Even if just for my own purposes I wanted too tie up the trip to Prince Edward Island. Took me long enough that I can call it a throwback Thursday!
The numbers are finally in. The big ride days equalled 376 kms and we did 75 kms riding to suppers and sightseeing for a total of 450 km in 11 days. Longest day was 78.6 and that one did my hand no service but I am already recovering from my handlebar neuropathy.
Another important set of “numbers”:
- Zero
- Falls off the bike
- Rain while on the bike
- Getting lost
- Cookie cutter neighborhouds
- One
- Scuzzy cabin
- Idiot driver
- Sleeping in a lighthouse!
- Unfriendly islander
- Countless
- Beautiful beaches
- Charming houses
- Pastoral scenes
- Outstanding suppers
The end result was a stellar trip that we powered with our legs. We were 2 of the approximately 1.5 MILLION visitors to PEI. No wonder accommodation regularly has No Vacancy signs. It bears thinking about. The impact of that many people descending onto that small of a space. While we did power ourselves our luggage went by vehicle but it was never just ours as they move people, bikes, walkers and luggage daily.
How many of us think about our environmental impact from a holiday? We went to an interesting display in the Confederation Center that traces the tourism industry on PEI throughout the last century +.
The one cranky islander I met was a tour guide. Seems a bit odd to me that he was but I guess as I wasn’t a paying customer he didn’t feel obligated to be polite. He told me, in no uncertain terms, that he hates Anne, L.M.Montgomery and anything to do with either of them. But that’s what initially put PEI on the map.
The tourists, who pay him, come to see the Prince Edward Island that she wrote about. She lamented in her journals in the late 20’s that the cars and tourists were running amuk on the island (this is, of course, my own paraphrasing of it). Interestingly enough we felt it was quite unspoilt other than for the power lines.
“You never know what peace is until you walk on the shores or in the fields or along the winding red roads of Prince Edward Island in a summer twilight when the dew is falling and the old stars are peeping out and the sea keeps its mighty tryst with the little land it loves.” – Lucy Maud Montgomery
We practiced the “take only pictures and leave only footprints” motto. Easy to do there as almost every garbage can is a triple “decker” with recycling, compost and garbage sections. It’s a very clean province with no litter. The Confederation Trail was well maintained but the highways could use a consistent shoulder on them. Drivers were over the top courtesy except for one idiot who scared the heck out of me and the guy coming towards him.
Home now for just over a week and the travel high is subsiding but the memories will be cherished forever. Such a great part of Canada to explore via bike. Now where to next??
Bernie
Equipoise Life 
Your trip looked amazing Bernie and I’m working my way back to check out your daily posts. I loved the tally of your trip and that’s a fabulous number of kms ridden. One day I’ll visit PE island and do my own Anne tour 🙂
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It is so worth it Deb. If you and the Mathematician start planning make sure to contact me as I have “boots on the ground” experience. I guess I would wait a couple of years as they are picking up the pieces from Hurricane Fiona. We are so lucky we went when we did. As to the Kms – we were pretty impressed with ourselves as we did not train at all! Bernie
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I like the graphics on this blog Bernie, it’s really impressive. Congratulations on completing the PEI bicycle tour. Your observations are quite useful and practical, especially when you mention the downsides of the tourist industry. Of course, for most of the maritime provinces the tourist industry is a lifesaver for the towns and communities that simply couldn’t exist beyond retirement villages but for the tourists’ money. I used to work with a number of people from PEI. Most of them thought very fondly of it but only one or two ever returned to live there. It seems that some places are for living at and some places are for visiting and very few places can be both. Even for retired people the idea of living on the Island may not be appealing if their kids live in Ontario or further west. And that makes me wonder, as I often do, why there is a bridge to PEI and not to Vancouver Island?
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Well your last statement sent me down the rabbit hole! The 5 longest bridges in the world are all in China and
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Hmm 🤔 you’re keeping me in suspense.
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LOL!! Getting there. Did not mean to hit publish and thought I pulled it back in time! Bernie
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So the longest bridge is 102 miles. 5 longest bridges are in China. The average cost is $750M/Mile. No that’s not a typo. Guess that’s the answer right there. Crazy hey.
As to the graphics in the post — that was in a display at the Confederation Center that was all about the tourism industry during the last century in PEI.
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It sounds like you had a wonderful trip, Bernie. And lots of exercise!
