So, sleeping in an 8x8 "room on stilts" with two silly, kicking 12-year-olds was perhaps not my most brilliant plan ever, in terms of relaxation techniques while on vacation. Though in fairness, one cannot say it wasn't an adventure!
Perusing the AirBnB listings on PEI recently, I came across a budget listing for a no-frills "treehouse" in Crapaud, near the lovely, little village of Victoria-by-the-Sea.
Perusing the AirBnB listings on PEI recently, I came across a budget listing for a no-frills "treehouse" in Crapaud, near the lovely, little village of Victoria-by-the-Sea.
Knowing the boys would love it, I booked one night.
After camp on Monday, we set off for Crapaud, making a brief stop en route to pick up a giant pillow which I had scored on Kijiji for the boys' playhouse which was due to be delivered to our property in St Peter's Harbour later in the week.
I had forgotten how hilly the south-west part of the Island was, and I enjoyed the scenery while the boys slept in the car, tired out from their first full day of camp.
After camp on Monday, we set off for Crapaud, making a brief stop en route to pick up a giant pillow which I had scored on Kijiji for the boys' playhouse which was due to be delivered to our property in St Peter's Harbour later in the week.
I had forgotten how hilly the south-west part of the Island was, and I enjoyed the scenery while the boys slept in the car, tired out from their first full day of camp.
Hwy 1 - Trans-Canada Hwy, enroute to Crapaud
The lovely thing about PEI is that everything is pretty close, so within about 40 minutes, we had arrived in the general vicinity of the treehouse, and as the boys woke up from their powernap, I tried to divine the somewhat sketchy directions included with my reservation.
We soon found the property, and sure enough, there was the treehouse!!
A Japanese exchange student staying in the main house checked us in and showed us the 2-piece washroom we could use, and then we climbed up the ladder to our room for the night.
We soon found the property, and sure enough, there was the treehouse!!
A Japanese exchange student staying in the main house checked us in and showed us the 2-piece washroom we could use, and then we climbed up the ladder to our room for the night.
The boys eagerly set about arranging the room: Organizing sleeping bags, pillows (including the new giant one we had acquired earlier in town) and various personal belongings they had brought with them for the night on the hooks and little "shelves" that lined the inside of our rustic hut amongst the trees.
We also had a little kitten climb the ladder and visit us. (After some petting, she just curled up outside the cabin door.)
Once out stuff was arranged in the tiny room to everyone's satisfaction, we drove 4 minutes to the nearby fishing village of Victoria, and enjoyed a great dinner (even vegetarian protein available!!) and excellent service at the Landmark Cafe, following which we picked up some ice cream on the wharf and sauntered around the lighthouse and antique market, taking silly selfies and admiring the imposing clouds in the evening sky.
We also saw PEI's oldest tree ("That's nothing compared to the trees we saw in Buenos Aires, right Mom?", Alex was quick to point out).
And then it was back to the treehouse.
And then it was back to the treehouse.
We read a few chapters of our current read-aloud together (Deborah Ellis' Sacred Leaf), and then attempted to sleep.
I will say that the mattress itself (a reasonably roomy, high quality, inflatable affair) was considerably more comfortable than I had anticipated. It was my two restless bedmates who were the problem. Every time they moved, the mattress squeaked.
And also I had to pee. And I was not going to haul my corpulant, over-40 self down a rickety old ladder at 11:57 p.m. And 2 a.m. And again at 4:38 a.m. No way, no how. (Fortunately, I had anticipated that particular problem, and had done some advance planning accordingly, the details of which I will spare the reader.)
And there were mosquitos. (Not a lot, but enough bother a finicky sleeper.)
I debated whether or not to fish around in the catch-all bin we had brought with us for some mosquito repellent, and opted for some ear plugs instead, pulling the sleeping bag up over my head.
In between tossing and turning, I surfed Kijiji for deals and posted random photos with uninspired hashtags on Instagram.
I will say that the mattress itself (a reasonably roomy, high quality, inflatable affair) was considerably more comfortable than I had anticipated. It was my two restless bedmates who were the problem. Every time they moved, the mattress squeaked.
And also I had to pee. And I was not going to haul my corpulant, over-40 self down a rickety old ladder at 11:57 p.m. And 2 a.m. And again at 4:38 a.m. No way, no how. (Fortunately, I had anticipated that particular problem, and had done some advance planning accordingly, the details of which I will spare the reader.)
And there were mosquitos. (Not a lot, but enough bother a finicky sleeper.)
I debated whether or not to fish around in the catch-all bin we had brought with us for some mosquito repellent, and opted for some ear plugs instead, pulling the sleeping bag up over my head.
In between tossing and turning, I surfed Kijiji for deals and posted random photos with uninspired hashtags on Instagram.
Finally, blessedly, the morning arrived, another beautiful sunshiny day o PEI, and I roused the two sleeping bunnies to pack up their gear and get back in the car for the ride back into town for Day Two of Art camp. But not before using the real washroom, in the main house!!!
The ride back to Ch'town was uneventful; we enjoyed watching the pastoral scenery out the window while munching on cut-up peaches and strawberries and little boxes of dry cereal I had prepared ahead of time as a sort of en-route breakfast.
I wouldn't do it again, I don't think, and I am desperately looking forward to my real bed tonight. But my one night in a treehouse was worth it: A fun and affordable mini-adventure for all!!
The ride back to Ch'town was uneventful; we enjoyed watching the pastoral scenery out the window while munching on cut-up peaches and strawberries and little boxes of dry cereal I had prepared ahead of time as a sort of en-route breakfast.
I wouldn't do it again, I don't think, and I am desperately looking forward to my real bed tonight. But my one night in a treehouse was worth it: A fun and affordable mini-adventure for all!!
For those who thought there was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow... it's actually twins!
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