The Adventures of Myron and Dorcas: PEI

I drove to the Canadian Maritimes many, many years ago, but did not visit Prince Edward Island (PEI). At that time there was a ferry to PEI, and we were unwilling to spend the time and money to make the crossing. Now, there is a bridge. That changes everything.

On Thursday, May 29 our group departed Shediac under mild and sunny weather (yay) for a short jaunt of 82 miles to PEI. We landed at Holiday Haven Campground in Cornwall just outside Charlottetown. In order to get to PEI we traversed the Confederation Bridge. The Confederation Bridge is cool. It is a box girder bridge carrying the Trans-Canada Highway across the Abegweit Passage of the Northumberland Strait, linking the province of Prince Edward Island with the mainland province of New Brunswick. Opened on May 31, 1997, the 8 mile bridge is Canada's longest bridge and the world's longest bridge over ice-covered water.

All bridge components were constructed on land, in staging yards located on the shoreline, on both the New Brunswick and PEI sides of the bridge.

Bridge segment on display

PEI Provincial flag

The lion on top of the PEI flag is an English heraldic lion, which can also be found on the coat of arms. On the flag there are three small trees and a large tree on an island. This is a representation of the 3 counties of PEI protected by the large tree representing England.

Our camp at Holiday Haven Campground

Another lobster dinner

Does Dorcas look happy or what?

Aerial view of our campground (not my photo)

On Friday, we took a guided bus tour across the island. Prince Edward Island is an island province of Canada. While it is the smallest province by land area and population, it is the most densely populated. The island has several nicknames: "Garden of the Gulf", "Birthplace of Confederation" and "Cradle of Confederation". Its capital and largest city is Charlottetown.

Friday's bus tour route

Prince Edward Island's provincial animal is the red fox, and it's a common sight throughout the island. Prince Edward Island's history with foxes is marked by a significant fox-farming industry that began in the late 1890s. The province's red foxes, particularly the silver and black color mutations, became highly sought after for their pelts. This led to a boom in fox farming, making it a major part of PEI's economy for several decades. The industry peaked in the early 20th century, with hundreds of fox farms across the island. However, the rise of mink farming and changes in fashion trends led to a decline in the fox fur market. When fox farming ended many folks released their domestic foxes in the wild. They are apparently commonly seen, but we were not so fortunate.

Eckhart the mouse is the main character from the "True Meaning of Crumbfest" the story of a curious little mouse written by PEI author David Weale. Small figurines can be found throughout Charlottetown and many folks try to find them all. An Echart hunt was featured in the TV show "The Amazing Race: Canada"

Dorcas and friend

Charlottetown City Hall

This Eckhart was at the Province House, which is undergoing extensive renovation. Consequently, he is dressed as a construction worker.

There are a number of Victorian style buildings in Charlottetown

Another Eckhart sighting

Our tour guide

St. Dunstan’s Chathedral

PEI fun facts:

The island was first named Saint John Island (Île Saint-Jean) by the French in 1713. The British captured the island in 1745, but it was returned back to the French in 1748 and then reclaimed in 1763.
Although Canada’s Confederation took place on PEI in 1867, PEI only joined in as the 7th province in 1873, after being bribed to pay off certain debts and providing other considerations.
There is no public power generation on the island. Power comes via a cable from New Brunswick. 15% of the electricity used on the island is generated by wind power. There are also a number of private solar generators.
There are no billboards on the island.
Stoplights have shaped light elements: green is round, yellow is triangular and red is square.
Prince Edward Island is also known as the Idaho of Canada. A quarter of all Canadian potatoes are cultivated here.
The only two cities in PEI are Charlottetown and Summerside, plus there are seven incorporated towns.
PEI has over 33 golf courses.

Learning how a lobster pot works

Lunch at Prince Edward Island Preserve Company

We visited The Anne of Green Gables Museum, Green Gables Heritage Place, and Lucy Maud Montgomery's birthplace. Lucy Maud Montgomery was raised in this house where she was inspired to write the Anne of Green Gables stories.

Dorcas at the House of Green Gables

Warren Cove Front Range Lighthouse

Warren Cove Back Range Lighthouse

The Expulsion of the Acadians was the forced removal of inhabitants of the North American region historically known as Acadia between 1755 and 1764 by Great Britain. It included the modern Canadian Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, along with parts of Maine. The expulsion occurred during the French and Indian War, the North American theatre of the Seven Years' War.

Monument illustrating the Acadian expulsion, "Le Grand Dérangement"

We visited COWS Creamery in Charlottetown. Containing 84% butter fat, COWS Creamery premium butters have a richer taste compared to regular butters which contain 4% less butter fat.