On the trails

We have had some miserable weather again this past week with rain and high winds. Prior to this latest weather misery, we enjoyed several of the trails around the island as autumn colour began.

West of home, my husband and I walked the two new trails in Tyne Valley one day and especially enjoyed the hilly terrain of one of those trails. That trail is well groomed, without roots to slow one’s progress or to trip over.

The trails cross a number of streams 

and have new bridges traversing them. 

The leaves were beginning to show some autumn colour though green was the dominant colour at that time.

We bought our Coleman stove with us that day and cooked bacon and heated homemade baked beans. It was a delicious lunch with a cup of tea.

A few days later, east of home, we walked the trail at Breadalbane where a furry sentinel greeted us as she hunted for mice among the ground cover.

Puss accompanied us for a time, leading the way on occasion.

This trail has older bridges which cross streams through areas of forest which were beginning to show some fall colour.

Part of this trail is root covered and requires one’s full attention. Another section is on the Confederation Trail where the going is easy. In this more open area, the leaves have already reached their peak colour.

Along the way, we happened upon a Hairy Woodpecker, as she searched for food. 

Later, we had our homemade beef stew near the entrance of the trail. 

As we ate, a silk thread wafted through the air between us and a spider appeared on the thread which must have reached from the trees across the road. We watched as the breeze took the thread and its maker onto the goldenrod nearby which had gone to seed. It looked like a safe landing for the arachnid.

On the way home, we passed some Puddle Ducks in a watering hole for the cows grazing nearby. The scene depicts the peace and tranquility we enjoyed both days!

Autumn on the trail

It It was a cooler day, with a slight breeze and a mixture of sun and cloud. However the sun was shining as my husband and I headed out on our e-bikes. He rides more often than I do but this day we headed out together, hoping to have a picnic in Wellington, west of Summerside.

  

There are a few sections of this area of the Confederation Trail where it is leaf covered. The crunch of leaves as we rode was music to our ears as leaves were in short supply this year, many having been shredded by Fiona and stuck to windows, houses etc.

Just past Miscouche, the marsh area is flooded. 

Sometimes this area is almost dry, not so this day. Nearby, junipers or tamarack are the last trees to change colour 

and a huge wasp nest is easy to see among the bare branches of other deciduous trees. 

How that nest stayed in the tree through the violent wind of Fiona is a natural wonder.

We saw several Ruffed Grouse along the trail that day too. They were on the side of the trail and flew into the trees when we came near them. 

They are mottled browns and greys and disappear into the underbrush easily. 

This tree stump was an interesting find when we stopped on one occasion. 

It has two huge eyes looking out, a head of mossy hair and a shrub growing up through the moss. Nature always amazes us with how she reclaims her own.

The Confederation Trail has picnic areas every few kilometres. This one by the Ellis River in Wellington was a great spot for our picnic. 

Our new wide-mouth thermoses were just right for the chicken casserole we had for lunch, piping hot accompanied by a mug of hot tea. My husband and I like to have our main meal at lunch time and the thermoses allow us to vary what we bring for our picnic lunches.

While we ate, a local resident dropped by to check us out.

Curiosity is a feline trait after all. We called her Fluff. 

Other area residents were about too. Black-capped Chickadees called from the trees and Red-breasted Nuthatches walked down the trunks as the Chickadees flitted around them. Further down the Ellis River, five ducks swam around creating waves on the water which made it hard to take a good photo. Male and female Mallards, a female Merganser and male and female American Black Ducks made for lovely company while we ate. We hope Fluff will behave herself where our feathered friends are concerned.

After lunch, we rode to the park in Wellington, mere metres away. Herring Gulls 

took advantage of the quiet day on the river as we rode around the park on our bikes.

On the way home we stopped at the marsh again where the sun had broken through the clouds and the sky was reflected in the water. I love this union of water and sky.

I felt chilled that evening and it took me some time to warm up. However, the 30+ kilometres on bike weren’t detrimental to my hips and legs! Yay!

To the west

We were prepared to put our bikes away but a rare November 12 C day enticed us to go cycling again. My husband and I continued westward on Prince Edward Island, beginning at Portage. No need for warm clothing this day. The slight southerly breeze was warm and fall clothes were sufficient. The sun never exposed itself for the day, merely hinted at an appearance.

This section of trail has many flat straight stretches through areas of bog and farmland. The bogs are rimmed by juniper/larch trees which are pretty as their needles respond to the darker days and cooler temperatures. 

The deciduous trees are naked, spent leaves covering the woodland. Grey branches and trunks predominate and contrast with the browns of tall grasses and bulrushes.

White birches stand out in this setting.

The bare branches expose wasp and bird nests, curiosities now that their former residents have moved on. 

A cat stops to watch the two seniors approach on bikes. 

Further along the trail, a Ruffed Grouse follows a companion across the trail. I stopped for the first one, and while I waited for my husband, the second one sauntered across as well.

It was well camouflaged in the vegetation along the trail.

An old house on Jack-a-Point Road has seen better days. The roof could provide a roller coaster ride. The house doesn’t look that old which poses the question as to what caused its current curvaceous shape. 

One also has to wonder about the name of the road. 

On the way back to the car, we stopped for a breather. We had cycled thirty kilometres and were tired as we looked around. The light was typical of November but the stillness of the day was not. It was perfect!