Sept. 22 - Day 17 - Traveling to Eastern PEI

Day 16

Rally attendees began to leave the campground early Monday morning either to return home or continue their adventures independently. The PEI Rally officially ended Sunday evening, but most of us remained overnight and left this morning. It is always a sad day when a rally ends. What makes the day less traumatic is the fact that we know we will meet again someday, in some state or province or on the roadways we seem to cherish as our lifeline to new adventures.

We decided to explore PEI for a few more days. Bruce and Judy Gregory joined us as we headed to the eastern part of the province. We did some grocery shopping along the way and reached our destination Lanes Cottages and Suites http://www.lanescottages.com/ in the community of Montague early in the afternoon. If you ever visit Montague Harbor, bring a camera. It is beautiful.










This picturesque campground, with only five campsites, sits on a bike trail that we immediately took advantage of.

Tim Horton http://www.timhortons.com/ was our reward for biking this trail. It is amazing how a coffee and donuts will refresh your body and spirits.

I hope to play a round of golf tomorrow.

That’s it for today….

Sept. 21 - Day 16 - Last Looks and Oyster Stew

Day 15

This day started with a breakfast of coffee and pastries provided by our hosts Hope and Gary. Breakfast was followed by a presentation by author Mary Breu. Mary spoke to the group about a book she is researching and writing, planned for publication next fall. The book is a true story about Mary’s great aunt Etta Jones, an Alaskan school teacher on the island of Attu, who was taken by the Japanese as the first female Caucasian prisoner by a foreign enemy on the North American Continent since the War of 1812. http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/TwHP/wwwlps/lessons/7attu/7attu.htm
It was a fascinating presentation and I anxiously await the publication of Mary's book. The tentative title of the book is Last Letters from Attu.

After breakfast, the presentation and doing the wash, Winnie and I discussed the possibility of returning to Charlottetown for lunch and additional sightseeing. We asked Bruce and Judy joined us. I drove our coach into town where we selected the restaurant Flex Mussels for lunch. http://www.flexmussels.com/main.html

We were told that this was a good restaurant and we were not disappointed.

Rally members were invited to an oyster stew dinner prepared by one of the participants. It was a wonderful and fitting end to this outstanding rally. For four days, forty-six people, all owners of Born Free Motor Coaches, shared adventures, shellfish and friendship in one of Canada’s most beautiful provinces - Prince Edward Island.

Though the rally is over, Winnie and I will continue on to the community of Montague, PE for a week of relaxation before starting the trip home to New York.

Sept. 20 - Day 15 - The PEI International Shellfish Festival

Day 14

Today is the day we have been waiting for since arriving on Prince Edward Island. Today is the day we attend the PEI International Shellfish Festival.

To emphasize the significance of this day, Gary and Hope provided transportation to the festival on a real London double-decker bus and given a tour of Charlottetown. Our tour guide, dressed in 19th century costume, was very knowledgeable and provided great insight into this port town and its people.







The Shellfish Festival was all we hoped for and more. The oysters, mussels, clams, and lobsters were fresh and tasty. The seafood was prepared to satisfy local taste and enjoyed by tourists such as ourselves. The continuous entertainment was professional and truly entertaining. This was the reason we wanted to attend this rally and we were not disappointed.

At 3:30 we were treated to a one hour cruise on the M/V Fairview. This converted lobster boat cruised around Charlottetown Harbor affording us panorama of the city not possible from shore.













We returned to the coach after the cruise then returned to enjoy the festival again.

By 9:30 we were exhausted, but thoroughly pleased with the days’activities.

Sept. 19 - Day 14 - Touring PEI

Day 13

This morning, as we opened the curtains of the motor coach, we were greeted to the sight of oyster fisherman in the bay digging for oysters using long wooden handled tongs. This method of oystering is the only accepted way of removing oysters from the bay.

A large luxury coach arrived at the campground at 9:00 AM to transport the rally participants for a tour of Prince Edward Island. The tour lasted until 3:00 and during that time we visited a lighthouse, the fishing harbor of Rustico and Anne of the Green Gables Museum.

