From the Pacific to the Atlantic - Crossing Canada by Train
2 October - 5 November 2024

Canada 2024
17 October 2024: Day 16

Charlottetown to East Point, Prince Edward Island.

Introduction

With the cancellation of the Wood Island to Digby ferry we would now have to drive off the island, so our itinerary was re-arranged. Today we headed east on a circuit to look at beaches, coast lines and light houses. What we found was a celebrity fox!

After getting into a tangle leaving Charlottetown (until Google maps came to our rescue) we headed northeast to our first stop at Greenwich Beach. This was a cold, windswept length of sand but it was obviously a popular place in summer. There was a well-formed path and boardwalk to get from car park to beach, crossing sand dunes and swales filled with a wide range of coastal plants. It was notable for the types of berry bushes - rosehips, blueberry, loganberry etc.

We then headed east to the far end of the island, to East Point Lighthouse. Although there is not much more than the lighthouse here, it seems to be a place of pilgrimage for tourists. It has a nicely laid out park, complete with the ubiquitous Cape Cod chairs and picnic tables, but the gift shop/coffee shop appeared to be closed. But wait! What was that running across the car park?? A FOX!! Yes it was Mr Phoenix Fox himself, playing up to the visitors, posing, rolling around in the sun and looking cute. Apparently the family has adopted the lighthouse area and they often come out to play. He has been named "Phoenix" by the locals. There are stories and photographs about the fox family here.

Mr Fox made our day. After that it was back across PEI to Charlottetown . With a shortage of good restautants close to our hotel we returned to the Local Pub and Oyster Bar, where we were again treated to excellent food.

The Road to Greenwich Beach

From the hotel headed across PEI towards the north coast. Being late October Canada was in the midst of Halloween and Thanksgiving celebrations. It appeared to us that the locals had merged the two events - there were plenty of orange pumpkins (always orange) mixed up with hay and other farm produce, together with spider's webs, ghosts and other weird objects all in one display. The display outside the hotel was typical. We passed through St Peter's Bay and out to Greenwich Beach. The beach was windswept and abandoned. The walk takes you through sand dunes that had a surprising variety of wild berries.

Is this Halloween or Thanksgiving?

The road to the north coast of PEI

The turnoff to Greenwich Beach

The car park for the beach

There were signs aplenty!

But a nice boardwalk.

And plenty of berries

Abandoned and windswept

On to Shipwreck Point

The road east follows the coast. We were looking for Shipwreck Point Lighthouse, but at about the correct location all we could find were signs to Naufrage Harbour. This must be it - and it was. You cannot drive up to the lighthouse, the obvious road is actually a private driveway, so you must park in the spaces labelled "P1" and P2" and then walk.

The sign points to Naufrage Harbour, but it actually goes to Shipwreck Point

Take the boardwalk not the driveway

On to East Point

The road to the eastern end of PEI is a major tourist highway, but its condition god progressively worse as we travelled east. The potholes became larger and the seal was broken up.Large smudges of red soil told wher each potato farm was located. Eventually we turned off towards the lighthouse where the road suddenly ended. On the way we passed the turnoff to New Zealand (What!!)

Naufrage Harbour

The road was in bad condition - and got worse.

What? How did that get here? (It was named in 1924 - probably by settlers returned from the war).

That barn has seen better days..

Wind farm..

Potato farm..

Colour coordination..

First keeper..

Last keeper.

Not a dog, a FOX! Mr Phoenix is his name.

Yes, I know I am cute..

Mr (or is this Mrs) Fox is well photographed.

Back to Charlottetown

After our encounter with the fox we yurned south and headed back towards Charlottetown, skirting the south coast of PEI. We tried to drive through the central city but roadworks blocked several of he central streets, so we settled for the leafy suburbs.