Borden-Carleton

Monday, July 27

Temperature: High 76°F / Low 55°F

Conditions: Sunny with some clouds later in the day.

Distance Walked: 18.7k

Experiences of the Day

We wanted to get an early start, so we left right around 6:30 a.m. and enjoyed the cool morning air. We enjoyed the peaceful countryside, ocean views, and watching the machines harvest potatoes in the fields. 

As we approached the end of the third section, I spotted three gentlemen who appeared to be working on a car in their driveway. Therese and I decided we were going to ask them for a ride to the visitor center in Borden-Carleton while Linda and Kate opted to walk. Fortunately for us, a very nice gentleman named Grant quickly agreed to take us into town. We had a nice visit with him and were very grateful for the ride. Our trip into town did not disappoint: views of the bridge, some fun with Anne, and COWS!

We bought month-long senior passes for the rural transit system and took the bus from the visitor center to Summerside where we are staying in an Airbnb. Tomorrow we will walk from Summerside to Borden and then take the bus back. Our bus driver Steven was amazing! He gave us a nice little tour and told us all about what we were seeing along the way.

Breakfast: Susan at the Oxley House B&B was absolutely amazing and sent us away with a to-go breakfast. Her bread is off the charts amazing!

Lunch: Snacks

Dinner: Veggie burgers, kale, veggies and humus. 

Lodging: Airbnb in Summerside

Day #2: Victoria

Sunday, July 26

Temperature: High 79°F / Low 55°F

Conditions: Sunny

Distance Walked: 25.6k

Evening Walk: 1.9k

Experiences of the Day

We were feeling good, left nice and early and started our walk. In fact, we were feeling so good that we walked an extra half kilometer because we ended up missing the turn off for MacEachern Road! Heather, who did this walk two years ago, told us how she got lost in this general vicinity. I completely get it now. We saw the little hiker sign and in fact I even had my picture taken with it, but there was no Island Walk sign with it and we just kept walking right on by, right up that great big hill! 

Advice: if you see a hiker sign, double check your map because it may be that the Island Walk sign is missing.

Once we got on the correct road, we had a very delightful walk through the trees. The road was quite perfect because it wasn't too dry and it wasn't too wet, making for a nice firm yet comfortable walking surface. 

Very shortly we came upon an adorable little building with a sign, New Argyle School. We saw a gentle man sitting on the front porch and recognized him as the runner we had passed earlier. Believe it or not he was a MacEachern - his grandparents had been students at the school and later his mom had taught there. We had a delightful conversation, he offered us water and presented us with raspberries! What a wonderful treat. Trail Magic!

We knew it was going to be a long walk, with not a lot around. So I had reached out to Bryson to ask him if he knew where we might be able to get water along our way. He directed us to the Free Church of Scotland and Reverend Compton. Being Sunday, we were sure to find people there. 

We arrived to find parishioners inside listening to the service. We took our shoes off and laid on the ground with our feet against the tree for a little bit of relief. Once the service was over, we introduced ourselves and the Reverend Compton invited us in for water, the washroom, and lunch! We took him up on the first two, said our goodbyes and continued on our journey. Trail Angel!

We heard barking and suddenly two Great Pyrenees showed up on the trail. They were the loveliest dogs we have ever met and escorted us for about 2 km. At one point we wondered if they were going to walk us all the way to Victoria! Eventually they disappeared down a small driveway.Trail Guides!

Our host, Susan at the Oxley House B&B told us that we just absolutely must meet Sheldon White, who is one of the people on the Island Walk board. I let him know we were going down to Richard's for some dinner and who walks up but Sheldon himself! He had all kinds of great advice for us and assured us that today's walk was one of the hardest. Phew, were we glad to hear that!

We are all pretty tired - it is our second day, the humidity was 53% (at least that's what the internet tells us), with lots of sun. That said, we met terrific people and are looking forward to continuing our walk tomorrow to Borden-Carleton.

