Prince Edward Island August 7, 2026

 

It’s been so very easy to quickly settle into being ‘on Island time”! This has been a breeze for me because being by water is in my blood to begin with. Last night’s sleep was nine hours, tonight I should be back on track with six or seven give or take some minutes here or there.  

My home away from home provides a hearty healthy full meal deal breakfast! Breakfast itself is an event.  

Before heading off for today’s main event, I needed to walk off the breakfast event. Seven kilometres did the trick. These are a few photos from that walk. 

Peak’s Quay

I found a red dirt trail to stroll along. 

I need to come back here later!

Or maybe this place could be tastier!

Now to the main event!  

Hoist the sails!

I am settle in for an afternoon of sailing!  There were six of us in total. Myself, a couple from Edmonton, the Captain and his two helpers.  It felt like a private tour.  It was the perfect activity for a scorching hot day.  They say with the heat and humidity, it felt like +39C.

a Harbour Seal

It was so relaxing going with the flow of the day and with the flow of the wind. This truly felt like what being “on Island time” is meant to feel like.  Then I got into this sailing a little deeper.

It was up to me to get us where we needed to go!

I asked the Captain if he would be OK being in a photo with me that would be in a blog post for the world to see.  He beamed brightly and said of course, so here we are! At this point he said “continue aiming in the direction of the lighthouse while I go adjust a rope.”  Off he went and I sailed the yacht for a few minutes on my own. I was a little all over the place but not enough to concern any of the others.

Eventually the Captain came back and took over the wheel.  It was a busy day on the water. There were a few other sail boats, some motor boats and jet skis.

heading back to the dock

My boat is the white one at bottom left.

While it was quite a laid back event, I worked up a thirst and an appetite. This was pretty much the best seat in the house.  A table on the upper deck with a front row view, under an umbrella, flower pots to myself, ahhhh!

cakes The Fish Cakes and refreshing salad were perfection!

Even more perfect than that meal was the Potato Fudge!  Yes, there is such a thing!  

So far I ate only one piece, the one at top left.  

Time to sign off!  That fudge is calling my name!

Prince Edward Island August 6, 2026

It was when I saw an empty plane pull up to the gate well before go time, I let myself feel hopeful I would be going to Prince Edward Island. It had been a few days filled with anxiety and sleepless nights once the airline threatened to strike and then they did go on strike three days before I was due to fly.  An agreement was reached twelve hours later, I hoped things would quickly get back on track. They did! Go time came!  

I am happy to declare I am now “on Island time”!

“on Island time” is about so much more than clock value, it’s a state of mind!  I wanted to come here in 2026 during October but I was not able to coordinate something.  Then an invitation came for August, I jumped on board like there was no tomorrow. The above watercolour painting was created from numerous photos belonging to my Valley Gal friend who frequently practices “on Island time”!  She snapped her sunset shots last summer while “on Island time” here in Prince Edward Island.

After ten hours of sleep, I was raring to get going doing things I love!

I did heed the heat warning!  

Before breakfast, I walked along the waterfront 

which is a hop, skip and a jump from my home away from home.  

The following three photos were taken later while on a two hour guided walking tour.  I captured too many beautiful scenes to share here. I learned lots about Charlottetown.  When I came to PEI in my younger years while living in Nova Scotia, partying was my game not history.  

Cows Ice Cream originates from Cavendish, PEI.

It’s called Beach Chair Lager!

 Be sure to read the description on the right.

While “on Island time”, I grabbed this chair with this view! The beer paired deliciously with fish and chips. Heeding the heat warning, I also downed that jug of water.  The umbrella offered up shade, I was slathered in sunscreen and donned a sun hat when on the go. 

My time sitting on the best chair in the house lasted long. They were not in a hurry to get me out of there and I was in no hurry to go anywhere, after all that’s what being “on Island time” is all about.

I did eventually push myself away from the table and strolled the boardwalk for awhile.

By late afternoon, I retreated to my suite after covering fourteen kilometres.

