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I followed my proposed route as far as Fort Amhurst. I loved the views there so much, I lingered. A trip to the northern part of the island could have made me late for the PEI/NS ferry, so I headed straight for Panmure Island before driving to the ferry.
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So here it is... the famous Confederation Bridge!
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You can't see most cars cross the bridge (the sides are too high) but you can see the tops of trucks.
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12.9 kilometres makes it the largest bridge "over ice-covered water". So it's not the longest bridge (in my estimation). I wonder what is.
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Had to get a snap of me and the something that is actually larger than me!
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There wasn't a lot of traffic OR wind but there was a bit of construction on the bridge. It didn't take long to get across then I ended up in Borden-Carleton which seems to be a recently added (because of the bridge) tourist shopping haven.
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Pretty though.
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I turned west (left) almost right away and followed the road that would take me to Summerside. It didn't take long before I was in awe of the scenery.
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I didn't even realize that from this spot I'd see a view of the bridge until I'd gotten off my bike.
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Also at this "bend in the road", there was a lovely church...
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... and a farmer's field (comlete with horses that disappeared as soon as I raised my camera).
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I drove on to Summerside Harbour.
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Cozily docked there was a Coast Guard boat.
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Along the docks, a pretty shopping area was built up.
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I loved the pretty colours of the buildings.
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Upon finding a parking space near the shops, I HAD to visit them to see if what was in them was as good as the setting.
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One store was dedicated to selling hammocks. A customer was busy testing this one out.
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The business I got a kick out of was the "PEI Dirt" store. Their clothing was all certified to have been dyed by Prince Edward Island dirt.
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A view from one of the stores on the docks towards the parking lot in which I was parked and another "land based" shopping area.
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After leaving Summerside, I went through Kensington then up towards Cabot Beach Park. Before arriving at the park, I stopped on the roadside to capture this and the next image.
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Lovely!
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Just short of the park entrance was a recreational/boating area.
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There was a lighthouse next to the park's beach. I would imagine it was more for show than actually functional in any way.
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The beach had red sand!! Many people were taking advantage of the lovely day.
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Plants obviously like the iron-rich soil.
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Upon leaving the park, there were other beautiful views...
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... blue water, red soil, green grass...
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As I drove, there was actually a road sign which read something like: "another turn, another great PEI view".
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Instead of following my GPS, I took a road which hugged the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
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That way, I saw a lot of very colourful views of a very pretty province.
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Take away the sea and you could be in a lot of places...
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... for instance...
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... but put this together...
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... with this...
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... and especially this, and you feel sublime.
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This bridge spans the Southwest River towards New London.
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I believe this is at Stanley Bridge.
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A little causeway leading from the middle of that bridge led to a lobster fisherman's shack.
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Another view.
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Still from the same area. That's what was really cool about taking pictures on PEI... don't like the view from this direction? Turn around!!
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Barely up the road from there, a cosy place to call home!
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I soon arrive at Prince Edward Island National Park.
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Lush vegetation covering...
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... large reddish-gold sand dunes...
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... and people taking advantage of the good weather!
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In every direction, another photo opportunity!
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I headed back out to the main road to reach the other part of the National Park. Along the way I came to "Green Gables".
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A lot of work has been put into this fairy tale-type setting.
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You could see many people thoroughly enjoying their surroundings.
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I arrived at the other half of PEI National Park.
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Here the beaches were redder and more rugged.
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The views along the beach road were stunning.
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Look how ABSOLUTELY red the rocks and soil are!
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I took all of these pictures from the same spot.
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The spot might very well be my favourite one on the island.
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Every time I turned and looked, there was something else to take a picture of.
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Across the road from that spot, someone gets to enjoy the view every day. Lucky person!!
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I met a couple from the States who had driven their van to PEI and were picking different areas to cycle (and sightsee) every day.
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A little further up the road, I saw a few unusual boats...
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... and more fabulous views.
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The colours of the buildings suit their surroundings.
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Do you see the rowboat which has been "dry-docked" by the receding tide?
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Another fabulous view.
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One of my favourite pictures for all the colours... the buildings, the rocks and soil, the trees, the vegetation, the flowers, the ocean... WOW!
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I headed back inland towards (but not through) Charlottetown so that I could visit Fort Amhurst. Along the way I saw rolling farmland...
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... beautiful homesteads...
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... and the Canoe Cove School, which according to its sign was established in 1820!
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This inland area was absolutely beautiful.
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It didn't take too long to get to Fort Amhurst. Before entering the Historic Site, I took a picture just past its entrance of the paved road turning into a red gravel/dirt one. Neat!
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From this historic site, you get great views of Charlottetown Harbour. Several people were boating nearby, including this sailboat.
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Across the harbour, in the distance, you can see Charlottetown.
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The sailboat had made its way further into the Harbour.
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Another view of Charlottetown and of PEI's amazing red rocks.
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Dazzling!
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Looking out to sea.
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A little further inland are the remains of the foundations of the old fort.
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The mound you're looking at in the distance is its foundations.
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There were several lighthouses delineating several inland coves.
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You can see how the fort would have had an outstanding view of any ship or boat entering the harbour.
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This monument was dedicated to the Acadian settlers.
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I took a walk down this mowed path...
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... to discover the foundations of the oldest house on Prince Edward Island.
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While down there, I had a different view of the harbour...
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... of this lighthouse...
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... and of more "dry-docked" boats. I guess you have no choice but to use your boat to get right to shore then, when the tide goes out, the boat is stranded on dry land.
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It makes a pretty picture, regardless.
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I walked back up the hill on a different path, towards a different lighthouse.
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Before I left the fort, I read this memorial to Michel Hache Gallant and Anne Cormier. They were the first Acadian family to permanently settle in PEI and their ancestors erected the monument in 1965.
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It was already fairly late in the day so I headed directly for Panmure Island. Pictures of this area have always intrigued me so I had to see this part of the island for myself.
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Perhaps the lightkeeper lives in this house. I do know that the lighthouse is still active.
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In many pictures of Panmure, you see these horses.
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I can see why they are in so many pictures... they are very photogenic!
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A view from the lighthouse grounds of the causeway that leads you to the "Island" which is more like a peninsula.
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After a pleasant visit to Panmure Island, I headed straight for the Wood Islands/Caribou Ferry. I got there with about 10 or 15 minutes to spare but there wasn't enough time to take advantage of the lobster store right by its dock!
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Here we are pulling away from the dock.
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As you leave the dock, you get a great view of the lighthouse which marks the entry to the small harbour.
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A cozy little harbour, don't you think?
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Goodbye Prince Edward Island! I really enjoyed visiting your red shores!
Next Day
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