We were then driven to the Prince Edward Island Preserve Company for lunch. http://www.preservecompany.com/ Before being seated for lunch we posed for a group picture.
This restaurant produces a variety of very tasty jellies and jams, some flavored with wines and other alcoholic beverages.

This evening we will be transported to the local Benevolent Irish Society hall for Kitchen Party. This type of party, complete with food, drink and entertainment, is common throughout the Maritime Provinces.

Sept. 18 - Day 13 - The PEI Shellfish Festival Rally Starts

Day 12

Our group of travelers decided that priority for today was to relax and drive leisurely to the Town of Cornwall where the Born Free Leap’n Lions International Shellfish Festival Rally begins.

Gary and Hope Keighley http://www.vistarvtours.com/ are the hosts of this rally. We first meet Gary and Hope when they hosted the Miramichi Rally in August of 2007. Vista RV Tours organizes and hosts RV tours throughout the United States and Canada. Tours can be designed to meet the needs of the most discriminating RV travelers. They did such an outstanding job at the Miramichi Rally that Winnie and I jumped at the opportunity to attend Prince Edward Island rally.

As we journeyed towards Cornwall, we stopped often to take pictures of the little fishing villages and harbors. These villages and harbors are so picturesque that words alone cannot describe their beauty.

As we drove through the Town of Kensington, we came upon Prince Edward Aqua Farms Inc. http://www.peaqua.com/ This wholesaler of shellfish also has a small retail operation that is open to the public. We purchased oysters and quahogs for lunch. Further down the road we spotted a small seafood store that sold cooked lobsters. Winnie purchased a lobster, which completed our menu for lunch.

In the Town of North Rustico we detoured to visit a small operating light house.

Near the light house we noticed a small park suitable for parking the coaches. This is where we cooked the shellfish and ate lunch. Winnie and I will remember this lunch for a long time. Simply stated, it was fun!

After lunch, and a short drive we arrived at Holiday Haven Campground. http://www.holidayhaven.pe.ca/
Gary and Hope were waiting to meet new arrivals and direct them to their campsites.

At 4:00, the participants gathered at the meeting room for rally instructions and last minute changes.

That was followed by a social hour and a pizza party.

The evening concluded with a performance by local entertainment group that performed authentic PEI music and dance. This was a great end to another great day during our ongoing journey.

Sept. 17 - Day 12 - Crossing the Confederation Bridge to PEI

Day 11

After a restful night in Moncton, NB we left for Prince Edward Island. Our plan was to stop at the Information Center at the east end of the Confederation Bridge, pickup maps and tourist materials and head for the Northern portion of the island.

We stopped for lunch in the resort town of Summerside, PEI. http://www.city.summerside.pe.ca/

Driving through the countryside and small towns was interesting and at times very picturesque. Of special interest to us was The Bottle Houses in Cap-Egmont. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.maisonsdebouteilles.com/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbottle%2Bhouse,%2Bpei%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7SUNA%26pwst%3D1

Three buildings, a The Chapel, The Tavern and The Six-Gabled House were built Edouard Arsenault. Each building is constructed of a variety of bottles and concrete. The end product is stunning.

After a few hours of driving and sightseeing, we decided to camp at Cabot Beach Provincial Park http://www.exploreprinceedwardisland.com/accommodations/cabot-beach-provincial-park.htm on the north coast of the PEI. It is a very attractive park with grand views of the Malteque Bay.

This is oyster country which set the tone for our evening meal. Our group of travelers decided to have dinner at Carr’s Oyster Bar in the Town of Stanley Bridge. http://www.kata.pe.ca/shop/carrs/carrs.htm The food was good, but a little pricey, but I finally had the opportunity to taste the oysters that this part of the country is famous for.

Tomorrow we move on the Town of Cornwall, which is the assembly point for the Born Free Leap’n Lions International Shellfish Festival Rally. http://www.town.cornwall.pe.ca/