Waning days of summer

It is that time of year again when many of the tourists have left the island for another year. A few remain but cruise ships will bring thousands of voyagers for daily excursions over the next two months. Autumn is knocking on the door and we are enjoying these waning days of summer at some of our favourite places and one place which was new to us.

We’ve watched the fishing boats in the bay this past week as the lobster season in this part of the province continues. One day, gulls stayed close to a boat, expecting offal to be cast away which they could eat. 

Another day, we saw a trap coming out of the water. 

Fresh lobsters are a common meal in homes and restaurants this time of year.

Meanwhile, along the shoreline, a Great Blue Heron was fishing too.

On a visit to Cavendish for a walk and a picnic, we watched a squirrel chasing a chipmunk which disappeared into a tree. The chipmunk poked its head out as we watched, hoping it had escaped the squirrel.

Nearby, a fallow field has become a mass of Queen Anne’s Lace and Red Clover. It is mesmerizing, in a good way.

At the Oceanview Lookout, 

newly built since Hurricane Fiona destroyed the previous one, one can see the length of Cavendish Beach nearby.

We visited the Borden wetlands last week as well. This area is new to us, but is an area popular with birders on the island, especially at low tide. We saw Semipalmated Plovers and Sandpipers. I was happy to see this juvenile Caspian Tern. 

The Canada Geese coming in for a landing were a beautiful sight too.

The wetlands and beach are in the shadow of the Confederation Bridge, which connects the island to the mainland of Canada. The curved line of the bridge is a massive structural wave high above those of nature.

On the way home, sunflowers were the highlight. They can grow tall, as you can see by these specimens growing beside this old Volkswagen van.

Also along the way, the sunflowers in this patch were facing the morning sun. We find ourselves doing the same as we enjoy the last few weeks of the summer spectacle.

Have a great week!

The look of late summer

It was cooler this past week, without much humidity and its layer of discomfort. We have walked the boardwalk, picked berries and been with the kids on several adventures we always do before school starts every year.

There have been a few windy days, wind enough to turn Bedeque Bay into what resembles chocolate milk. The rough seas from high wind stir up the red sand in the bay and voila, chocolate milk!

On a calm day, we spotted a Great Blue Heron among the bulrushes in the salt marsh. I am fascinated by these birds and I suspect it is the same one which frequents this area as it often visits the same spot.

The bird was far enough away for it to feel safe. At one point it looked to be trying to mimic the bulrushes. 

Then it looked my way.

It stretched its neck as if to get a better look. 

I smile every time I see these last two photos.

We also saw some of the migrant birds last week including, a Black-bellied Plover, 

Semipalmated Plovers 

and a Solitary Sandpiper.

My husband and I always enjoy berry picking, a common activity of childhood in Newfoundland. This past week, we made several attempts to pick high bush blueberries with our daughter and the three children. Finally, after a few days of rain cancellations and ripening delays, we headed out. 

The last of the berries were available and I enjoyed the time with the other four, one of whom, ate more than she added to the containers. My husband entertained the golden grand-dog, Daisy, while we picked.

Time at Cavendish Grove this time of year involves a picnic and squishing apples which are past eating. 

Then we played fetch with Daisy until we were spent though she still was eager to fetch.

Also every year, the grandchildren have their photos taken hanging from a specific tree branch in the grove. With the traditional activities checked for this year, they are ready for school.

While summer has been lovely, we look forward to this month which heralds autumn and all its beauty. 

A busy week in August

It was a busy week. Besides our walks along the boardwalk, time with family and friends this past week has kept us busy. It included time on one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, at Thunder Cove on the north shore. It ended with a sleepover for the grandchildren, always fun, though exhausting.

There are certain expectations with a walk along the boardwalk, depending on the time of year. The Great Blue Herons which summer on Prince Edward Island are often visible in Bedeque Bay. 

The bands of colour and texture at low tide on a sunny day in the bay make us stop to take in the scene as one of the large birds feeds in the tidal pools.

By late August, shorebird migration has begun and some of the birds stop in the bay on their way south. Yellowlegs are common visitors and this one was alerting the animals to the predator sitting on the bank of the stream.

