Seaboard Chronicles: Day 7

Well, we're coming down home stretch, now!  Today was our last day in Canada, and it really was an ideal ending.  After several days of hard-hitting travel, today was a super mellow chill day, and it was quite nice.

We started out with a proper three-course breakfast (fruit and pudding, quiche with fried potatoes, stewed cherry tomatoes and mushrooms, and a lovely tray of chocolate and lemon cranberry zucchini breads) and stimulating conversation with our British hosts.  We finally took our leave (I think we could have enjoyed chatting for quite some time) and headed towards Cavendish.  I tried to get some pictures, but let's face it, my puny camera did not even begin to do justice to the panoramic views.  It was a bit of an exercise in frustration, actually.

Cavendish, you say.  What's in Cavendish?  Ladies and gentlemen, what is the ONE THING that every person who visits Prince Edward Island MUST SEE?  Of course.  Green Gables.  I think it's almost more of a pilgrimage than a sightseeing excursion!  (The following pictures are for my fellow Anne-lovers.)

 

Green Gables really does exist!

Matthew's bedroom (just off the kitchen)

The kitchen (including the sofa Marilla had her headaches on)

Anne's room (all in white)

Marilla's room.  Remember the brooch that Anne supposedly stole?  It was on the nightstand!

Lover's Lane

The Haunted Wood (no spooks!)

Because we're never too old to love Anne.

We were originally scheduled to do some biking on the Confederate Trail, a reclaimed railroad bed that winds around much of the island, but the temperatures here were wayyyyy too familiar (low 90's) and we opted for slightly cooler pursuits, such as driving around and checking out the island.  It was quite relaxing; we spotted a couple of (tiny) lighthouses, saw some beautiful sights, and frankly, just kind of enjoyed "hanging out".  In fact, at one point, we were literally sitting around near the water, feeling the breeze and doing absolutely nothing, and I had the thought, "when is the next time I will do nothing (with a clear conscience)?"  Not for a long time.  Makes the time that much sweeter.

We had tickets for the Highland Storm production put on by the College of Piping in Summerside, and the show started at 7:30 so we grabbed a quick dinner and then poked around in a few shops, waiting for showtime.  This was a lot of fun.  Think something along the lines of Riverdance; lots of bagpipes and fiddles and dancing and singing.  What was so cool, though, is that this was really a hometown production.  Most of the performers were probably in their mid to late teens, all students or instructors at the school, and considering that, the show they put on was really quite impressive.  These kids work very hard, and it shows.  I greatly admire that kind of dedication.  Besides, as an unapologetic Riverdance fan, I just like that sort of thing, so my toes tapped and head swayed out of sheer enjoyment.  Good stuff.  Plus, I got to see my friend Annalee from Saint Andrews again!

Killer spoon action!

You can't really tell, but this was so cool.

They played percussion on like water coolers and trash cans and soda bottles and pipes. Awesome.

Well, this wraps up the Chronicles.  Tomorrow, we start heading south.  We'll leave Charlottetown in the morning and drive all the way to Portland; we'll catch a few hours of shut-eye and then board a super early flight for home Wednesday morning.  Looking quite forward to seeing family and friends. Lets just say that there are some babies out there who will be getting some pretty heavy-duty hugs.

I'd like to thank Tune for standing by and letting me ramble; it'll be good to hear her voice on careandtune again.  Thank you to each and every one of you who took time out of your day to follow along with me - it truly was a joy to have you along; sharing the journey made everything that much more fun.  And I cannot sign off without a shout-out to my traveling buddies.  I think it would be safe to say that not many thirty-somethings could spend 9 days with their parents and retain their sanity.  I consider it a testament to the amazingness of mine that not only did I survive; I thoroughly enjoyed every minute and would do it again in a heartbeat.  Thank you Mom and Dad for coming along with me on this adventure; I treasured this time we had together, and I love you more than words.

And with that, I shall cease the sap and call it a night!  Toodles!