After a hearty breakfast we took advantage of the laundry facilities in our B&B to do our clothes, then took off for a leisurely long drive across PEI. Well, from Charlottetown up to Cavendish area and back on a loop of several back roads. Clearly this island caters to tourists, so there are lots of kitsch shops including one with statues of riding figures out front.
0114 Riders & Mounts
The steed with a monkey on its back looks less mellow than our mood, but the serene sculpture on the left had the rider apparently using the animal’s tail as a saddle in some way that both seem comfortable with. We stopped because of this sign:
0117 Cafe Open
Turned out it was only the half dozen or more gift shops that were open, so we saddled up for the short drive out to PEI National Park for a look at the mercifully quiet Gulf of St. Lawrence.
0118 Quiet Gulf
You could see signs of how much pounding this shore gets in more turbulent storms, and ample indications (not just all the wind turbine generators) of how much wind there often is. Back on the country roads though, we saw water parks, amusement rides, and even what looked like a full-size space shuttle.
0122 Landing Error?
One theory we discussed is that women come to Cavendish to walk the ground of L.M. Montgomery, and the kids (especially the boys) are much happier dropped off at the many nearby entertainments than watching their mothers wander dreamily around an old house. Arriving at the only real focus of our drive, we were greeted by a charming wild, slightly lame and tame fox.
0304 Calmly Alert
It was clearly interested in handouts, though we had none, and it circled warily at a fairly exact distance of 20 yards pausing to politely convey a nonverbal request for food before meandering off in search of better-supplied tourists. We then turned our attention back to the other side of the parking lot where a small cottage draws big crowds on sunnier days. My precious Anne was named for this place with the green gables, and she was absolutely sparkling with the joy of being there.
0310 Anne of Green Gables
For a few dollars we got to wander the original house that inspired the author to write her first book, and to see her upstairs bedroom.
0315 Dreamer's Room
We stood in the yard by a tree that was probably young back then, and looked at the meadow and haunted woods.
0317 Pondering Past & Present
Arriving half an hour before closing time on a cool day before peak season gave us a quiet and reflective time to be there with just a few other hushed and hardy souls. In a somewhat more contemplative mood we set off again on a loop back toward town, with more glimpses of the Gulf.
0277 Sand & Sea
It was raining of course but our friend from Toronto told us not to believe locals when they say it’s not usually like this, so we decided to actually visit Toronto via an enchanting red dirt back road shortcut.
0123 Back Road
Toronto itself turned out to be more than a little disappointing, consisting primarily of two intersecting roads dividing two houses marked only by a leaning sign post.
0125 Toronto City Centre
Luckily we did see many picturesque places like the little village of Rusticoville along the way.
0294 Yellow & Green
Many places where time and tide await the patient wanderer with the quiet sound of distant birds and lapping waters, above a hint of air moving through trees.
0326 Time & Tide
On our new route home we looked across the small bay where we walked exploring the restored homes, and the culinary school where we enjoyed fresh chowder.
0128 Another View of Home
We savored the day, memories of youth, the joys of maturity, and an inner calm that refreshes our love of adventure.
John & Anne Wiley 
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