Autumn Magic

My husband and I spent some time this past week enjoying leaf-covered trails and roads around our area of Prince Edward Island. A street in Summerside which is lined with numerous maple trees, is a great place for a walk any time of year, but especially in October. Now as you walk along, leaves are falling all around. Sunlight through the trees shines a spotlight on various shots of colour. The result feels almost magical.

We had two picnics during our travels, one of which was at Cavendish Grove, one of our favourite places on the island. The picnic tables are placed throughout the Grove for another few weeks 

and bikers and walkers passed nearby as we enjoyed our picnic in the afternoon sun.

While there, I checked out the area of the glade nearby which was beautiful prior to post tropical storm Fiona but was devastated by that storm. I was pleasantly surprised to see that park personnel had worked on the glade so that one could enjoy part of the area again. While not returned to its original glory, the autumn setting was a wonder with its ceiling of leaves

and its maple flooring. 

Walls of colour appeared to dance in the sunlight and complete the decor. 

A Chipmunk enjoyed its lunch as I admired its home.

Another day, we had a picnic at Scales Pond after a walk along the Dunk River. It was cool that day, just 12 degrees C but without any wind, we enjoyed the stillness of the pond. The picnic table overlooked the water where fishers paddled in the quiet scene below. 

Three weeks previously we had walked along the Dunk River during the early autumn colour. Last week, the trail was understandably busy with hikers enjoying the day and the leafy offerings at every turn. 

This time, the forest floor was covered as many of the trees along the river trail had already shed their colours. Meanwhile, across the river, many of the trees were yet to shed, creating scenes which required photos. 

It was slow going but a spirit-lifting walk with oohs and aahs at every turn.

Another day, we visited the Millman Road, a Heritage red country road through farmland. The red soil is leaf covered now in many places, leaves blending with the soil in nature’s partnership. 

This tunnel of light and shadows draws us onward through the crunch of leaves underfoot. At the top of the hill another scene mesmerizes and as my husband walks ahead, I attempt to take it in. 

We walked the length of road and headed back to the car as a neighbourhood cat watched and listened in a field for lunch.

On the way home, we passed French River and the countryside looked peaceful, fields resting after their summer’s work is done.

Closer to home, we found a field where a huge flock Canada Geese spend afternoons. The sounds of these birds, especially at take-off is a natural wonder.

We also walked the boardwalk this past week, where over forty ducks in the marsh can be observed chasing one another or “standing” as if to show off.

Finally, these Blue Jays are prepared, like the baseball team. 

Have a great week.

This past week was beautiful, even though we had rain for three days. We’ve needed rain for months and to finally have some was a relief. We continued to walk the boardwalk through cool drizzle and wind which made for invigorating walks. Such days usually ended by the fire which we lit recently for the season. 

Before the rain last week we went to Bonshaw Park to walk the hills. My husband and I are spoiled walking in the Summerside area which is a flat landscape. While we walk every day, the Bonshaw Hills were a challenge as my poor heart can testify. However, I survived and plan to visit Bonshaw more often. 

The West River flows through the park at Bonshaw and is a favourite fishing spot of many. 

There are a few stairways among the hills as well. 

Of course, the beauty of the area is a reason to stop periodically this time of year.

In places the trail is leaf covered and requires care in walking 

since the roots of trees may be reaching across the trail and be invisible.

We also walked the Rotary Friendship Trail in Summerside this past week. The ferns continue to rust 

as walls of colour are evident at every turn. 

Meanwhile, along the boardwalk, the male Bald Eagle has sub-let the Osprey nest and is in residence periodically. 

He ignored the Canada Geese which flew overhead as I photographed him.

On the home front, the resident Red Fox which lives in our area, 

usually only visible on our security camera, rested in the sun across the street one morning. It was interesting to see its stand-off with a neighbourhood cat. The fox was aware of the cat before the cat knew of the fox. The cat turned into the trees and the fox just stood its ground.

Along the boardwalk, the morning shadows mute the autumn colour as the geese overhead in the distance fill the air with their honking. 

On the bay, a young Herring Gull enjoys a meal of crab.

As always, the maple leaves are brilliant in variety and colour. We will probably enjoy their presence for another week.

I hope you have a wonderful week.

A week in October

The past week we had a picnic day in the Bedeque region across the bay from Summerside. We also walked the boardwalk and the Rotary Friendship Park trails which we especially enjoyed due to the autumn colour. 

