Terri and Peter's RV Adventures

We said good bye to our beach and ocean views at Cavendish Campground. What a lovely stay ending with breathtaking sunsets every day. But it was time to move on. Fortunately, with my changing plans away from Cape Breton to the eastern side of PEI, we only had a one and a half hour drive. We took our time packing up and drove to New Glasgow, where a woman I met while having our truck serviced urged us to go to the PEI Preservation Co. So we did! It is so picturesque and authentic. They make their own preserves from local produce. Of course, after taste testing a few, we couldn’t resist, buying berry/cherry preserves and a blueberry preserve, along with strawberry tea, a mango dressing and garlicky salt recommended for the PEI signature dish: all things potato.

(Above: Lily’s and my morning playground at Cavendish Campground)

The adjacent restaurant is a high-ceiling, wall of window, light and airy cafe with views of a river; quilts adorned the high ceilings and the cafe felt local and yet it caters to tourists. I ordered the potato pie (I had to try it but I’m getting pretty tired of potatoes so I regret that choice). Of course we had to have the berry crisp for dessert. I’m definitely going on a diet when we get home. This lifestyle is not conducive to maintaining a certain weight. But it was all delicious and decadent.

We walked the gardens afterwards that are adjacent to a hospice home. The restaurant and PEI Preserves maintain the flower garden.

We headed onto our final destination, taking small, winding roads to avoid Charlottetown. We might have been better off risking city driving because these roads weren’t in the best shape. But the views continued to astonish us. At moments we felt like we were looking at post cards. The countryside is perfect; rolling green hills dappled with quilted squares of geometrically precise rows of red dirt, green sprouts beginning to peer out of their red crust beds, simple white homes and churches, thick stands of deep green pine trees and of course lots of water: ponds, lakes, rivers, harbors, straits, seaways. We saw more cows and horses on this side of the island, adding movement and texture. Wow.

I didn’t think I’d be able to say I live in the same town as my brother, Karun Das, but I do, sort of, kind of for now. The Brudenell River Provincial Park Campground is just outside the towns of Georgetown and Montague. (He lives in Montague, MA.) I think his Montague is more quaint than this one, but this one has the basics we need: hardware store, hair cutting place and grocery store…oh and a Ford dealership that can torque our truck tires to ensure they’re tight after being rotated. So, all very basic stuff that we always seem to need even when we’re on vacation.

(Above: our new campground on the Brudenell River)

Our campsite is tucked into the trees but a short walk takes us down to the river. This place has a resort like feel to it even though it’s a provincial park. It offers kayaking and horseback riding among other activities. It’s only a half hour to Charlottetown so we will probably go there during our stay.

This morning, a camper at Cavendish, Joanne from Montreal, said we must take the ferry from Souris on PEI to the archipelago of Isle de Madeleine, in the province of Quebec. She said it was a more beautiful island than PEI (hard to imagine). I looked into it but there’s no way we can squeeze it in: a five hour ferry ride which means at least one night, but should really be three or four days.

I’m starting to make my list of “next times” and it’s getting so long, we may need to come back: more time in Newfoundland to see the puffins, St. John’s, St. Anthony’s and more time in Twillingate; Cape Breton and staying at Point Cross Campground on the beach; Isle de Madeleine, and then I’m anticipating we’d like to go to Montreal rather than pass through as we’re doing this time around. I’d also like to spend more time in Halifax. I really enjoyed the vibe of that city.

But, for now, we’re on this trip and trying to make the most of our time here. We’re both enjoying the slower pace, staying in one place multiple days and taking day trips. Eating local foods as well as cooking ourselves, adds to getting to know a place. Meeting people like Joanne (said with a French accent), from Montreal, who Lily introduced me to, of course, and was a wealth of knowledge based on her travels here. We similarly commiserated about the state of affairs in the US. Most Canadians are baffled and sympathetic and definitely not blaming all Americans on this debacle. They are in disbelief and want it over as much as we (I) do. It’s reassuring and refreshing to talk to people like her who reinforce the Canadian perspective.

(Above: our new campground on the Brudenell River)

So, I’m not sure exactly what tomorrow will bring, but we’re here three nights before heading back to New Brunswick and slowly easing our way out of The Maritimes. One day at a time. I’m soaking this all in.