Breakfast: Freeze dried scrambled eggs, and cheesy GF rolls from Mary's Cornwall Baker!

Snacks: Broccoli and humas; cheese

Dinner: Richard’s for fish tacos, including deep-fried haddock, roasted beets and pickled onions. Scrumptious!

Lodging: Oxley House B&B

Day #1: Dunedin

 

Saturday, July 25

Temperature: High 81°F / 61 Low °F

Conditions: Sunny

Distance Walked: 24.2k

Experiences of the Day

After months of anticipation, the day was finally here and our friend Billy led us to the trailhead. After some quick goodbyes and thank you's for hosting us, we made our way to the trail. When it was all said and done we walked for about 6 hours, which does not include the time that we spent at the grocery store, eating lunch, or wine tasting at Matos Winery.

One of the most interesting things we saw was a big stump that was covered with shoes! There was a gentleman doing some work out in the yard so we stopped by to ask him the story. As it turns out, his mother saved shoes of various family members that they had worn on vacations and decided to attach them to the tree as a remembrance of the trips. A walk down memory lane if you will.

The two really fun things that happened along the walk: 

We pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a friendly couple of honks and a wave only to discover that it was Billy who was on his way back from dropping off our friends' packs!

As we were leaving Cornwall, a very nice lady on a bicycle approached us and asked us if we were doing the Island Walk! It turns out it was Verna Lynn Weeks from the tourism association out on a bike ride. People here are so friendly!

We had a really nice time at the winery, where we met the owner. We lounged out front in the shade, fought off a multitude of spiders, and chatted with some people from Montreal. From there, we had just 500m.to go!

Tomorrow we head to Victoria.

Breakfast: Bananas, oranges, apples, yogurt, blueberries, oats, GF muffins and Tim Horton's coffee. Thank you, Billy!

Lunch: Cornwall Independent Grocery.

Dinner: Made dinner at the house. 

Lodging: Airbnb

Charlottetown Here We Come!

 

Friday, July 24

Temperature: High 75°F / Low 60°F

Conditions: Sunny

Distance Walked:  3k

Experiences of the Day: Billy & Brenda

We knew before we ever arrived here that the people of PEI were wonderful based on the interactions we have had with folks both through the Island Walk FB group and by phone. The four of us (two Oregonians, one Californian and one from Thailand) have been planning our trip since last November.

How lucky were we to have Billy host us on our inaugural visit to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. I had posted our trip to the Island Walk FB group and fortunately Billy happened to see it. He reached out and has been a wonderful ambassador - answering questions, making suggestions, picking us up from the airport, helping us with some errands and touring around downtown!

We ordered Island Walk swag from All Star Cresting at the end of June, but shipping to Oregon would mean that we wouldn't receive it prior to departure. Brenda at All Star was so kind - she suggested holding on to the items for us to check out once we arrived. She even sent us her number in case our plane was delayed and we arrived after they closed!

Dinner: Haddock, beet salad and sweet potato and bacon poutine at John Brown.

2026 PEI Grand Adventure: The Big Walk

The countdown is on! 

In 10 days, our little group of 60 somethings will start the big walk around Prince Edward Island on July 25th.

A couple of fun things:

1. We get to travel with our long time travel partners, Linda and Kate! I have known Linda for just over 40 years. 
2. When we arrive in Charlottetown on the 24th, we will be greeted and hosted by a random stranger, Billy. It has been fun having him as a resource as we plan our trip.
3. After the big walk, we will do a driving tour of Nova Scotia for five days.
4. We will finish out the trip with a wedding in Waukesha, WI. Of course, the wedding is the whole reason we are doing the walk.

Here's how the conversation started back in Oregon last fall...

"Let's see, if we have to go to Wisconsin, what else could we do in the area..." and then out comes the maps and on goes the computer we found Bryson Guptill and the Island Walk and somehow this becomes the most expensive wedding we have ever attended!