[ Days 45-46 ] Friday-Saturday, July 31-August 1, Souris to St. Peters Bay and Around (66km)

Origin: McLean House

Destination: Cable Head B&B

Route Description: The 358 to the 330 to Manning Road to 308 (Shehan Road) to Confederation Trail to the 2 to the 16.

Friday: 
Early showers, cloudy with afternoon clearing, clear evening.

Rolling countryside ride, paved roads alternating with gravel roads.

Kristin parked the van and rode back to meet us for a picnic lunch on a grassy corner at Manning Road and the 308. We joined the Confederation Trail a short distance ahead and made good speed until Karlyn had her second flat in a beautiful wildlife management spot just after a bridge with lovely views of quiet ponds on both sides of the trail. Srikant improved on his tire changing skills learned yesterday with Ashok's supervision. One more flat later on the trail brought Karlyn's total to 3. 

The B&B is 3km north of St. Peters, a lovely home with efficiency apartments for the Vasans and Sintobins below the main B&B.  

Wth beautiful views of the water and lighthouse, we had a picnic table take--out dnner from Shipwreck Cafe in Naufrage. 

At 8 we all joined in the dancing at the weekly Friday ceilidh at St. Peters Bay Circle Club: local musicians ( guitars, fiddles and singers). What a hoot!

Saturday: 
Beautiful sunny day from sunrise to sunset.

This weekend was Blueberry Festival celebration in St Peters. Half our group enjoyed the annual festival parade and then joined the other half, who had biked earlier to the Greenich section of the PEI National Park. A curved boardwalk that crosses a fresh water pond provides a stunning entry to a beautiful wide beach from which the huge parabolic fragile sand dune can be seen-- one of the largest in eastern North America. At the viewpoint of this large dune are placed two red adirondack chairs, a lovely tradition we have encountered in the maritimes (whether wooden or plastic) in special places. The message is clear: slow down, sit down and enjoy the moment. Words can do little to describe the great beauty of this protected part of the island. Swimming, wading, sand castles--a fun-filled time on this pristine beach. We celebrated Srikant's birthday tonight with a special dinner at St. Peter's Inn, highlighted by after-dinner charades spoofing Srikant by Korcho, Sinta, Vikram and Ashok. What a wonderful day!