Mike (and the) Bike

Our only National Park "Cavendish"

Finally... 

After months of inactivity, Mike and I finally got our timing together and happened to catch a good day last week.  It was warm and calm, two things that are not necessarily hand in hand.

It was Mike's first ride of the season (Hell it was pretty much everybody's first ride of the season) and you could just tell he was pretty darn apprehensive.  I mentioned in passing that "we should stay here, drink a cold beer and bench race." I was kidding of course.

Mike, getting in the groove!

It wouldn't have taken much to change his mind, but by the time we hit Park Corner, he was feeling somewhat better and when we passed through French River, he was if not, in the groove, then darn close to it.

As for Mike, I had just two words of advice; 'seat time'.

Anything odd about this photo?

Nothing like a picnic right on the beach!

"Should I or shouldn't I"... that is the question.

Lobster boats coming...

...and going.

Must be close to summer!

We headed out to Cavendish and the National Park, always the best time to go, little traffic, easy to get some photo ops and there is something fascinating about riding mountains, deserts or near the sea.

We have some hills (our highest point is nearly 500' above sea level and we are part of that ancient Appalachian range) no desert but plenty of ocean. 

Reminds me of that woman asking the hostess at Island Preserve company last year, if the "Island was completely surrounded by water?"

Say what?!

To say Prince Edward Island is such a jewel would not be lying one iota.  Although physically small, it is incredibly picturesque and we did take pictures to prove it. 

Oh he's feelin' it now!

Surprisingly there are many roads and it's virtually impossible to get lost.

Of course this time of year given the winter we just had, many of the secondary unpaved roads are still mired in mud, snow covered or both!  We stayed on pavement for the most part.

Low tide on the North shore.

If the Island is pretty, then Rustico is Pretty with a capital "P".  We detoured to the coast talked to some bikers and then stopped for a doughnut and cafe at the local Robins.  Most of the summertime tourism outlets are just waking from the long winter slumber and those in Rustico were no exception.  Most eateries won't be open until the early part of June. It's a very short tourism season. Most have to make a go of it in three months, mid June to mid September. 

Everyone I talked to and in fact Tourism PEI advertising, is hoping to lure Americans back to our beaches and cottages and campgrounds.  They stopped coming after 9/11 and only now with their economy rolling along are they beginning to return.  Having a 20 cent advantage on their dollar certainly makes it more attractive to travel north from New England to the Maritimes.

Let's hope things pick up for the Island tourism industry and our economy picks up...

Maybe business will be so good, the province will toss the hated 14% HST out the window into the trash heap where it belongs.

Nothing like a couple of pals riding their bikes on a beautiful day!

Gee what's that, did I just see a pig fly by... :)