We are now in Prince Edward Island and the WiFi where we are is horrible and on many occasions we have been unable to not only post but open the blog so we are trying first thing in the morning to see if that works better – so far it seems better.
Wednesday June 28, 2017
Our last day in Dalhousie was a bit rainy but by the end of the day it was sunny. My small pile of driftwood I was planning to use as firewood got soaked so I figured we would have to abandon our plans for a late evening fire. We drove into Campbellton, NB to purchase a new heater as the one we brought with us quit working.
The region we are in is economically depressed – there are very few jobs other than part-time minimum wage service industry jobs. I talked with the guy who cuts the grass at the RV Park and he said he has to work hard to keep this job as the situation is so bad you couldn’t buy a job …. if you had the money. The city has had to lay off 10 employees in the last month including the night security guard for the RV Park. The provincial government shut the lumber mill down and the population of the town dropped from 34K to 8K in 3 years. You can buy a really nice home in Dalhousie for $40K. I don’t think you would want to as the winters are fierce – it is very cold and windy with ice and lots of snow.
It is amazing how many “moose crossing” signs there are as you drive through the countryside and even through towns. The lady in the admin office at the RV Park said you would be surprised at how many people are killed each year by hitting a moose. 
She said if you can avoid it do not drive at night because you can’t see them standing on the road until it’s too late – especially the highways where you tend to be driving a little faster and the roads are icy during the winter months. Normally you would see a yellow deer crossing sign with a deer jumping – here the yellow signs are at least 4’ x 8’ with a large moose and a small car and flashing yellow lights on each corner of the sign.
We got all our chores done including laundry – we had a rotisserie chicken for dinner but it wasn’t like Costco. Every Saturday and Thursday the park provides live entertainment for the campers and everyone gets up and dances to the oldies. June Yvonne and I went for a walk to the nearby lighthouse and then I managed to get a campfire started and we sat and watched it and the flickering lights on the distant shoreline for about an hour or so. We had the RV packed up and ready to go first thing in the morning. I like to get as early a start as I can so there’s time to stop, eat, get gas and take short walks.
Thursday June 29, 2017
Drive from Dalhousie to Prince Edward Island (PEI) was only 259 miles – it should only take 4 1/2 hours but ended up taking over six because in many places you have to drive slower. To get to PEI from New Brunswick you have to cross an 8 mile bridge which is not the longest in the world but it is the longest bridge in the world over frozen sea ice. The people who live here like to point that out. You can cross the bridge for free however it costs $46 CDN if you want to leave the island. Anyway crossing the bridge was cool however once across that’s when the trouble started. PEI is laced with little back roads – some paved others not – the road system hear really messes with the GPS so following verbal directions and following the GPS are completely different things. I had to stop three times to get directions – how can you get so lost on such a small island – we finally made it to our campground and I was slightly lathered up from being so frustrated.
Friday June 30, 2017
We are getting in the habit of sleeping late even though were are lights out by 10:00 / 10:30. We decided to venture out and visit the “Ann of Green Gables” house in Cavendish which is not far from where we are camped. There is normally an admission fee however with this being the 150th anniversary of Canada being a country all national and provincial parks, monuments and historic sites are free to the public. We toured the house, the gardens and walked through the “haunted woods”. At a nearby cemetery I followed the path that led to Lucy Maud Montgomery’s grave site – she is the author of “Ann of Green Gables”.
Now here is the interesting part – this book has become a popular classic around the world. People from as far away as Japan make pilgrimages to the house and the grave site. One of the employees said sometimes they show up by the bus load and this is their goal in coming here – to actually walk on the grounds, walk in the woods and visit the grave site. Some people book well in advance to get married in the garden and come from all over the world to do so. While we were there today the Children’s Choir from Victoria BC were there and singing in the garden at the back of the house.
After the tour we drove back to New Glasgow for an early dinner. We stopped at a place called Fisherman’s Warf where we celebrated my 68th birthday. I had another lobster and June Yvonne had scallops. They also have a 60 foot salad bar with fresh hot mussels, soup, deserts, ice cream and beverages. I ate about a bucket of mussels and a one and a half pound lobster along with a little salad.
