are all lined up now that they are cleaned up. 

The top picture is of the red sandstone cliffs that surround part of the Island.  As you might be able to see, the water is eroding the soil.  The wreck of the Marco Polo was in this area - sunk due to a terrible storm.   Tomorrow is Canada Day – Happy Day to my Canadian Friends !!!  All the houses, stores, restaurants, etc. are decorated w/flags.  Some a bit much but it’s their party so enjoy.  There are over 50 light houses surrounding the island and over 40 are still working but only about 7 that can be toured.  Also, this weekend, they are expecting some 2000 motorcyclists.  I think they are here for a benefit of some sort.  All I do know is, we don’t want to be around wherever they are.

One of the main attractions on the island is Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables and 22 other novels.  This is the church she went to and was married in as well as the house she was born and raised in.  I think I’m going to have to go to the library and check out this book as I’m not sure I ever read it and if I did, I forgot .

This is the house of Lucy’s cousin where she spent a lot of time writing her books.  It doesn’t look it but it was a big house with a lot of beautiful furniture, etc. inside.  Not the original pieces but from that era.  If you remember her book, she talks about the haunted forest.  There is about a mile walk into the forest between the two cousin’s houses where she spent a lot of time and got ideas for her books.  Bruce and I took the walk and we could see where the haunted idea came from. 

Flowers and more flowers.  I just can’t get over how plants and crops grow in the Maritimes – just amazing.   Bruce took a picture of flowers in the window at the cousin’s house as well as a cluster in front of the house.   The rest of the pictures are of Lupin.  As we were driving around on the bus, there was an entire field of this flower in various shades of purple.  They grow wild alongside the roads, rivers, lakes and in fields. Their season is starting to end so the plants are starting to turn into seed.   The yellow field in the background is Canola.  Everything grows in this area.

Time for lunch – thank goodness!  We had a fantastic lunch at Prince Edward Island Preserve Co.  The owner who always wears the kilt started his business by making preserves.  They are sold in stores such as Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom’s (high end stores).  His recipe for all preserves almost always include some sort of liquor, such as champagne, marnier, etc.  as he didn’t want to use a lot of sugar and he liked the taste. There is a long story about how he started using the liquor.   We were able to sample after lunch – yummy!!

This is our Picture of the Day:  Bruce took it inside the Cousin's house.  Colorful yet soft and dreamy.

Sorry to be a bit lengthy but there was much to show and tell you about.  Our guide today was very funny but knew all about the history of PEI as well as current events.  Hope your day was as eventful.  Take Care and again Happy Canada Day!!!