Off to Newfoundland, August 2015

After a very enjoyable stay on Prince Edward Island, we head to Newfoundland, via Nova Scotia. First by ferry from Wood Islands in PEI to Caribou in Nova Scotia. Then on to North Sydney on Cape Breton Island. Then after at night in a park in North Sydney, on to Port aux Basques in Newfoundland. The ferry (MV Blue Puttees) is substantial, with two vehicle decks. The weather was perfect across the channel. I would imagine that berthing in Port aux Basques could be quite a challenge with a number of rocks close by when the ferry turns to reverse.

MV Blue Puttees ahead

Terminal at North Sydney

Looking back to North Sydney

The MV Lief Ericsson

And in to Port aux Basques

On our way to Nova Scotia from Prince Edward Island, August

After a pleasant week on Prince Edward Island we are off by ferry to Caribou on Nova Scotia and then straight to North Sydney on Cape Breton Island. From there by ferry to Newfoundland.

First sight of Nova Scotia

North Sydney, Nova Scotia

Architecture, Charlottetown

Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island is small -- only 60,000 residents. Huge numbers of lovely 19th century homes are clustered around the small business district. It makes for a highly walkable city.

Art Gallery, Charlottetown, PEI, August

The map of Prince Edward Island created in the 1760s by Samuel Wilson has  been  restored and is at the Art Gallery in Charlottetown for some months. This was the map that was used to divide up the Island  into  64 lots,  that were then parcelled out to absentee landlords. The map is huge. And the work to restore it was truly amazing.

 

Riding the Confederation Trail, Montague, PEI, August

The Confederation Trail uses the right of way from the original PEI railway, which ceased operations in the 1980s. The railway is quite a story in its own right, with a significant role to play in PEI joining the confederation.  The colony of PEI had got into some financial difficulties with the cost of the railway and looked to the Federation to get it out of those difficulties.

The trail goes 230km from East to West, with the total distance being more than 400km. The track is largely flat and very well maintained. We cycled from Montague, in the East of the Island.

Typical section of the trail -- watch for those mosquitoes! 

The old railway station at Montague. And the start of this part of the Trail.

Culinary Institute of Canada, Charlottetown, PEI, August

We had dinner at the Culinary Institute of Canada, Charlottetown, which is part of Holland College, a community college. It was an excellent dinner .. with innovative food. My main course was meant to represent all the seafood of PEI. The "sand" you can see underneath the various items was made from milk powder and parmesan cheese. The pickled fiddleheads are foraged on the island and represent seaweed etc. The "pearls" are from mushrooms. Apart from anything else, it tasted just great.

Atlantic Canada Air Show, Summerside, PEI, August

I had not been to an air show in more than 50 years, so it was great to visit the Atlantic Canada Air Show in Summerside, PEI. The airport is a repurposed Canadian Air Force base, so just perfect to close the airspace for the show. 

Highlights of the show were Yak Attack, who fly 1950s Chinese and Russian training planes -- how cool is that? -- and the Canadian Air Force Snowbirds, flying 50 year old CT-114 Tutors. The Snowbirds is a flight of nine aircraft, so they can provide continuous enjoyment for more than 20 minutes. Thank you, Canadian Taxpayer!

3/4 scale model of Spitfire -- 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain

CJ6A Nanchang

Yak 52 TW

Snowbirds

Snowbirds

Summer Theater, Prince Edward Island, August

Given the population of PEI -- only 140k -- the summer music and theater is amazing. We passed by the old favorites of Ann of Green Gables (in its 51st season) for the 39 Steps at the Harborfront Theater in Summerside and Bittergirl The Musical at the Charlottetown Festival in Charlottetown. The 39 Steps was very innovative -- four actors playing 100+ characters ably assisted by innovative sets and equally innovative lighting. It was an homage to Hitchcock and to noir, more broadly. With some more recent references thrown in. Unfortunately, on the night we went there were less than 20 in the audience for a theater that can seat 300+. It stuck largely to the storyline of the John Buchan book (which I read when I was about 12 I think) but played completely for comedic effect. Not high art but great fun.

If Bittergirl The Musical comes to your town -- and it was the world premiere in the Festival -- rush out and see it. It is all about being dumped by crass boyfriends. The musical draws on the music of Rock and Roll and Motown  with many old favorites. The musical has been selling out each night and you can see why. Universal themes, great acting and singing, innovative staging and music wrapped around a very loose story line. The musical is based on a comedy from the mid-2000s but probably works better in this format. It deserves a wide audience beyond Canada.

Talking of high art, we also went to listen to "Music from the Sistine Chapel" featuring Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal at the Indian River Festival held in the lovely St Mary's Church in (no surprise here) Indian River. Magical church music of the renaissance sung a capella. This is obviously a fine group.

What is the first thing you do when you get to Prince Edward Island? PEI, August

The first thing you do when getting to PEI is to buy fresh lobster. Then poach in wine, garlic and ginger. Yummy!

View from Richard's Fish Shop