Sunday, Aug 9

Temperature: High 75°F / Low 67°F

Conditions: Overcast and humid

Distance Walked: 25k (includes dinner walks)

Experiences of the Day

By the time I woke up today (7:40!) three of our walkers were already on the trail and the fourth one was going to bike part of it and then switch off with one of the other walkers. That left me to walk the trail in solitude with my LM Montgomery audiobook and my new shoes (which I love).

We had stayed at the Slemon Park Hotel, a total win. When we checked in the night before, Kim had set us up with everything we needed: extra water, plates for the microwave, a hot pot, and directed us to the free washer and dryer and there were multiple laundry rooms (we were staying in the barracks after all). The sheets were super soft and it was extremely quiet. That's probably why I slept 10 plus hours, which I really needed.

I went down to check out this morning and there was Kim. I asked her if she knew if anybody was going into town because I needed to get a ride into Miscouche so that I could continue from where I had left the trail day before. No, not that she knew of. But she very graciously offered to take me into town herself! Another trail angel! On our short drive to town, I told her I had been out bike riding the night before and I had seen a red fox. She told me that some of the foxes in the area had gotten mange and that the fish and wildlife people provided the hotel with food for the foxes that it had medicine in it. They had all recovered, but she thinks that some of the hotel staff still feed the foxes which is why there are so many around that area. I said goodbye and she gifted me with a couple of pears for the trail.

I saw a number of bikers on the trail, and enjoyed my walk into Summerside. The tunnel of trees on the outskirts of town was quite beautiful and I noticed at one of the covered picnic areas several of the trees had the bark pulled away...I'm curious as to why this was.

A little more trail magic presented itself when a cyclist named Dara passed by me for the second time on her way back to her car in Kensington. She was out for a bike ride and wondered what I was doing, so on her way back she stopped to ask and we had a nice visit as we walked together into town. I told her I was going to hitchhike out to our bed and breakfast because I was tired and she offered to give me a ride!

Even more trail magic when I walked in to the bed and breakfast and found a beautiful set of gift bags with hand printed notes waiting for us in the lobby. Thank you so much Kendra for what you did for our group -- I think all of us felt exactly the same way when we saw the surprise. We were all just so tired and to walk in and see them lifted our spirits immensely -- we just felt joyful and very welcomed by you.

Showered and ready to roll, we went out to the Island Stone Pub Kensington Station. I had heard that the fish tacos were the best on the island. They did not disappoint, in fact, I don't think I've ever had fish tacos that good. It was just something about the cornmeal-based coating that put them right over the top.