Charlottetown and Panmurre Island

Yesterday we spent the day in Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island. It's a charming little city and we just kind of roam. Buy a few souvenirs and have a lunch at Peake's Quay on the wharf of mussels and a lobster roll...this one is made differently...a lobster patty on a burger roll...quite good, but we're still seeking the marvelous mussels this island is known for.


Today we explore the eastern end of this island...and the weather is spectacular. The Moon Handbook to Atlantic Canada has been terrific for steering us to great and off the beaten track places. We plot our day to first go to Murray Harbour because the book says it is a place where seals are visible. We wind our way throughout the backroads of the countryside and thoroughly enjoy the ride. Murray Harbor is a cute, very, very,very small blip on the map...but the only gulls bask in the glorious sunshine this particular day.



We climb around a few rocks and look at a non-functioning lighthouse that seems no bigger than one found on a miniature golf course. Rick chats with a very young boy and his father who have just caught a bunch of mackerel. He wants to know their secret!

Our main excursion of the day is to go to Panmure Island to the beach. We find a beautiful beach with soaring cliffs.The rocks, dirt and sand here is all a kind of rusty red color. We set ourselves up, eat our picnic, read, walk the beach and collect a bunch of mussel shells the like of which I've never seen before. They are a vibrant blue with a lustrous mother-of-pearl interior. I don't know what we'll do with them, but they're pretty.

The town on the mainland across the way with a real lighthouse is called Georgetown...of course we need to take a picture.

It is a terrific day. We're falling in love with PEI. It is not jaw-dropping gorgeous like we saw in Lake Louise last summer. But it beautiful, gentle, very green, soft and soothing. The homes, from the very large to the very modest, all have sweeping, incredibly manicured lawns...flower beds and boxes adorn everyone of them. There is most definitely pride in ownership and it is quite striking.

Had prepared a cold dinner before we left since I know I wouldn't want to do anything when we returned. It's a great summer meal when you can get good tomatoes. I used grape tomatoes since they seemed to have more flavor. Cut them in half or use small chunks of regular tomatoes. Julienne a bunch of basil, mince two or three garlic cloves, throw in a cup of oil, salt and pepper...and here's what makes it all work....remove the rind of a wedge of brie...chop and add to tomatoes...cover and let it sit at least a few hours...the tomatoes break down the brie and
thicken the mixture into a lovely sauce. Serve over hot pasta...it's fabulous.