So I finally experienced my first fall on PEI. A neighbour recently bought property across the road from us and has begun developing it, so we decided to go out for Thanksgiving weekend and tack on an extra few days, in part to check in on how the main building was progressing.
Most of the time I‘ve spent on my beloved isle has been in summer (though I have braved a few winter excursions as well), and I must say, it was caught off guard by how lovely this place is in autumn!
Most of the time I‘ve spent on my beloved isle has been in summer (though I have braved a few winter excursions as well), and I must say, it was caught off guard by how lovely this place is in autumn!
I‘ve read the Tourism PEI enticements to visit the island in the fall, but I‘d always sort of assumed that was mostly just a sale pitch. I was prepared to enjoy a nice thanksgiving meal and just play my drums and catch up on sleep for a few days close to home.
But it turns out the hype is legit: The island is largely rural, and as such, has lots of foliage to show off in fall. The caucophony of colours was spectacular wherever we went!
Although we did visit a new-to-us beach while there (Thunder Cove, to see the „teapot“), we actually spent less time by the ocean than on any other visit I have made to the island. Instead, we explored a few of the island‘s many trails.
But it turns out the hype is legit: The island is largely rural, and as such, has lots of foliage to show off in fall. The caucophony of colours was spectacular wherever we went!
Although we did visit a new-to-us beach while there (Thunder Cove, to see the „teapot“), we actually spent less time by the ocean than on any other visit I have made to the island. Instead, we explored a few of the island‘s many trails.
Upon seeing several enticing forest paths on various PEI instagram accts I follow, I inquired where one goes for a walk in the forest; a friend and neighbour recommended Forest Hill Trail, south of St Peters, near Strathcona. So, off we went, dog in tow.
It had been rather a damp few weeks, and so mushrooms of all manner were blossoming majestically along the leafy forest path. We took several photos of the remarkably diverse species of fungi while the dog romped around the soggy leaves and went tearing happily back and forth along the trails.
It had been rather a damp few weeks, and so mushrooms of all manner were blossoming majestically along the leafy forest path. We took several photos of the remarkably diverse species of fungi while the dog romped around the soggy leaves and went tearing happily back and forth along the trails.
Nearby we found another trail that lead to Whitlock’s Pond. Up we climbed into the blind (tower) at the end of the trail for a lovely fall vista.
PEI being the small island it is, water is never far away. The symphony of colour wherever we adventured was always accompanied by a marsh, pond or river. On our final day, before heading off to the airport for the sad resignation that always signals my departure from the island back to Toronto, we spent some time at Bonshaw Provincial Park, closer to the south shore, near a river.
Rick, Sneakers and I had discovered the forest trails there in May, and Sneakers quite enjoyed it then and when we took her back to show the boys the trail in Summer. It‘s the perfect little “tire the dog out before stuffing her in the crate for the flight home“ walk, and so we stopped there again this day.
Rick, Sneakers and I had discovered the forest trails there in May, and Sneakers quite enjoyed it then and when we took her back to show the boys the trail in Summer. It‘s the perfect little “tire the dog out before stuffing her in the crate for the flight home“ walk, and so we stopped there again this day.
The ecosystem had shifted its focus for autumn, and I was fascinated by the different mosses and tiny blossoms covering both the forest floor and various stumps along the way.
We did some off-trail geocaching, and also lost (and thankfully found!) my phone before heading back to the car with soggy-pawed dog for the half hour drive to the Charlottetown airport.
If you‘ve never been to the island in fall, I highly recommend it. Especially if you are a lover of nature, it‘s a beautiful time to visit, and as an added bonus, the place is not overrun by tourists and mosquitoes, as is frequently the case during the summer months.
October PEI, I‘ll be back!
If you‘ve never been to the island in fall, I highly recommend it. Especially if you are a lover of nature, it‘s a beautiful time to visit, and as an added bonus, the place is not overrun by tourists and mosquitoes, as is frequently the case during the summer months.
October PEI, I‘ll be back!
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