Origin: Dolan's Inn and Suites
Destination:
Brittany
Cole
Route Description:
Part I: Pine Tree Road to Bayview Road to Ferry Road --Caribou
Part 2: Prince Edward Island ferry to Wood Landings
Part 3: The 315 to Caledonia to County Line Road to Brooklyn Road to the 24 to the 3.
5 km detour to try the Confederation Trail
Return to the 3 to the 26 to the Hillsborough Bridge to Charlottetown.
Weather: Variation between steady rain to drizzle, cool temperatures
We awoke to rain at 5:30 AM. Putting on the complete rain gear delayed our departure. We were unable to have 6 AM breakfast at Queen Lili (Sharon Justice's new restaurant we enjoyed multiple times), and biked instead directly to the ferry for the 8 AM departure (10km). At the ferry terminal, we had a dry half hour over a cup of coffee.
We arrived 75 minutes later at our third Maritime Province, Prince Edward Island,
and took off in the rain. Spread out farms with nice homes, well maintained barns, silos, outbuildings. Potato plants in full bloom added to the beauty of the landscape this quiet Sunday morning. We climbed gradually toward the center of the island; cars were few.
Leaving the pavement, we tried our first heritage road, maintained as it was 100 years ago with dirt and gravel, and with trees arched over the road. Sounded beautiful, but today in the rain, the red dirt was, in places, mud and certain parts were unrideable due to thick sand; walking and pushing the bikes in these parts gave the swarming mosquitoes a great advantage. What relief after a few kilometers to return to pavement!
Our attempt later to use the Confederation Trail did provide a dry place to picnic under a nice shelter,
but the riding on the nicely groomed, crushed rock trail was too difficult because it has not compacted enough after recent grading . We returned again to the pavement.
We have found entry into all sizable cities in The Maritimes to be a challenge, Charlottetown now included. The 26 was a nice route curving along the shore for several kilometers before entering the city across the bridge and causeway. However, our stints on the 3 and the TransCanada and the Hillsborough bridge were unpleasant. To inexperienced cyclists they would also feel unsafe. On a better weather day the Confederation Trail would eliminate having to use 3 and the TransCanada, but also the pleasant time on the 26. The problem, of course, is not unique to the Maritimes. The fringes of cities have infrastructure that is an expensive challenge to make bicycle friendly.
Once into Charlottetown (after turning into Wendy's because it was the first eatery we had seen all day) we got a nice intro to downtown en route to our lodging. Also a pleasant surprise: we had presumed that once we turned away from the harbor and cycled into the residential area we would have to assault a steep hill rather than the gentle incline we hardly noticed.
The hot shower was oh so nice!
Hooks aplenty for our damp items.
Part 2: Prince Edward Island ferry to Wood Landings
Part 3: The 315 to Caledonia to County Line Road to Brooklyn Road to the 24 to the 3.
5 km detour to try the Confederation Trail
Return to the 3 to the 26 to the Hillsborough Bridge to Charlottetown.
Weather: Variation between steady rain to drizzle, cool temperatures
We awoke to rain at 5:30 AM. Putting on the complete rain gear delayed our departure. We were unable to have 6 AM breakfast at Queen Lili (Sharon Justice's new restaurant we enjoyed multiple times), and biked instead directly to the ferry for the 8 AM departure (10km). At the ferry terminal, we had a dry half hour over a cup of coffee.
We arrived 75 minutes later at our third Maritime Province, Prince Edward Island,
 |
| Wood Islands Lighthouse |
Leaving the pavement, we tried our first heritage road, maintained as it was 100 years ago with dirt and gravel, and with trees arched over the road. Sounded beautiful, but today in the rain, the red dirt was, in places, mud and certain parts were unrideable due to thick sand; walking and pushing the bikes in these parts gave the swarming mosquitoes a great advantage. What relief after a few kilometers to return to pavement!
Our attempt later to use the Confederation Trail did provide a dry place to picnic under a nice shelter,
We have found entry into all sizable cities in The Maritimes to be a challenge, Charlottetown now included. The 26 was a nice route curving along the shore for several kilometers before entering the city across the bridge and causeway. However, our stints on the 3 and the TransCanada and the Hillsborough bridge were unpleasant. To inexperienced cyclists they would also feel unsafe. On a better weather day the Confederation Trail would eliminate having to use 3 and the TransCanada, but also the pleasant time on the 26. The problem, of course, is not unique to the Maritimes. The fringes of cities have infrastructure that is an expensive challenge to make bicycle friendly.
Once into Charlottetown (after turning into Wendy's because it was the first eatery we had seen all day) we got a nice intro to downtown en route to our lodging. Also a pleasant surprise: we had presumed that once we turned away from the harbor and cycled into the residential area we would have to assault a steep hill rather than the gentle incline we hardly noticed.
The hot shower was oh so nice!
Hooks aplenty for our damp items.
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