In the fall of 2016, I took a very quick trip from Chattanooga, TN to Prince Edward Island in Canada. And by quick, I mean I drove about 4,000 miles in about a week. It was a little crazy. To start at the very beginning (it’s a very good place to start) click here to go to the introduction.
HEADING EAST
From my wonderful Airbnb in Orono, I set out for my ultimate destination: Prince Edward Island! I was going to CANADA! The 6-hour drive today wasn’t so much north as it was east. I crossed the border in Houlton, ME, just about an hour & a half north of Orono, then headed due east towards Prince Edward Island.
CROSSING THE BORDER
Going through the border crossing was surprisingly stressful! The Canadian agent was a native French speaker and very serious. He asked where I was going, if I had booked a place to stay, and how long I would be in the country.
He seemed baffled that I was only going to stay for one day! I shrugged my shoulders and told him how stressed I was and “just needed a drive.” To Canada, in this case. He checked over my car food to make sure it was okay and finally sent me on my way.
In contrast, coming back into the U.S. the next day the American agent just gave a solid look at my passport and welcomed me home!
OH, CANADA
On my drive through Maine, the weather had been gray and drizzling. As soon as I crossed the border into Canada, the fog lifted and the sun shone on a perfect forest of green and gold trees. It felt like I had just entered the Promised Land! An hour later, it would be raining again, but I will never forget my first view of Northeast Canada. It was spectacular.
When I saw a speed limit sign of 115, I quickly learned to appreciate that my car has one button to change my display from MPH to Kilometers. And there are no interstate rest stops like there are in the U.S., at least not along my route. Instead, there are oversized gas stations with large parking lots and plenty of food options inside.
TOLL BRIDGE TO PEI
Keeping with the theme of tolls on this trip, I passed an alarming sign on the bridge to Prince Edward Island. As the small sign flashed past, It looked like it said it cost $47 to cross the bridge, but then there was no toll booth. $47!
It turns out this is apparently a cheaper and more convenient option than the ferry used to be. You pay as you leave the Island, and you can pay with a card, which helps those of us who don’t carry much cash. Also, the $47 CAD translates to about $36 USD, which eases the blow.
Totally worth it, but yikes! Be prepared, ya’ll.
CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI
Once on the island, I headed to the capital of the Province, Charlottetown. Kind of not knowing any better, this is where I booked my Airbnb, a sweetly-decorated upper bedroom in a young couple’s house.
Having left much earlier than usual and having totally not realized that there is a time zone more easterly than Eastern Standard, I arrived mid-to-late afternoon on a Saturday. Even so, most of the shops were closed or about to close when I got there, so I immediately took a quick walk downtown to see what I could still catch.
I had an idea that I would like to get some jewelry on the island, and my kind host called a friend of hers with a jewelry shop to make sure she was still open. She was, and I rushed over and found exactly what I was looking for!
I spent the evening walking around Victoria Row, down to the waterfront, and taking refuge in a cafe while it rained. I could have dove into one of the many tiny, crowded, bars I saw open, but that wasn’t the experience I wanted just then. Instead, I ended up sitting in on the end of a church service with a beautiful organ postlude. Because that’s how I roll. Yay church.
It wouldn’t be until the next day that I would drive around the island and see some of the Anne of Green Gables sights. Join me for my next post to see what I could pack in on a half day of touring!
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