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Definitely felt like we earned the beer at the end of the day Jane! It definitely was a well timed trip as I would not want to be a tourist in the area right now. Do hope you weathered the storm all right. Bernie
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Yes, we were lucky. Fiona hit about 150 kms east of us, but PEI is in very, very bad shape. 😥 You were blessed in your trip and blessed in your timing!
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I have replied to this comment twice (on my phone) and both times it seems to have gotten lost… not sure what is going on but had that happen with one of AllyBean comments as well. Yes we are grateful for our timing to visit PEI — some of those beaches don’t exist in the same way and as a tourist we certainly would not want to be there during a storm or after and adding to the headache of the local people. Bernie
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Yes we were so lucky with our timing. Some of those beaches we sat at don’t look at all the same. As you said PEI was badly hit as was Nfld. I am glad that your area was spared. Man it’s crazy how intense the weather has become with climate change. We are currently enjoying a fall heat wave. It was 29 here today.
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Despite the deluge of tourists (your chart was eye-opening), PEI looks like a gorgeous destination. Thanks for the wrap-up!
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Janis, The graphics in the display was definitely mind boggling. I think it’s a great place but I am not sure I would not to be there in July or August. Thanks for following along. Bernie
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so enjoyed traveling with you… and actually had another friend visit the Atlantic provinces the following weeks so I was given two very different perspectives!
on a bucket list to visit… someday… thanks for the reminder! elaine
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Good to hear from you Elaine and thanks for following along. It’s definitely worth being on the bucket list but just don’t go right now! Bernie
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I can understand how if you lived there, tourism could become the bane of your existence. I live in a sleepy little suburb that during the summer becomes popular with day trippers. I appreciate the money they bring to the area, but I also avoid downtown from June through September. Too much congestion, no places to park. And we’re small potatoes compared to PEI.
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I live in a rural area that 3 vehicles on the same road at the same time is congestion so yeah I would definitely avoid downtown. I do avoid the city downtown during summer festivals. Well honestly I avoid it 95% of the time! Yes if tourism was one of your main employers I guess it would be a love hate relationship. Thanks for reading and following along. I highly recommend it as a place to go but perhaps not right now as they clean up from Fiona. Lucky with our timing. Bernie
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I have a friend who lives on PEI and she has long red hair. Yeah, I think a lot of inhabitants feel the same way about Anne and LM Montgomery 😁 (and tourists). I think she used to “play” Anne for the tourists in her younger years. Also, even though she has lived almost her entire life (60 plus years) on the island, she is considered “from away” as she was born in New Brunswick. Anywho, I’m glad you had a wonderful time and thank you for sharing it with us!
Deb
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There are so many summer homes on PEI that are only lived in for short periods of the year. Now they are “from away” and I would think 60+ years should qualify you as an islander. I feel like the year round islanders have a point about being a trifle put out with those kinds of numbers. A local told me at least tourists add to the economy, those with summer homes come with their Costco groceries and alcohol and don’t give anything back.. I thought that was very interesting. We did have a wonderful time and thanks for reading along and engaging with the trip. Bernie
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Glad your trip was everything you expected and more. Always nice when that works out. PEI is beautiful and you certainly have some pedal power achievements to be thankful for. Happy Friday Bernie. Allan
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Considering we did not train at ALL we feel pretty darn pleased. And there were way more hills than we expected but that was all the roads that we chose over the old rail road trail. Thanks for reading along Allan. I will quit clogging up the reader so much now that it is over! Bernie
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What a beautiful trip, Bernie. Thanks for this wrap-up. Your numbers, and extra tidbits of info, were very interesting!
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Glad you commented — it reminded me I was going to pull them together into a Page and submit it to the Confederation Trail site. It was a beautiful trip, made outstanding by the weather and the scenery. Thanks for being an active member of the read and engage tribe. Bernie
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Hi, Bernie – Definitely send your posts to The Confederation Trail and/or Island Walk Sites. I also suggest that you copy Bryson Guptill, he is the founder of the trail and is very active on the sites. I was DM you his email address.
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I will do that as soon as I turn it into a Page. Thanks for the info and for sharing along in my excitement of PEI. Bernie
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Good thing you went there before Fiona! 💨💦😨
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Yes our trip was “perfectly” timed and the weather was so perfect! Glad we are home now even though it’s turning cooler. Good to hear from you here. See you next week!! Bernie
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