CANEAST AUG 26-30

AUG 26

We went to the tourist info center in Cavendish to blog and upload our latest including a short You tube.  Elizabeth downloaded some library books and then we went to Avonlea Village for Cows ice cream and to see if they had a particular T‑shirt but it seems they only print their newer T’s.  We came back for an Instant Pot dinner (scrumptious) and headed to Charlottetown where we had the best tea and hot chocolate in a restaurant (Casa Mia Café) before seeing Anne and Gilbert the Musical. The show was fantastic, in a smaller theater. Three of the cast (understudies) were substituted. Including Anne – the understudy performed flawlessly.  Great show that had been cancelled from our original Friday booking.

AUG 27

We had thought to book Mathew’s Carriage Ride but decided not to as the weather turned rainy, windy and cooler.  We’ll do that when we come back in just over a week.  Instead we did some housekeeping (which included hook hanging) and chores.  Put the bike back up on the roof rack and readied a bit for our move to the Madeleine Islands (Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine) tomorrow, a two-hour drive and five-and-one-half hour ferry ride from this park.  This park is so nice, we have booked it for another week on our return in September. (September! Already?)

AUG28

The ride to Souris, boarding and ferry ride all went smoothly. While waiting for the ferry, I noticed some musical gear and a group of young folks that looked like musicians so I started up a conversation with one of them.  Their band is called “The Liquor Store” and they are from Montreal.  It sounded like they are fusion jazz funk (Hmmm) and playing the last gig of their tour Thursday night on the island.  I mentioned we were just at “Upstairs” (the jazz club in Montreal) and they said they play there often.  We think we will go see them Thursday night.

We arrived at the camp and setup as it was turning dark.  We are expecting the remnants of a tropical storm to pass through on Thursday.

AUG 29

We are the Blue Dot

Iles de la Madeleine

Our spot.

Bright sunny breezy morning.  Storm is yet to happen.  CBC says tonight now.  We’ll see. Our camp is about 200 meters from the sand beach ocean just over some dunes.  We were told at check in that the beach runs 26 km from here!  Meanwhile, there is so much to see and do on the island so…

We took Misty outside to trim her claws but she was so frightened by the wind and a new place that we couldn’t get her to co‑operate.  She tries occasionally to get but when she does she is a scaredy-cat and doesn’t go far.

We travelled the island and stopped at the local fromagery where they raise a special heritage breed of cows called “Canadian Breed” for cheese, sampled and bought some cheese and fresh bread and had our lunch…

then off to a local smoke house which turn out to be a winery (I put in the wrong address) whose product is made from home grown strawberries/raspberries etc.  Next a coffee roastery to sample some of the island’s best.

We do not know the name of this church.  It seems that most churches do not have signs to indicate who they are.

Another mystery beside the church.  We need a translation to understand what this is.

Elizabeth here:  There are many lovely wooden houses scattered on the three island we have seen so far.  As in the Gaspe, they are also brightly coloured in unusual colour combinations. Yellows, greens, blues and pinks – we passed a purple house with deep red trim but my favourite two buildings close to the bridge painted a phalo blue (I think) and trimmed in a bright orange and a deeper orange.  I hope to get a picture when the sun is out. (picture hopefully for next blog)

There are many islands making up Iles de la Madeleine.  Ile D’entrée (Entry Island), Ile de la Grande Entrée, Ile de Grosse Ile,  Ile de la Pointe aux Loups, Ile du Havre aux Maisons, Ile di cap aux Meules, Ile du Havre Aubert.  Cap Maisons is quite hilly but Havre aux Maisons, where we are camped is very flat with long beaches on either side, Havre Aubert seems to be similar but we travelled that one in the dark.  I’m looking forward to seeing all of them and hopefully cycling on a few – not Cap Maisons though.

Jerry again: We bought tickets for THE LIQUOR STORE and decided we should leave early for the 8:30 p.m. concert.  We did leave early but our #%*&^$ GPS (is not a smart GPS) could not locate the address no matter how many different ways we typed it. Finally, we turned on the data on the iPhone (which is smarter for sure) and used Google Maps to find the place – at the very end of the island called Ile du Havre Aubert. By this time, it was already 8 p.m.  We were late but fortunately, the band hadn’t started.  

We were not disappointed.  They were amazing and played jazz/fusion/funk in an intimate 105 seat venue.  The seven-piece group played for almost two hours straight! We really enjoyed them and bought their CD.  Catch the short clip I posted to You Tube:

Click here for THE LIQUOR STORE:   

https://youtu.be/w9lzZU8G9uk

The tail end of tropical storm ERIN was raining and blowing as we travelled home and petered out about 3 or 4 a.m.  No leaks but there are a couple of tenters here and we were wondering how they were fairing.  When the wind blows here, it reallyblows.

AUG 30

Wow, Labour Day long weekend coming up already!  Blogging at the laundry just now.  

The weather is to clear and the next couple of days will be sunny and cooler: 20C/68F for the couple of US folks following us!  Looks like good cycling weather!  Going for a walk on the beach and then see if we can upload to the blog in the reception area hot spot.

We have more shots from today but could not upload them at this time...will have them in the next blog.

Peace, Love

J&E (and Misty)