PEI - Bike Ride

Sadly, today is my last day on PEI. The island has an extensive network trails named the Confederation Trail. I did a little research and found a bike path to ride. It was a 44 mile round trip ride, Charlottetown to Mount Steward and back. I also saw this trail called The Sentier Trail. The trail network has rides of different levels. I picked a moderate trail that was close to where I was staying.

Yesterday would have been a much better day for cycling. Today is overcast with gale force winds which is nice when its at your back and brutal when you’re riding into it. This trail is very well maintained as there were two different crews trimming back trees and mowing along the trail. Every 5 km, it seems there is a picnic table with covering which is perfect if you get caught in the rain or want to enjoy lunch in the woods. The trail is all compacted gravel and with the exception of a few spots could be ridden on a road bike.

At the end of the trail, there was a bakery / tearoom, In The Mix, in Mount Steward. Actually, the path continues even further, but this was my turnaround point. Scattered around on the grass in the front were 15 bikes. There were a group of cyclists standing around outside. Inside was a small room with five tables. The one closest to the door was empty, most likely because the table’s legs were loose and uneven. I claimed this one and dropped some gear on it and went to the back room to order a grilled cheese sandwich, cinnamon roll and black tea. The food hit the spot.

One of the groups was leaving and one woman was frantically searching for her brand-new sunglasses. She was sure she had them when she came in. Most of the restaurant became involved in in the search. We took some of the garbage out of the trash bin, looked on the floor and in the bakery. Others were looking outside. In the end, she had them tucked in a pocket in her jersey. How many times have I searched for my glasses, and there were on my nose?

As the first group departed, another group of four women riders were left in the tearoom. We began chatting about traveling. They were all from Thunderbay, Canada. I realized that there is a place on my list of must-see places called Sleeping Giant Provincial Park near Thunderbay. I mentioned that I would check-in when I made it to Sleeping Giant. The said they would reach out via the website.

Nickname: The Thunderbay Ladies

The ride back was difficult. I kept getting warnings on my phone of Gale winds. I didn’t need an app to let me know this. The wind was constant and at times I felt like I was making very little progress. This was a fairly easy route but the ride was hard.

I came back and showered and headed into Charlottetown for my last meal. I wanted to try the famous PEI oysters. Several people had told me I should go to Sea Rocket. The recommendations were right on. The restaurant was very busy and they seated me at the bar.

Sea Rocket: Bar and Oysters

The bar tender, Bryan, has an attention for detail that I saw in many drinks being prepared. He was also an expert on Oysters. I ordered a beer and a dozen oysters. There were four local varieties and clearly my favorite was the Raspberry Point Oysters from the North shore of the island. The bar was lively and I started up a conversation with the two people close to me. We exchanged the usual where are you from greetings. She was from New Brunswick and was in politics. I didn’t mention that I had met Susan Holt’s mother in-law in Newfoundland last week. Ironically, she was telling me a story of being out dancing and the next morning people telling her they had heard she was having some fun the night before.

PEI: Oysters

I had sent a friend photos of my oysters served with two different sauces. He said, “I’m driving there now.” I asked Bryan how I could ship a box of 50 to the States. This became the topic of discussion for the next hour as I researched getting Raspberry Point Oysters to the US. Sea Rocket, I learned is owned by the company that harvests the Raspberry Point Oysters, Raspberry Point Oyster Company. They only ship in Canada and apparently bringing them over the border violates some food import laws. I contacted the company and found that their distributer, American Mussel Harvesters, in the states was only a few hours from Hartford in Rhode Island. Yes, my neighbors will be enjoying oysters next weekend.

American Mussels Harvesters states on their web site, “Harvested from one of the most northern stocks of oysters in North America. These oysters take 6 to 7 years to reach market size. Raspberries are constantly manicured throughout the growth process to produce a perfect 3" to 3 ½" small choice oyster that is a must have on any raw bar. They have a wonderful salty taste, clean flavor with a delightful sweet finish. Availability is typically strong year-round except when moving ice and severe winter weather prevent the harvest.” As I understand, they are also cultivated to make shucking easier.

It was 10 pm and there were a couple people at the bar and a few other groups hanging out. It’s a very pleasant and friendly environment. There wasn’t much beer left in my glass. I made it last as long as possible as I savored these last few minutes in this wonderfully hospitable town.