A warm sunny day and an eagle update

We had a few windy and rainy days this past week which kept us inside but our weather has been lovely the last few days. On Saturday, we decided to go to the head of the bay to see if the Bald Eagles were in residence. 

Along the way, we stopped at a section of the boardwalk near the marina to walk by the bay. This  area still has ice as does the protected water of the marina. 

By April, boats will start to fill the marina for another season.

Along the way, the Indian Point Lighthouse is visible in the distance and at first glance, looks like an addition to the wharf.

There are piles of snow yet to melt in this area but people were out enjoying the setting on the beautiful blue sky day, oblivious to the snow nearby.

In this section of boardwalk, you pass the shed of the sailing school and a boat is part of the Package Deal.

Meanwhile, the Bald Eagles at the head of the bay were in the top of the tree where I had seen one perched previously. 

Both were alert, in close proximity to their nest. I wonder how long before we see eaglets over the top of the nest?

On the bay, a small flock of Canada Geese stayed together near the shoreline. The geese looked to be enjoying the day as much as we were.

We may head further from home if the weather stays mild next week.

Summer day in October

The weather is unpredictable this year. It had turned cold, then we had a few summer-like days which delighted and surprised us. Always ones to look for opportunities to cycle or walk/hike, we headed to Cavendish to ride on the west end of the bike/walk path along the Gulf Shore Parkway.

This parkway runs along by the Gulf on St. Lawrence and while lined with trees, opens periodically to beautiful beach and sea vistas. We always enjoy driving along the parkway so we’ve looked forward to cycling there since we ordered our bikes.

We unloaded our bikes at MacNeills Brook, overlooking the beach. 

The last time we were here we saw hundreds of jellyfish along the shoreline. The beach is all but deserted today and there aren’t any jellyfish either. A gentle wave lapped the shoreline.

There wasn’t much traffic along the parkway, not that it would have affected us anyway. The slight breeze was warm, as we headed east. There were insects that day which isn’t surprising and it was the first time I’ve felt them hit my face as I rode along. 

The road is lined with coniferous trees which show the effect of winter’s icy blast, especially on the seaward of the road. 

Surprisingly, wildflowers lined the sides of the bike path even though it is past the middle of October. 

We also saw a Great Blue Heron wading in the Gulf as gulls fed nearby.

At Mackenzies Brook, access to the beach has been cut off since rocks were placed along the beach where erosion was occurring. This area is also the site of a hole in the sandstone cliff, on its way to becoming a sea arch. I caught a photo of a bird in the opening quite by accident.

Along the shoreline at one location, there is an ark-like boat with an interesting message on its side. The couple will obviously remember that night and so will everyone else now.

One of the things I love about Prince Edward Island is the way the lifestyle of the people reflects both the land and sea. This pleasure boat is high and dry next to an old barn. 

Down the road, cows in a pasture can look out to sea too.

Riding along, the sound of the sea was a constant. With the wind in your face and the fresh salt air, this ride along the Parkway was everything we imagined it would be.

 

 

Farm country

We cycled four times last week, with our latest outing on Saturday. It was a beautiful autumn day, with a breeze cool enough to be comfortable. We rode eastward in the centre of the island along the Confederation Trail, in an area we hadn’t explored previously. We enjoyed the countryside and everything it revealed.

The area is farm country and old barns were a common sight as we rode along. 

Fields of crops such as potato almost ready for harvest or field corn, 

are common sights on the island. 

However, we also passed a huge field of carrots, some harvested, 

some still in the earth. We had never seen such a field.

Old barns were a common sight but one newer barn held cows.

Outside that barn, a vine had taken over the usual vegetation, covering it completely.

Asters and goldenrod are growing along the sides of the trail but daisies were prominent along the edge of the trail and fields over a two kilometre stretch. They were a pleasant addition.

Near another old barn, four horses were feeding on hay. There wasn’t enough rain this year for grass to grow much. 

One house near the trail is obviously the home of a fisherman. An old boat lies in repose out back 

and nets are drying nearby.

People are preparing for the cold weather, getting wood ready while the temperatures continue in the comfortable range.

It is interesting to have a glimpse into the lives of farmers and fishers on the island as we ride the trail which connects all of us.

