23 and 24 July, 2015 Beaches, Bugs, Bricks, and PEI

       We met John, our host at the Sawmill Point Marina, at 0800 for a ride to the Irving Eco-center and beach Boardwalk. John gave us an informal local history lesson during the 5 mile drive. Our plan was to walk the half mile boardwalk then walk the bike-trail back to Sawmill Point, an advertised 10k.

      The boardwalk was very well done, a winding path back from the beach as the original (close to the beach) had been washed away by storms. We met several walkers, mostly local lady walkers out for their morning constitutional. Bird count was 1 Osprey, one songbird, and 2 pigeons. ½ mile each way. Pigeons win!

      Right across the road from the Boardwalk we entered the bike trail to Bouctouche. As we entered the trail a Kestral tried his best to drive us back, squalking and chirping and lots of wing fluttering. He finally let us through, and let his friends the mosquitoes take over. Oh boy.

      We had already doped up with citronella oil, but it was no match. The mosquitoes have a special love for Kathy, some sort of animal magnetism. We found we had the best luck by keeping up a fast pace, but still they were were swarming. We got a little respite when the trail crossed a paved road where we found a little breeze. We plunged back into the woods and moved on, crossing some fresh moose tracks and had to make a stop when I saw a Barred Owl, which flew up from the trail into a nearby tree. I said something like, “look, an Owl!” Kathy thot I said, “Look, wow” and I took a quick look with the binoculars then tried to point the camoflaged owl out to her. Neither of us wanted to speak and scare the owl, Kathy didn't know what she was supposed to be looking at, I was trying to steer the binocs for her over her shoulder, she was getting bitten. Didn't go well. We finally both saw the owl fly off its perch. Even with the mis-communication it was pretty special.

      The second time we hit a road I suggested that maybe we had given enuf blood for one day and I was pretty sure we could find our way home by road. Kathy was easily convinced so we carried on. Our new route brought us past the Irving Arena, the site of the very first Irving Gas station, and a Bronze statue of JT Irving

      We may have added a mile to our hike and even then when we finally made it back to the Marina we think John was surprised at our elapsed time. Total was at least seven miles, not bad for being on a 30 foot boat for nearly 9 weeks, and getting less frequent walking than maybe we should have.

      After a quick shower we departed Bouctouche at Noon. The bay had calmed down from the day before and we had a quartering sea as we made for Prince Edward Island and the harbor of Summerside. We made the Anchorage just a little after six and dropped anchor just outside of the Summerside Yacht Club.

      On the morning of the 24^th we had a good little distance to travel to reach Charlottetown. It is only 35 miles between harbors, but with the deep entrances to each the real distance was more like 50 miles, and we had a date to keep in C-Town. Al and Marnie, my folks were driving up to PEI to meet us this afternoon.

      Kathy and I joked that we were becoming acclimated to the longer distances as a year ago we never ever would have said, “Oh sure, we are in NorthEast Harbor right now and we will meet you in Camden this afternoon, no way, too far! 6 knot boat. But we can make that distance and made our meeting arriving within minutes of each other at the Charlottetown Yacht Club, where they shoe-horned us into a slip. We had a great reunion and supper and Cow's Ice Cream and visit and all slept well!