I managed a photo of the Red Fox running into the bulrushes. It was a few minutes before the bird stopped its alert!

Another day, sailboats were out on the bay as they often are but sails were furled. The wind was high that day.

At Thunder Cove, fun at the beach was the order of the day. The expanse of shoreline is a great place for sand castles, lying in the sun, a walk

or a frisbee. 

The local colony of gulls was watchful for morsels of food and were entertaining, as usual, as they explored areas vacated by beachgoers.

At sunset, the beach took on a glow in the diminished light. 

As the sun settled lower, the approaching night has a look of its own.

We headed back over the dune path, looked back at the peaceful scene and were thankful for our good fortune to live in this time and place.

Beauties of an August week

The last month of summer is shaping up to be a bit cooler and less humid than the previous month. We have stayed close to home, walking on the boardwalk and the Confederation Trail. We did one 40 km round trip on our bikes to the neighbouring community of Wellington however, where we had a picnic.

The highlight of this past week was the wildflowers. I cannot pass a flower-lined trail to the beach without following it to the water.  

There, just off-shore in Bedeque Bay, Bonaparte’s Gulls looked at home. They are common visitors this time of year. 

A Great Blue Heron visited the area near the salt marsh as well.

Down another such trail, someone took the time to make and install the Boardwalk Inn for squirrels and birds alike. The Inn is in a prime location.

Along the boardwalk, the wildflowers are so tall they tower over our heads. 

This Joe Pye weed approaches three metres high at least!

This ball of fluff was at the end of a lead held by a woman walking a fast pace.

It was everything the little dog could do to keep up with the owner. As the dog passed, she looked over at my husband and me, panting as she went. The little dog was giving it her all! Adorable!

A horse was in a farmyard along the Confederation Trail. This one had a visitor.

At Wellington, during our bike ride, we had lunch at the park by the Grand River.

The area was quiet with a few children at the playground and workers doing some repairs on one of the buildings. Sitting there having lunch in the sun, it was peaceful, far from the worries of the world.

Finally today, my husband’s cousin visited this past week. He is a bike enthusiast and came by on his Harley. 

It is a beauty, though a bit too big for my husband who couldn’t hold it up. If he ever gets a motorcycle, which is his dream, it will have to be a three wheeler. 

I wish you peace this week! 

August’s bounty

The golden grand-dog, Daisy, adapted to life with seniors as we became her caretakers for the past ten days. Less than a year old, the pup has so much energy whereas we don’t. However she adapted and so did we.

The Confederation Trail was our go-to site instead of the beach some days and Daisy’s delight in the trail was obvious when we let her run free. 

We always put her back on lead if walkers or bikers happened by. The dog’s freedom on that trail was a glory to behold. She jumped and moved as if she was dancing.

We frequented a section on the trail I have come to call The Orchard since it is lined with apple trees on both sides. 

It is not unusual to see apple trees along the Confederation Trail, but the number of such trees along both sides of that section of trail in neighbouring Miscouche, is exceptional.

Not to be outdone by the apple trees, Mountain Ash trees are common there as well. The berries, which Newfoundlanders like ourselves call dogberries, are ripening now and are abundant. 

Old wives tales have it that abundant dogberries mean a harsh winter. Oh well, it gives us more reason to enjoy this month.

There is a barn in the area and occasionally we saw a horse there. The horse preferred the shade most days.

Along the roadways and the trails now, Queen Anne’s Lace or Wild Carrot is in its prime and the gardener who planted these wild blooms did a great job with this bed near the parking area by the trail.

Thistles have gone to seed and fluff is blowing around in the summer breeze. Goldenrod is in its prime too.

Sometimes the smallest things stand out in a large open space. We’ve noticed individual filaments hanging from the trees in some areas. Once a row of caterpillars hung on one such filament. They floated in the breeze as they clung to the filament. It was a surprise to see them hanging over the trail.

Meanwhile we are eating produce from our garden. Green beans, tomatoes, kale, cucumbers, green peppers, basil and garlic all grew well and we’re enjoying nature’s bounty. The vegetables go from the garden to the plate in a matter of minutes and are so tasty. 

August is sharing her bounty with us in so many ways.