 My feet needed to be up while I felt the air conditioning cool me down.  

a Bearmageddon while Day Tripping July 30, 2026

Today was the day to go road tripping! I’ve been feeling a tad lazy lately so getting a mountain fix by sitting for a few hours was exactly what was needed. The route I picked was to drive out and back along “Highway 40 where life begins” in Kananaskis.  As I drove along the route, seeing +6C on the dash thermostat was refreshing. The air was mountain fresh for a couple of hours but that did go downhill eventually.

the tailend of the early morning alpenglow as I entered Kananaskis

After having much fun playing “Hiking Bingo” while hiking Forum Lake in Waterton a couple of weeks ago, I prepared one for today’s road trip. During many stops, that’s when I checked off what I had seen so far. That's my bear spray holding up my Bingo Card.  While "out & about" in these regions, I never step out of my vehicle without the spray in hand.  

reflection in Mount Lorette Pond

I believe this is a Mom Common Merganser with her two babies beside her.

The next stop was at the Wedge Pond picnic spot. It was too early for snacks. A trail leads to the back side of the Pond, that's where I captured this reflection of Mount Kidd. The trail around Wedge Pond is closed due to washouts from the recent rain and flooding.  

After admiring those beautiful reflections, it was time to continue road tripping down Highway 40.  When no traffic was coming behind me, I drove slower than the speed limit with my eyes to the sides. YES! How sweet it was to see this very healthy collared Black Bear from the safety of my vehicle.  I was on the opposite side of the road yet I could here it squashing the dry brush as it walked along.

A mere few minutes after seeing the Black Bear, I came upon these four male Mountain Sheep. I took this photo through my windshield. I stopped to let them go about their business. The one at the front walked  towards me and passed by very close to my vehicle. The other three.....   

.....crossed the road then walked single file along the edge.

A mere few minutes after seeing the Mountain Sheep, I spotted a male and female White Tail Deer.  

They were watching me and did until I drove away.  

Time came to find a place to have a snack and enjoy some scenery. The Canyon Day Use area is a nice place to stay a little while.  As I pulled up beside a picnic table, a commotion in the bushes caught my attention.  The commotion was a collared Grizzly Bear munching on berries. You can see her tooth and tongue. I did not take time to enjoy a snack here while the Bear enjoyed her snack.  I did not stay awhile nor did the Bear.  I did enjoy this scenery until when a few minutes later the Bear disappeared into the bushes then I drove on down the road.  

The tag on the Bear says 175. This is a female Grizzly Bear born in 2018.  She is the daughter of Bear 139.  Bear 175 has a sister Bear 169.  Bear 175 has had no cubs to date.  

The Upper Kananaskis Lake would be the ideal place for a snack.  I always enjoy sitting at a picnic table down by water so made that my next destination.  I arrived to this view with an empty parking lot.  The first thing I noticed was the sign seen at bottom right in photo.

While the picnic area was open, the trail leading to the right was not. Beside the sign was very fresh scat. I did have my bear spray in hand.  The coast looked clear but I knew this was not the place for me to be right now.  I went back up the hill to my vehicle where I had a snack from the safety of being inside it. 

After snack time, I stepped out of my vehicle to snap this panorama with my iPhone.

Out of no where came a Bald Eagle!  By this time I had my camera in hand. I watched it fish but it had no luck.  I was able to capture a few seconds of action which I included below this photo.  Time came to continue road tripping deeper into Kananaskis.  

I drove as far as Highwood Pass and made that my turn around point. By now I could smell the wildfire smoke which was blowing in. The views were somewhat obscured by it. On the return trip I stopped at the Rock Glacier Trail which I had never done before.  I strolled around for a little while. 

I was feeling  ready to hit the road to home but not before 

stopping to capture a few more shots of the beautiful scenery.  

What I saw next during the drive along Highway 40 assured me I could now call today's road tripping a Bearmageddon experience.  When I saw three Grizzly Bears crossing the road, I pulled over to let them cross and with hopes they would be visible once they got into the bush.  I was able to get two Bears in the shot, the third darted into the bushes. The Mom is the one you can partially see heading into the bushes.  This young one (not born this year) sauntered along while the other young one was quick to dash off.  

This is Mom!

This is one of the young ones.  

I was not able to capture a photo of the other young Grizzly Bear.

By now I was feeling so fulfilled. 

I was content with no other stops for the ninety minute drive home from here. 

BINGO!