Our quest to cycle the Confederation Trail from east to west on Prince Edward Island took us to what may be the most remote section of the trail last week. On our return ride from Selkirk to New Harmony, we only met one person, which is unusual. In addition, a section of this trail has not been groomed yet this year which made it look untamed. It is where I fell with my bike. However, the ponds and wetlands in this area are worth a visit.
Larkin’s Pond near Selkirk is known for fly fishing although on the two weeks we’ve been past there we haven’t seen anyone fishing.
We saw ducks on both occasions but they were too far away to photograph. The wind in the bulrushes is almost musical.
Numerous Baltimore Checkerspot butterflies flitted over the trail in this area and one posed for a photo.
Further along, in a peaceful wetland area,
reflections of the occasional cloud overhead adds to the scene on the water.
We crossed the road to New Zealand, PEI,
a tiny farming community whose name first appeared officially in 1925. There isn’t much written about this community but several families left the area in the 1800s to settle in New Zealand. The name of the community on PEI reflects the connection of its people to that island so far away.
McVarnish’s Pond is a Conservation Area with a fish ladder which allows smaller fish,
such as smelts and gaspereau easier access to inland waters where they return every year to spawn.
The area is pristine and quiet, the run of small fish over for another year.
Near New Harmony spring water flows, rising from the earth below, at a constant temperature of 7 degrees Celsius year round.
This section of trail has pristine water features and is more isolated than many areas of the trail. It will be safer for bicycles when it is groomed for this year.