Caroline and I had been out for a day of riding the preceding weekend, stopping and taking the odd picture of the fall foliage, but I thought the colours would be closer to peak this coming Saturday, and as Caroline wanted to stop for lunch at the Home Plate diner in Murray River, I thought this a great excuse to get out for another ride and sample what mother nature had in store for us, and I was not disappointed in the least.
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| Klondyke Road Prowses aka Mike's Pond Prince Edward Island |
Day Tripping:
Charlottetown PE to Murray River, Cardigan, Mount Stewart and Crapaud by every back road we could find. - 270 km 4 hours
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| Charlottetown and points East |
Google Maps Link:
I asked Caroline where she wanted to go today, and her first thought was "Home Plate?" I countered with an idea of heading up to Cape North, and riding up the 12 through Alberton, and then home along the 14 on the opposite side of the island. It's a long day, but fun riding. Then I sat and thought about it, and said to myself, "Self, there are some lovely leaves out Montague way, AND we can grab some cider at MacPhee's Orchard while near Cardigan so I have something to share with the Clements at brunch tomorrow. Fabulous! (Plus I could see a plate of fish n' chips sitting in front of me while I do my best to drain the teapot). Now add in that lovely scenery that we'd sampled a bit of last weekend, and I think we were pretty much ready to hit the road, all except for meeting up as I'm a townie and Caroline moved further down the road to Crapaud, so I had all the time in the world to sit and drink finish my cuppa while I... Crikey! Is that the time?! I've got to start hopping if I'm to meet her on Water street for eleven!
Riding across the Hillsborough River and through Stratford was pretty much uneventful but for my desire to get ahead of all the cars so I was in front. Caroline not so much, so it was a combination of hold myself in check while she caught up to me. I was going to take her on a mini adventure once we got closer to Uigg and Orwell... Or so I thought.
Riding across the Hillsborough River and through Stratford was pretty much uneventful but for my desire to get ahead of all the cars so I was in front. Caroline not so much, so it was a combination of hold myself in check while she caught up to me. I was going to take her on a mini adventure once we got closer to Uigg and Orwell... Or so I thought.
Ummm. Did you know that there was a wedding in the historic village of Orwell and that the road isn't actually a road, so much as way to get to the parking area... I thought it shot below the village and would let Caroline and I hook up with Kinross Road, then I'd pilot us onto 23 or 24 and bob's your uncle...Nope, it was the ride of shame.
We ended up riding back out to the TCH and over one more to Orwell Corner, where we got onto 23 PEI and headed over to the Iona Road (206) where we headed north until the 24 PEI...
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| The ride of shame. You can't go that way (Well, I could, but Caroline's bike is too loud, and I had no bail money) |
We ended up riding back out to the TCH and over one more to Orwell Corner, where we got onto 23 PEI and headed over to the Iona Road (206) where we headed north until the 24 PEI...
And now for the bit about the fall colours et cetera...
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| The potato harvest is still going on Looking east along the Selkirk Road near Iona PE |
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| Ben's Lake Nature Camping lies on the other side of that fence Prowses Pond |
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| oops! |
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I asked Caroline to come down and join me, but she wasn't having any of it, so I was forced to take a selfie or two.
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| Prowses Pond as seen from Klondyke Road (205 PEI) |
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| I think this was the best of the day. |
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| Klondyke Road (205PEI) at 24 PEI |
Back out onto Dover Road, and now only a short distance to the restaurant, I found another reason to stop and slow things down when I saw a flock of geese paddling sedately through the waters of Upper MacLure Pond just off to my right. The wee beggars fled my motorcycle though! Cowards!
Then Caroline and I patted our tummies, asked for a takeaway box for our leftovers and made room for some dessert. There is always room for tarts, they're so wee! I was bad and ordered two kinds, a custard tart, and a lemon "cake" tart. Fabulous!
