Day 24 – June 21, 2014
Moncton, NB/Cavendish, PE/Amherst, NS
200 miles/3 ½ hours
It was chilly went we departed the hotel this morning. Chilly. It was an hour and a half drive to Prince
Edward Island, but it was a pretty drive.
My excitement as we crossed the miles long bridge to the island was
tempered, because of the anxiety I felt about the cold water. You see, I had promised R. that as a first I’d
join him in his polar bear plunge into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Whenever we travel to a frigid destination,
R. has to swim in the water. Don’t ask
me why. In a weak moment, I consented
(“I Dare Allie”) – and he was like a dog with a bone. There was no way he was going let me back
out.
So, we drove to the Prince Edward Island National Park, which encompassed their National Seashore, on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Damn, it was so cold. And it was gross. The ocean’s surface was crunchy and slimy, like gooey mud. My feet just sunk right in, with every step. I walked in to my mid-thigh and got nervous about really sinking in. I had no intention of putting my head under – brain freeze. R. suggested I drop to my knees. I did. The water went up to mid-boob. Done.
Freaking freezing!
The kids loved the cool beach (we were the only ones there –
in JUNE!), but after my “swim,” I couldn’t handle the harsh breezes. Time to move on.
Next stop, the Anne of Green Gables House. It was not an easy find. There are a number of “Anne” sights and even
with my thorough recon, I couldn’t nail down an address for the house. Eventually we were pointed in the right
direction, but when we finally got there, no one would go with me (the rain had
started). So I explored Green Gables on
my own, while the rest of my family sat in the car watching Home Alone 2.
Then, I drove to Nova Scotia. It was pouring and freezing. I feel so sorry for the people who live
here. I just couldn’t do it. Anyway, our main purpose for the Nova Scotia
jaunt was just to say we’d been. I traveled
to Nova Scotia many, many years ago with my family. My maternal Great Grandmother was from Halifax. I wanted to take the ferry over, but the
journey was too long and too expensive, and time constraints prevented us from
driving to Halifax or Yarmouth. Amherst,
just over the border, would have to do.
It was a drive-by!
Back at the hotel, I was still cold – chilled to the
bone. Yet I had one more promise to
fulfill. I had to go down the water
slide, which meant back into the swimsuit and more cold water. One trip down the slide and I was back in the
room for a hot shower. And some wine.
We ordered pizza and tried to find something to watch on
Canadian television. I went to bed at 9
p.m. I’m looking forward to returning to
the motherland tomorrow. Barbie, if
you’re reading this, I swear that wasn’t a bash. I had a much better Canadian experience this
trip, just too cold!
