PEI Day 2

After a long night of torrential downpours we woke up. The tent held true and there was only one spot were a few drops of water managed to sneak in. I headed out into the world and build the fire that we didn't have the night before. It did not take long for me to crack out the fry pan to start cooking up some bacon and eggs.

We started things off by heading to Cavendish, home of Green Gables. This actually did not mean that much to me, but for those who have read/watched Anne of Green Gables this is a big big deal. The first thing we saw was the house that the author (Lucy Maud Montgomery) lived in. So the house is gone... but we visited a very nice hole! Actually the grounds are still maintained and were very beautiful. It is easy to see where she drew some of her inspiration. We then traveled just a few minutes away to Green Gables.

Green Gables

As I said, this might have meant more to me if I had been more immersed in the Anne of Green Gables stories, but it was a long time ago since my sisters sat me down to watch the movies with them and to be honest, I can't remember much. I think I will be super excited once I watch the movies... once I find a copy... uh... working on it...


Anyways. After we had our fill of the Cavendish area we decided to immerse ourselves in some of PEI's natural beauty by going to PEI National Park. PEI is known for its red soil and we found no shortage of that. The beaches were vast and were quickly filling up with people. The weather was still testy due to the storms the night before, but the Islanders were out in hordes (despite the frigidity of the waters of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence).

Red Cliffs of PEI

The beaches are covered in a very soft sand rise into great dunes. The dunes are covered in a tall grass and stretch along the coast. Far off the sandy dunes transition into red cliffs that cover much of the shores of the Cavendish area. We drove along the beaches and then atop the red cliffs. We managed to pull over every once in a while for me to wander around on the sand looking for treasures... or periwinkles...

Down the Cliff

The Littlest Periwinkle

Bottom of the Cliff

It was on one of these little walk abouts that faithful Jerusalem was well... less faithful. Allow me to paint the picture for you... Us, just pulling off of the main road in the park and into a less frequently traveled area to wander around. Hopping out, looking at this, and plenty of that, and then returning to Jerusalem. Doors open, closed, seat-belts on, key in the ignition, and turned, and the motor turning over... and the motor turning over... and the motor turning over? Why on earth is nothing happening... That dear friends is when the sinking feeling hits. The key turns but we get nothing but some clicking sound... Battery... gah... Location? Middle of nowhere.

So, out we hop and pop open the hood. The battery looks like it was hit by an atomic bomb with corrosion all over the electrodes, but... well... I bought it that way and it has worked so far. We continued to gaze hopelessly for a few moments when by chance another car pulled by. It was an older gentleman traveling with his wife and a friend from Ontario. In a thick (Eastern European) accent he asked if we were having car troubles. We assured him that we were and he jumped into good Samaritan mode with aims to save us from our woes.

Long story short we managed to scrape off enough of the corroded batter electrodes to get jumper cables attached. With some reluctance my dear Jerusalem sprang back to life.

Resurrected.

How I love helpful strangers. The man packed up his cables and the crew prepared to leave. Before taking off the man's wife came to our open window and offered some advice. She said that her husband's philosophy is that if you can help, you should. And it was that philosophy that drove him to save our day.

I will remember that.

Jerusalem purring along we booked it out of the park and towards Charlottetown. As we entered North Rustico we saw a mechanic. Not believing in chance or coincidence I thought that this was a sign and that we should stop in right away. We pulled in to the parking lot and I hopped out to talk with the mechanic (while leaving Jerusalem running... thank God I didn't stall). I told the mechanic that I had an urgent issue that I really needed addressed. He asked if it was small and I assured him it was. Right then. Right there. He managed to squeeze us in.

Right Then, Right There - New Rustico Mechanic

$20 and 30 minutes later the battery was tested (and pronounced alive and well), and the electrodes were replaced. With the connection restored Jerusalem was not only resurrected, but cured!

If we were 10 minutes later the good Samaritan would not have been there to boost us. If we did not stop in North Rustico, who knows if we would ever have found another mechanic to squeeze us in. Everything happened as it should, and it was all perfect.

Running perfectly on time we headed straight for Charlottetown. This weekend was Charlottetown's Annual Summerfest and we had means to attend; at least for one night. Surprisingly we did not get lost as we followed the roads into Charlottetown's core and then found a lucky parking space (1 in a 1000).


The Summerfest has all sorts of fun things. There are lots of things for kids, such as face painting, and those blow up castles you can bounce around, and a climbing wall, and there are lots of things for adults, such as a busker circle, lumberjack competitions, and a petting zoo!


We wandered around a bit trying to figure out what to do when the petting zoo called our names. Naturally petting all sorts of strange animals sound like a pretty good adventure to me... but so does taking my picture with all sorts of strange animals. I do have an affinity for taking my photo with strange nouns (people, places, or things) so this was right up my alley. I have a number of photos in this category, and this definitely fits in there...

Me and an Ostrich

I should also make honourable mention of this beast here. I did not get a photo with it but I must include it because I have no idea what kind of animal it is. It looks like some kind of cow... thing... I shall call it a... Flogamopatrops...

Flogamopatrops

Following our run in with nature we watched a busker juggle with fire. His show was directed at children but there were definitely a few jokes in there for the benefit of adults.

Fire Juggler

The next event was definitely a highlight. I have seen lumberjack competitions on television, but not in person. This was a real live lumberjack competition, with real live lumberjacks!!! For those of you who have not seen the competitions they race at doing all sorts of lumberjack type things, like throwing axes, and cutting with axes, and cutting with saws, and cutting with chain saws, and climbing, and log rolling, and etc. I'll not bore you with my descriptions, but it was an amazing show, and very well performed. I have two movies for you below that should give you an idea of what we were privileged enough to see. If you want more information you can check out the West Coast Lumberjack Show's website though it is currently under construction.

Climbing Lumberjacks

Logrolling Lumberjacks

Our final event for the evening was a show put on by Cirque du Soleil. This was the first time I had ever seen them and I will say that I was amazed. So amazed that I did not record a single second of their performance. That is probably some kind of stupidity, but I will call it... engrossment. Incredible. Jugglers, stilts, crazy-ropey-ribbony-things from the ceiling, acrobats, fire, and an overall great time.


Just to prove I was there I managed to sneak one photo...

Cirque du Soleil

I highly recommend that if ever the opportunity arises, that you (yes you) check out any of their shows. Truthfully, awe-some.


Back in the revived steed we returned to our campsite in New Glasgow. Late, and tired we turned in for the night; finishing a long day, and preparing for another...