The Crick

It’s been a few years since we walked the boardwalk in North Rustico, a community on the north-central shore of Prince Edward Island, known as The Crick by locals. The area was first settled 6000 years ago by the Aboriginal people.  Jacques Cartier, a French explorer, sailed along the coast in 1534. Acadians settled here in 1790 and their descendants still live here today.

A fisherman statue, styled after the Acadian fishermen of the 1920s, stands proudly in the harbour. I wonder what he thinks of the various craft which pass by these days?

The boardwalk along the shore provides views of the harbour and along the way, apple trees and wildflowers line the paths. Brown-eyed Susans smile at us as we mosey along.

The channel through the harbour is busy today with a variety of vessels. Large and small pass near the old wharf as they make their way out of the well protected harbour. 

Outside the harbour, the boats navigate the channel through the sand bars which can shift position causing problems for ocean craft. There aren’t any problems today however.

We watch the boats then return along the boardwalk.

There we sit and relax on one of the benches and take in the scene which includes a heron. It looks as peaceful as I feel in this place.

Geared up

Everything is ready and waiting. Setting day, first day of the lobster season, was planned for April 29th but the wind was prohibitive. It continues to be. Now the earliest day is Thursday. Meanwhile the boats are tied up by the wharfs

and the traps stacked behind them, ready to be loaded on board.

My husband and I visited two ports. At Malpeque, the scene was consistent with other ports around Prince Edward Island. The traps, ropes, buoys and boats all show the work which goes into the preparation for the season. 

At French River, a smaller fleet of boats is tied up, waiting for traps to be loaded once the season is a go. 

While they are not deep, the boats are wide, able to hold dozens of traps, stacked on each other. 

The Knot Inarush and its gear are rearing to go.

On the hill overlooking French River, the scene stretches out before us.

The yellow fields are moments from green, as are the trees, waiting for nature to do her magic. The Knot Inarush is in the left of the photo. It doesn’t matter if we R Inarush for lobster. Nature is in charge.

Wise bird

After what felt like weeks in the house, my husband and I headed out to lunch earlier this week. On the way, we decided to head to the north shore of the island to see if ice lined the coast. The sun threatened to appear as wind blew clouds over the frozen land as much of the snow disappeared with the most recent thaw.

We drove to Malpeque Harbour, a favourite place to take visitors. The beach nearby, the working harbour and the farmers’ fields along the way are representative of island life. 

The wind was high enough to make the -7 C feel 10 degrees colder. It was icy under foot as well since we had a flash freeze after the last thaw. I forgot my ice grippers, so I didn’t go far. 

While my husband, who has better sense, waited in the car, I had company as I crept along behind the fishing shacks. A flock of European starlings filled some trees but took to wing as I approached. Several Blue jays landed near the same trees, picking seeds off the ground. 

But the most impressive creature was a Common raven, the biggest I’d ever seen. It  had claimed its place in a tree. 

With its distinctive call, it summoned another raven, which swooped in from a tree nearby but didn’t stay.

The basin was frozen, 

the fishing shacks deserted, 

the area desolate. Some boats were stored in the parking area near the shacks.  

Nothing stirred except the birds and the only sound was the raven. It squawked as I passed by as if to warn that I soon would be frozen like everything here. 

Time to go!

Out of water

A beautiful sunny day drew us out of the house last week. We drove to Stanley Bridge on the north shore where a number of objects which are usually in the sea were prominent on shore. 

The marina at the Bridge has many floating docks where the boats tie up during the warmer seasons of the year. 

This day it was different.

Many of the floating docks were high and dry, stacked on top of each other in the parking lot. 

It is unusual to see what lies beneath a dock, but seaweed and mussels were visible on the pontoons.

On the opposite side of the parking lot, closer to the water, buoys of different sizes were ashore as well. They were brightly coloured and the largest ones dwarf the small shed nearby.

Next to the largest buoys, others of various sizes were piled together. All had mussels and seaweed below their water marks.

There isn’t much room for boat storage in this area but one boat was tucked in below the road. 

And as is often the case, lobster traps, some of the tools of the trade, were stored beside a shack. 

There was activity, as a few people worked in the fishing shacks. An open door gave a glimpse into the domain of the island fishers who are out of water too. However, spring is on the horizon!