20020521

May 21, 2002

Day 12

Start: Camping Murraywood, NB
End: Southport RV Park, Charlottetown, PEI
Miles: 244 miles

Low last night was 44f, high today was 67f under sunny skies in Charlottetown.

We woke for physical reasons (we were cold). The on-line propane bottle had run out. I hopped outside and shifted to the other bottle. Slowly, the little house got warm again.

Actually, it wasn’t too cold, and the wind was down, so it wasn’t that bad a start to a day. Then we looked around and saw a dozen small lobster boats working.

Each boat had two or three people aboard, and each boat seemed to have its own sequence of pulling a lobster trap, removing the lobster(s), re-baiting the trap, and re-setting it in place. Some boats had a few traps pre-baited and threw them over while steaming along, then returned to a location, pulled several traps while moving slowly, then removed and baited. I suppose each has his own method.

It was quite a show as these boats went through their dance just off-shore (100 to 150 yards). We could see them fairly well in the binoculars.

It started raining (of course) as we were unhooking and getting ready to go. As we left, it stopped. 

We headed southeast on routes 11 and 8 and 15, in light traffic. There was nothing eventful. 

Then we got to the Confederation Bridge, going from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island. 

The bridge is one lane in each direction. As you start over the water, it rises to about 100’ above the water and continues that way all the way to the other side, except for a bump in the middle where it goes even higher over a shipping channel. The bridge is over eight miles long.

Why it has this configuration, I have no idea. I’ll try to find out while I’m here.

You only pay toll on the bridge to leave the island. Then you shell out $43CDN to leave.

Our first impression of PEI was, “wow – civilization”. We didn’t really mean that, but the contrast of the past several days of logging and tourism to this setting of fields being turned and planted, and busy people running around was obvious. Since there are fewer forests and more fields, everything looks greener. It looked really nice – the good weather helped.

We went to and through the capital city, Charlottetown, with the RV to get to the campground on the other side of the harbor. It was easier than it sounds.

The campground gave us a site with an unobstructed view of the Charlottetown waterfront and skyline. The sun sets directly over Charlottetown.

We went into town to a little neighborhood restaurant recommended by the campground host. I had a good fish and D had another lobster. As a side dish, they gave her a dozen blue mussels. She’d never had them (nor had I) but found them tastier than clams. I tried one and found it tastier than a pencil eraser – I’m not much for shellfish. We each received a large helping of PEI potatoes – they claim their potatoes are special here. Both dinners were good, and the staff was really friendly and funny.