The ferns are beginning to look rusty as they pass their “best by” date.

It was a sunny day but the wind was high when we visited the far side of the bay. The Indian Head Lighthouse and the breakwater which reaches for it, were pounded by the sea that day. The breech of the breakwater was obvious at high tide.

Later that morning, we visited the Seacow Head Lighthouse which stands on a headland from which one can see the Confederation Bridge. 

People jump off these cliffs,

necessitating the signs against swimming on days with whitecaps in the water. 

Further east along the shoreline we stopped at the park at Chelton Beach, which was closed for the season. From our lunch spot outside the gate, we watched potato harvesters in a field across the road. 

The fields are dry this year and dust blew away with the breeze. The potato truck driver must have been happy to be on his way from the field.

I walked through a field to an area overlooking the beach. In the distance, Seacow Head was visible through the foggy mist. 

The beach is inaccessible 

due to the absence of stairs at this time of year so it kept me from exploring further.

Our last stop was at the lookout further along the coast at St. Peter’s Church at Seven Mile Bay. The bell is an interesting addition to the scene.

I like the softness of the foreground of the following photo as the bridge rises out of the foggy air.

The wind is a significant factor affecting life on the island. When the wind is on-shore from the south as it was on Wednesday, the sea is rough. 

When the wind is from the northwest, off the land as it was on Thursday, the sea is calm.

The same setting can look different at low tide too.

And everywhere we go, the red maple leaves are reminders of our country. It is an important part of our Thanksgiving celebrations with family later today.

To fellow Canadians, have a great Thanksgiving! And no matter where you are in this amazing world, I wish you a wonderful week!

This past month

It’s almost a month since I last posted or spent time visiting blog friends. I am glad to be back today and look forward to catching up with everyone. Hope the last month was good for you too.

My brother and his family visited in September and it was wonderful to catch up with family and spend time together on Prince Edward Island. Islands are part of our DNA and it felt natural to spend time on the beaches and trails by the sea, even bass fishing. 

We spoke of our parents and shared great memories of them, our grandparents and our lives in Newfoundland. We realize our good fortune to have our spouses, children and grandchildren. While our family is small the bonds are strong and formed from love through the generations.

There are many photos to share from the last month, as walks continued on the trails and beaches. Most tourists are gone now and many cottagers have closed their beachside retreats for another season. Our visit to the beach at Brander’s Pond with family was on a beautiful mid September day where feathered friends greeted us by the stream.

The sea stack, one of my favourite island scenes with the coastline in the background, made the walk along that beach memorable. 

My brother and husband stayed home the night the women went bass fishing at Cousin’s Shore. Our daughter and her husband joined us there and their expertise helped us catch three bass, though undersized and returned to the sea. 

This is the fish caught by our twelve year old granddaughter, the first of the night. 

She loves fishing and has been known to stay until midnight happily fishing with the adults. She may have inherited some of those fishing genes from her  ancestors, like her mother before her.

Another day, we picked peaches at Arlington Orchard, just west of Summerside. The peaches are a new crop for that orchard which grows numerous varieties of apples too. A dessert of peach crisp was so good at a family meal that evening.

We also visited the lighthouses at New London 

and Victoria by the Sea 

as well as the beach at Mont Carmel just west of Summerside. At low tide, the beach appears to go on forever.

Through the entire month, birds charmed us too. The Great Blue Herons in Bedeque Bay entertained my brother and me one day as the rest of the family walked the boardwalk.

Another day I watched as one of the giant birds fished for a mid morning snack in the salt marsh.

One of the feeders near the western end of the boardwalk is frequented by a Ruffed Grouse. My husband and I always consider ourselves lucky if we see it.

In the salt marsh this past month, a pair of Wilson’s Snipes spent some time as they prepared for their journey south. 

Nearby, the vacated Osprey nest was enjoyed by the pair of Bald Eagles which live in the area. The male is the larger bird on the left and the one I have photographed numerous times.

Meanwhile, along the trails now, the autumn colour gives me pause. Along the trails at the Rotary Friendship Park in Summerside, the ferns provided such interesting ground cover as their autumn transformations are well underway.

Many trees vie for attention. 

Along the Dunk River Trail the sound of the river and the beauty of the scenes are captivating and make for long walks with many pauses.

Everywhere now, the red maple leaves stand out among the vegetation, reminding us of our flag and our country. Autumn is such a beautiful time of year.

I hope you have a wonderful week, be it autumn or spring where you live! Enjoy!