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Our last day on PEI, we visited one more lighthouse – the one at East Point. I was delighted to see that the lighthouse is an inn and you can actually sleep in it. I’ve wanted to sleep in a lighthouse since I was a kid. But they were already booked, so I didn’t get the chance this time.

We ate lunch and hung out briefly, then headed for Summerside, still looking for some kind of camper to sleep in. The best prospect was in Moncton, so we said our goodbyes to the gentle island and crossed back over the Confederation Bridge.

In Moncton, we checked out the camper van. It seemed to have everything we needed. We slept in it Friday night just to make sure. We all slept well – it seemed like just the thing! We’d never have to pack and unpack again.

Thursday, we left the Cavendish area and began the drive to North Cape. We stopped on Lennox Island where the first nations of PEI live, but it was too windy and cold to hang out. After lunch at a country diner, we continued all the way to our destination.

The wind was really intense at North Cape. As well, we could see the two bodies of water coming together in front of us – the Northumberland Straight and perhaps the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The waves would hit head on making a splash.

We also saw a horse on the beach – horses are used to harvest seaweed from the ocean. It’s called Irish moss. They drag the seaweed out of the ocean in a box and then spread it all over the roads to dry.

After visiting the lighthouse, we went to investigate campgrounds. We found one not too far away and there wasn’t anybody there but us. There were even three sites right on the edge of the ocean with a beach right below. But it was SO windy, I said I didn’t want to camp there. Ghis was bummed, but we went into Tignish and found a little cottage for the night.

It smelled a bit cottage-y, but Morgane loved it. As soon as we arrived, she took the broom and started sweeping everywhere. Then she wanted to set the table! Is it because it seemed like a toy house or is she missing having a home?

Anyway, we have been looking at a lot of camper vans and we’re sure to buy one before long.

On Wednesday, we went to Charlottetown to pick up my fixed computer. We stopped at the market and found lots of fresh, organic food. We also found someone who wanted us to WOOF with them. Alas, we want to get to Newfoundland before winter!

The highlight of the day for Ghis was our lunch at The Tai Chi, a unique little restaurant serving hot and sour soup and other vegetarian fare.

The highlight for Morgane and I was visiting Happy Glass and meeting BJ. BJ makes her own glass beads and then makes jewelry from them. It also turns out that she has her own Morgan and the day we visited was BJ’s birthday.

We were curious how she made the beads, so she agreed to show us. Using a very hot flame, she melted a long, skinny piece of glass and twirled it around a stick. Then she dipped it in coloured glass and let the colours spread. After that it goes into a kiln so it can cool down very slowly.

We were amazed and after that, she let Morgane choose several beads from her jar of mistakes (or experiments?). Morgane charmed her and ended up with lots of interesting and beautiful beads. Now we need to find a string to put them on.

We met some nice new friends at the campsite in Cavendish. When our fire didn’t go so well, they invited us over for Smores. They even had a special smore-making tool. And she is a librarian who has started a website to review young adult books (and other stuff, too). Check it out: cutelibrarian.com

Morgane and I spent yesterday at Avonlea Village while Ghis took care of some errands. We really loved it. Every hour or two, a scene would be acted out at some location in the village. This really broke it up into child-sized bites of theater. In between, we visited the different stores and followed the characters as they went about their business.

She went on a pony ride and we got to dress up in old-fashioned clothes and take pictures of ourselves. In the afternoon, there was square dancing and a field day with sack races. At the very end of it all was a pig race.

I was pleased to see this celebration of a children’s author and her characters. I am surprised there isn’t a Harry Potter Land yet. Or is there?

Lucy Maud Montgomery also took photographs and these are displayed in Avonlea Village. That’s at least two things we have in common!

Our clothes are clean and so is the car. We are feeling a bit sad about leaving, but it is time, so we will head to the Cavendish area tomorrow. I’ve been reading Morgane a condensed version of Anne of Green Gables so she is prepped for visiting Avonlea Village, etc.

The part of the hurricane that made it here didn’t seem too bad, but we have seen a few trees that got knocked down. We still have power though.

There’s a lot here to say goodbye to. All those memories of serving lobsters, serving ourselves ice cream in the internet cafe, all the great beaches, our great hosts, the photogenic blue heron… So long Cardigan Bay!

We are keeping our eyes out for a Westfalia as we think we could use a bit more room and it would be great to have something we could sleep in.

You have to love a laundromat with wifi. It seems like I am always doing laundry, but it’s actually quite restful. It gives me some time to just sit and hang out.

Everything is pretty quiet today. Lots of tourists have left the cottages here where I do my laundry. We, on the other hand, are excited about the hurricane. The actual hurricane is expected to hit Cape Breton Island and part of Newfoundland, so we will get only a weaker version here. Still, I am excited to see it. The owner of the resort here says he used to push the couch up to the window during storms and make popcorn for his kids.

I sold a few photos at the market this morning even though it was not busy and much too windy. I also ate well – some tiny island blueberries picked by a little girl, a sausage in a bun from an organic farm (they have 13 homeschooled children!), and a fresh cinnamon bun. I guess I’m eating away my profits, but that’s kind of the point.

It’s hot and humid again and we’re wondering what it will be like if the hurricane hits tomorrow. We’re expecting rain, at the very least.

Lots of exploring lately – rode with Caroline, the other WOOFer here, to Georgetown on bikes. Also went with Morgane to Panmure Island and climbed up yet another lighthouse.

The three of us went to a Kaylee (real spelling: ceilidh or something…). It was in the historical village of Orwell and consisted of traditional music and storytelling, ice cream with strawberries, and square dancing outside.

Now we are getting ready to leave, but first I am going to try to sell some of my photographs at the little market here in Cardigan tomorrow. Also, we might stay a couple of extra days if a hurricane really does arrive.