I booked a 3 hour deep sea fishing trip for Monday morning – we’ll be fishing for mackerel and cod. I talked to some of the people getting off of the boat and they said after 45 minutes they caught so many fish they were throwing them back. The cod fishing season doesn’t start until Monday so if I catch a cod over 19” in length I’ll be able to keep it (unlike the people fishing today). While I was standing by the boat the captain asked me if I would like some mackerel fillets and he gave me a bag of them which we will BBQ.
I was talking to one of the camp ground workers about the my GPS problems. She said not to follow the GPS because there are so many back country roads the GPS the shortest route which will zig-zag all over the place and it will take longer. She said she and her husband were out driving and just for a lark decided to use their GPS to see what would happen. Before long they were driving down roads they had never seen before and she’s lived here most of her life. The few peoplw we have talkedd to about the
Tomorrow is July 1st which is Canada’s 150th anniversary as a country and boy if you don’t think they take it seriously you would be wrong wrong wrong. As you can see by the picture of they, as some might say, go a little overboard but hey are very proud of their country. PRC
———————————————————————————————————————————–
Wednesday June 28, 2017
Before leaving Dalhousie I managed to get an appointment for a hair cut and color. The ladies (staff) at the RV Park facilitated this appointment for me. The hairdresser did a great job. And, not only that she offered to take Peter and I out on the family boat. Have I mentioned how friendly and helpful these Canadians are?
Thursday June 29, 2017
We left Dalhousie, New Brunswick on Thursday (6/29) early morning. We arrived on Prince Edward Island in the afternoon. We crossed an eight mile bridge to get here. This is one of the world’s longest bridges over water. We had a difficult time finding our RV Park – New Glasgow Highlands. Getting lost in an area that’s not familiar is difficult especially when hauling a trailer. We learned from the locals not to depend on GPS on the island. Apparently, there are many backroads that GPS is not aware of. We already call her “Little Miss Know It All.” Peter was not happy with her for getting us lost and was not speaking very nice to her. We now know it was not her fault. We were led into many locations we hadn’t planned on. It was a challenge backing out of a farmer’s grounds and a hilly gas station. Peter was a trooper – he backed our trailer in and out of many challenging locations. He and Ms. GPS may be friends again.
Friday June 30, 2017
To my favorite Canadian! Today is Peter’s Birthday. His birthday present is Canada.
And, tomorrow is CANADA’S birthday. She is 150 years old. And is it ever a big deal here.
There are Canadian flags everywhere and lots of festivities tomorrow including parades and fireworks.
We went out to dinner for Peter’s birthday. Peter had lobster of course. Lobster is everywhere especially now that we are in the Maritime Provinces. Lobster season ended yesterday. It will begin again in New Brunswick in August. We might have to have salmon for awhile…
Have any of you read “Anne of Green Gables”? I didn’t, but many others read it in grade school. We toured the setting where it took place today. Now, I’m kind of sorry I didn’t read it as a young person. 
The author, Lucy Maud Montgomery was born and raised on Prince Edward Island. Anne is imaginary, but was very much alive in Montgomery’s mind and heart. She was a beloved character to many young readers. Anne was an orphan who arrived at Green Gables by mistake; the Cuthberts wanted a boy. But to Anne, Green Gables was a dream come true. The author based much of the setting of the book in the area where she was raised. The house we toured actually belonged to some of her relatives. Please let me know if you read the book.
Apparently the book was turned down five times before it was published. Once published it became an international bestseller. People actually make pilgrimages to the area.
When I visit somewhere new, I like to see, do, taste and experience something iconic of that location. So, Monday night we are going to the play, Anne of Green Gables. Also, I bought the book and reading it now as an adult…
Along this subject, we asked the owner here in PEI if the RV Park had any videos to rent. She said no, but offered to lend us some of her own. These Canadians…
Tomorrow we are up early to take in the festivities in Charlottetown, the capital of PEI, about 30 minutes from here. We don’t want to miss the celebrations for Canada’s birthday. JY
Canadian Maritime Provinces 
Anne of Green gables is one of my favourite books of all time. I read the whole series ~ its part of growing up in Canada. Most of us have read it. Love reading about your travels!
LikeLike