The Canadian Potato Museum was nearby. The history of the potato and the potato industry in PEI is presented in very thorough interpretive displays and videos. One display shows the various types of potatoes being grown in PEI, including Kennibeck, Chieftan, and Red Pontiac, brands that I planted in our garden in Iowa as a kid. Dad bought the seed potatoes, and we spent hours cutting them for planting, into about six pieces, each with two eyes--Dad insisted each piece have two eyes.
The history of the potato is interesting in itself. It was introduced to Europe by explorers to South America who found that potatoes could be dried, transported easily, and used as food for the sailors, and to prevent scurvy. Potatoes were mostly fed to cattle and pigs, and were slow to catch on as a food crop, probably because potatoes sounded like "tomatoes," which they considered poisonous. The natives that worked in the mines at Patosi (Peru) were found to be unusually healthy for such hard work and such long times spent underground--because of eating dried potatoes. At Fortress Louisberg where we ate an authentic meal for the time period, we were told not to expect potatoes on the menu because they hadn't be introduced in the colonies yet. [They did, however, carry authentic credit card machines.]
A display of at least 25 potatoes with various diseases discusses how these diseases have been eradicated or controlled. Premium brands of potato plantings (slices with at least two eyes) have been developed at least two major farms in PEI--one brand is Elite, and we drove by their production facilities. The Canadian government tests and regulates the production and marketing of new brands of potatoes, and development to production can take 10 years. Just like learning in depth about any agricultural industry, it is amazing and interesting the time, energy, and money used over the years to perfect all parts of the process of producing all the potatoes that we eat in North America.
In a new 7,000 square foot addition to the museum, machinery that has been used through time to plant, fertilize, spray, and harvest the potatoes is displayed alongside farm machines that have been used for other PEI crops of wheat, corn, and hay. On the way out we purchased some potato fudge--yum, yum!
.JPG)
Patrice at the Canadian Potato Museum
Historic tractor and potato digger
Machine shop with potato cultivating equipment
Historic threshing machine
We ate our picnic lunch at the museum and then motored on south and west to visit the West Point Lighthouse, boardwalk and beach. The Lighthouse was built in 1875 and is the tallest (67 feet-8 inches) one on PEI. It was electrified in 1963 and only 2 keepers had been assigned to it during its 88 years of operations before then. The black stripes were red until 1915. The lighthouse is now owned by a private company and it houses an inn, restaurant, and museum.
West Point Lighthouse
A boardwalk on the 8-foot-high sand dune that has built up between the lighthouse and the beach-- its several kilometer red sand beach was packed with swimmers and sun bathers. Marge loves to get her toes in the sand.
Marge and Jerry on the West Point Beach
At North Point we took pictures of the lighthouse and the two-kilometer long reef offshore. It's the longest natural rock reef in North America. At low tide, you can walk out on the reef and see the tidal pools and sea creatures. Unfortunately, low tide was at 1:00 am, and we didn't stick round. We did see that the part of the reef above water was full of cormorants and seagulls, and seals swimming in the water nearby.
The lighthouse was constructed in 1865 and is one of forty active lighthouses on PEI--no tours, and no public access for this one. It was constructed to warn ships of the reef that separates the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait. Before the lighthouse was built the locals would light fires to warn ships because the reef was so dangerous. Part of the bargain PEI made with the Canada for joining the Confederation was the construction of the North Point Lighthouse.
We got our Point-to-Point Certificate documenting that we visited both the East Point and North Point Lighthouses. A large wind turban field (windmills) has been installed on North Point and in several fields along the west coast. Marge and Jerry feel that the wind farm and the building housing the gift shop, restaurant, and wind power interpretive center detract from the ambiance of the lighthouse and surrounding natural area.
North Cape Lighthouse
North Cape red shore and reef
North Cape Reef
Fishing boat crossing North Cape reef
Gulls are following boat loaded with fish
We drove on the east side of the point toward home and stopped at Jude's Point. There were fishing boats docked at three distinct harbor facilities there, and those boats form Canada's largest Atlantic fishing fleet.
Finally on the the last leg of today's trip I found this potato field in bloom with the ocean in the background. I had been hunting for the perfect shot and finally found it.
PEI potatoes in bloom
For our last supper on PEI we cooked some potatoes and sweet corn purchased at one of the many roadside stands. These stands operate on the honor system, i.e., you make your selection and deposit your money in a box. It was a great dinner--all the corn was eaten, and we split what was left of the famous PEI potatoes.
No comments:
Post a Comment