Monday Concerts on PEI

Monday was a day for concerts here. Starting about 11 am, we went to a show put on by a group called the Young Company. This is a group of talented young performers from across Canada providing entertainment and a history lesson on the treatment of indigenous peoples in Canada. A free performance (donations accepted), held at the under-reconstruction Confederation Centre.

This fellow ended up managing some 16 rings at once

 It was a moving performance at times. We all know something about the treatment Canada has provided to our Indigenous peoples, but these folks have lived it for generations. It makes it even more real.

The main Confederation Centre building is undergoing a massive overhaul, some 60 Million $$ worth of major reconstruction shrouded in huge tents:

A popular attraction in the Centre is the large table used for the Confederation meetings when Canada was created. A replica has been provided during the reconstruction, and as a bonus can actually be used:

Nearby is a beautiful old church made with PEI sandstone:

Since PEI doesn't have much native rock, the other provinces each donated a rock. This is Ontario's donation:

Could have been right out of the Bruce Peninsula

 In the evening we went to a Highland Storm performance put on by the College of Piping in Summerside, not too far from Charlottetown. Regular shows are put on by advanced students and their instructors. If you like Scottish music (and we do) you'd enjoy the show. More talented young people:

Here's a short video to give a sample of the show:

It was a much later night than normal for us, thus this blog was published the next morning.

A bike ride and fish&chips at Covehead

On Sundays in the summer, Charlottetown closes part of a downtown street and has a market day. Mostly local vendors again. It looks kind of flea-marketish, but really isn't.

 

 

Several nicely-made cribbage boards here, a good locally-made souvenit

Something different!

After we left the market, the 4 of us loaded 2 bikes on the car and drove out to Stanhope/Covehead area. Pat and I went for a nice loop bike ride, and met up with the gals in the middle for fish and chips.

Mostly riding on trails, or roads like this

Here's what owning a number of Tim Horton franchises can get you.

We settled for excellent fish & chips though. 2 orders more than enough for all 4 of us.

 

Here's where we got them, at the Blue Water Grill in the North Shore National Park:

Doesn't look like much, a modest takeout with maybe the best fish&chips we've ever had

Here's the lineup at the more famous fish & chip place (Richard's) right next door:

They do have a liquor license, and indoor seating

Back at "home", sitting on the porch, when I heard an odd clip-clopping sound:

A special event at a house around the corner, they brought in a carriage ride

Today's route map:

Touring Stratford and Charlottetown PEI

Today we had a couple of different tours. First we guys went on a bike ride to the grocery store, via the scenic route around Stratford bike trails:

 

Bunbury, an old community, was absorbed with the Stratford amalgamation

Services are still held in this lovely little church

Nearby a small park is dedicated to Robert Cotton, considered the father of the PEI parks system. 

Today was "Hang out your Quilt" day on PEI. People hung out quilts and posted pictures on Facebook. Nancy's display included 2 quilts made by Cathie, and a 100+ year old log cabin quilt made by their grandmother. Their picture received lots of Likes:

In the evening we toured the Government House area. This is where the Lieutenant Governor stays when he is in residence.The grounds are beautifully done, and look over the Charlottetown Harbour:

A Grand ole tree eh Mr F.G.

Could put some great swings on this one

 

The Harbour boardwalk. The sail in the middle is Pat's brother Kurt returning from a charter

 Mystery plant - any identification opinions? 

 The above is an invasive plant that is spreading all over the Island. Can anyone identify it? Pat and Nancy have been unable to find out what it is.
Followup: We think it's called "small balsam", according to an free app called iNaturalist, which helps identify plants.

A day in Stratford PEI

Not much happening today, "household" chores mostly. Just a few pictures:

Our moochdock site, pretty nice spot!

Down by the shore. That's Charlottetown over there.

The sisters cribbage championship

 No map needed today.

Back in PEI for while

A big goal for Cathie this trip was to get to Deanne Fitzpatrick's rug hooking store, in Amherst NS. If you're into rug hooking you likely know that Deanne is kind of a modern-day guru for the craft. It was a great visit for Cathie:

The main retail part of the store

Cathie meeting Deanne herself. What a dynamo Deanne is. Very gracious too.

 Once Cathie was done at Deanne's, we had to decide what to do next. We had no luck at all with camping in NS for the upcoming weekend, and PEI wasn't far away. So we made a reservation at our favourite PEI camping spot, Pat & Nancy's driveway, and back to PEI we came via Confederation Bridge:

Nancy's garden is in bloom

Here we are comfy on Nan & Pat's porch

 

After supper we took a short hike around their area of Stratford. A small park nearby is a tribute to Michael Thomas, Born in PEI in 1885, Michael was one of Canada's first outstanding distance and marathon runners:

That's the bridge from Stratford to Charlottetown PEI in the background

We'll be set up here for a few days, just hanging out and visiting.

Here's today's route: