13 August 2013 On the Points East Coastal Drive

This morning we left our RV site in the Red Point Provincial Park about 10:30 a.m. and headed north on the Points East Coastal Drive to the far northeast point on Prince Edward Island (PEI) and then southwest to the PEI National Park, Greenwich. We stopped at Basin Head Day Park only two kilometers east of our park. The beautiful sandy beach is an obvious local attraction here. Kids of all ages were out struttin' their stuff--bikinis, sun-bathing, playing in surf, just walking around, people-watching, everyone was enjoying the gorgeous day.

The shoreline in this part of the PEI is framed with red sandstone; when it breaks down into sand it slowly changes color to tan and later nearly white. Basin Head's sand was a sandy tan.

We took Carlos and walked bare-footed through the sand and got our toes wet in the Atlantic Ocean surf. He about tired himself out.

With the incoming tide, the ocean water flows very fast through the narrow inlet here, framed by wharf sides and a bridge over it. Kids (and adults) jumped into this inlet, and let the dissipating current float them onto the shore of this tidal saltwater lake. The life-guards were watchful. The water flowing into the lake was full of seaweed pieces and other ocean debris.

  
This photo shows the red sandstone cliffs, flow into the tidal lake, and a farm in the background. 

East Point lighthouse was our next stop, located at the far northeast tip of PEI. Here we ate our picnic lunch, listened to the ocean and the barking of seals offshore. The old foghorn house is now a cafe and a craft and souvenir store. 

East Point lighthouse

Sign in the foreground: "end of the world here" 

Driving southeast we passed by huge potato fields and some wheat, corn, and bean fields. We took a side road into the North Lake Harbour and found several photo opportunities. This is a fishing village and many ships and associated storage buildings lined the inlet channel from the ocean.

Marge, Jerry, and myself found the ideal spot to sit and watch and listen to the ocean while Patrice did some photography of Queen Ann's lace and local cottages.

 

Marge and Jerry

 

Myself, Marge, and Jerry

 Queen Ann's Lace

Queen Ann's Lace with a bug

                                                             Miff's Place

We were intrigued by a structure someone built on the shore. Look close and you can make out a Jeep-like vehicle.

Continuing southeast on the Points East Coastal Drive we  took a gravel side road from St. Margaret's to another local beach. The view was magnificent. The scene looked like pictures from Scotland. There was again a lot of sun and beach activity at the end of this road.

St. Margaret's Beach

A few miles further down the road brought us to the Shipwreck Point Lighthouse.

Shipwreck Point Lighthouse

The only access to this lighthouse was to walk down a path. The area nearby was subdivided and a few lots sold. One of the guidebooks to PEI says to see the province before it becomes spoiled by the very things that such beauty encourages--subdivisions, new homes, more services and restricted access.

Our last stop for the day was at the Interpretive Center for the PEI National Park, Greenwich. There are three sections to this park along the northern coastline, and this is the main visitor's center for the entire national park. Exhibits explained the formation and movement of great sand dunes in the park. A time-lapse aerial view of the nearby dunes, over a period of nearly 80 years was amazing. It also shows how delicate the system is, and how making new roads and paths can cause instability and the dunes will move once more. A short video discussed the peoples who have occupied the area including the Mi'kmaq natives, the Acadians, and the French and British armies.

Once again we meet the Acadians in history. In 1758 about 3,000 Acadians were deported to France; about 1,700 of these souls died of disease on the ships and in shipwrecks. After many years, some of the remaining were allowed to return to PEI, and continued to live in their distinct Acadian culture. 

The only access to the dunes were hikes over boardwalks. We didn't take any of the hikes because they were too long and we were too tired. 

We left Greenwich and headed back east across the island to Souris (means "mouse" in French) where we did some grocery shopping and returned to our rigs. [An interesting note: In St. Stevens I stopped for gas. I pumped the gas outside the store (no credit card insert on the pump), and went in to pay right after. In the states, I would have had to pay first.] 

Another leisurely day planned tomorrow.