From New Brunswick to the Island of Prince Edward

The bridge linking New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Maggie, Des, Dave and Maureen cycle down the last New Brunswick hill.

There are some things to note about this small island nestled between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Here are some, not listed in any particular order:
1. There are fields and fields of potatoes, some white, some cream, some purple flowered.

2. There are no moose or bears.
3. All roads are BUSY.
4. The Confederation Bike trail is very easy to ride and mostly shaded and scenic. The civil engineers who designed the original railway are to be congratulated as are those who built such a sturdy pathway through the fields and woods.

Paul rounds the corner on the Confederation Trail.

Des and Maureen on another part of the trail.

5. Drivers are courteous and stop for bike riders who need to cross busy roads.

6. Food is much the same as in Quebec and New Brunswick.
7. There are cattle and sheep grazing in fields.

Dairy cattle and Canada geese share the pond.

8. The quality of Airbnb accommodation is down and the price is up.
9. In rural areas where the middle-class don't reside, the human index markers are the same as in Australia (and probably the world): obesity, rotten and missing teeth, high fat and sugar consumption, smoking.

Ironman entertains kids at a rural derive station cum cafe to celebrate its launch. The whole town it seemed turned out for the event.

10. There is not so much French spoken.

We are spending our time in PEI in a variety of ways, individualised programs as such. Attractions have included hub and spoke rides, a farmers' market, driving to the north west and the east, dramatic productions, lazing around, sleeping, reading, visiting downtown...The next section of our ride will be the most challenging I think, so we need some R&R.

Paul chose to ride on the wet day.

The north west shoreline.

Ready to catch the salmon coming up the run nearby.

More metrics for the interested
Wednesday 1 August: Kouchibouguac to Boctouche. Pleasant back roads for 70kms. VERY sad to leave our marvellous accommodation in Kouchibouguac.

Thursday 2 August: Bouctouche to Port Elgin. A bit wet and with strong head winds, we pedalled 87km, the last 30 of them on a busy highway. A hard ride. Ended up on a deserted point facing the sea.

Friday 3 August: Port Elgin to Charlottetown. A big ride of 114kms, the first 42 in NB lead by Paul along quiet roads around the coastline. Once at the 22km long Confederation Bridge we boarded a shuttle bus to take us to the other side where we set off on the Confederation Trail.

Saturday 4 August to Wednesday 8 August: hub and spoke rides on PEI.