I like to talk. And I like to talk about things I'm passionate about, and for whatever reason, I want to other people to get into something good as well, so I've made it my duty (habit? obsession?) with telling other patrons of the restaurant that the Home Plate serves "The best fish and chips on the island." In fact, the owner now turns to me and asks me if I have anything to add when she informs her clientele of the "special du jour". When I think back on it, I get sheepish and tend to stare at my feet, while grinning, but I'm only trying to share the love! If you are undecided, or more to the point, I think you are undecided, be forewarned that I will leave you in no doubt about my high regard for the dish.
We gassed up in Cardigan before heading east along the Cardigan river, where I had to stop again just a wee bit off of the highway on Water Street (311 PEI) and grab this picture before heading further east along where Water street meets up with Launching Road but remains the 311 PEI just to keep you on your toes.
There were a lot of turns but the roads were fun, and the colours had much improved over last weekend along these same roads. We noticed a few parked cars just before crossing the Morrell River, and there was the reason, three fly fishermen out trying their luck.
Caroline crossing the bridge on her KLR 650, followed fairly closely by a pair of ATVs as well.
I knew the ride was coming to an end shortly as Mount Stewart was up ahead of us, and we'd land in Pisquid or Mount Stewart proper, but I don't think I've ever followed Barr Road (352 PEI) from end to end, and we had to scooch over to let some machinery get past us, then a bit later we saw a hunter with his dog on the roadside, and he was kind enough to hold the dogs collar until we were safely past him. I wish I'd had a camera to take that picture, but it is going to be one of those remembered moments, the dog, the shotgun, the road, along with all colours and the season. I find if harder to describe the moment and the feeling than it should be, so call it my pumpkin spice of the moment. ;)
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| Can you see the Geese fleeing from me? Upper MacLure's Pond Dover Road (24 PEI) |
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| I love seeing the geese this time of year. |
We arrived at the Home Plate Restaurant in Murray River to find the parking lot full, but thankfully the diners were leaving and for once, Caroline and I were the lunch rush for a brief moment in time :)
Caroline's friend Caroline was there to smile at us and quiz us about our "Vax Pass", showing your papers to a restaurant before you can be allowed to dine within. This a new thing encouraged by the federal government, and they've also used their emergency powers to become dictators for life and levy fines to those restaurants caught in non-compliance of the latest orders to descend from their ivory towers. **sigh I'll not descend into why I think this is undemocratic and violates the charter of rights and freedoms. Yeah, I've been poked twice, but don't you think our economy has been kicked in the arse enough without people need to be put on leave without pay and disciplined for opting out of the vaccine? The food was definitely worth flashing the pass though, so we got it out of the way and sat at our favourite window seat and began chatting with the staff about how much milk I expected to drink with my pot of tea. Lol.
Caroline had trouble deciding, as she too loves the fish n' chips, but when I said I was going to get the fish, I think she decided to go for the special knowing that she was going to get some of my fish too. She ordered the special of the day, Chicken and Pork pie with a coffee. (No milk, so the owner might yet still come out in the black regarding the whole dairy situation at our table. I was going to do my best to get my monies worth.)
I agonized over my choice, but it had been so long since I had sampled Caroline's wonderful fish 'n chips, so it was a done deal.
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| Clockwise starting at three: Banana Toffee Custard Tart Salted Caramel Lemon "Cake" tart |
I like to talk. And I like to talk about things I'm passionate about, and for whatever reason, I want to other people to get into something good as well, so I've made it my duty (habit? obsession?) with telling other patrons of the restaurant that the Home Plate serves "The best fish and chips on the island." In fact, the owner now turns to me and asks me if I have anything to add when she informs her clientele of the "special du jour". When I think back on it, I get sheepish and tend to stare at my feet, while grinning, but I'm only trying to share the love! If you are undecided, or more to the point, I think you are undecided, be forewarned that I will leave you in no doubt about my high regard for the dish.
We were bantering with Caroline (the owner and chef not to be confused with my Caroline, the not owner and not chef, but a very good cook and servant of the public in her own right) and a couple of ladies at the other table, discussing the desserts, and we were told about the mince tart and why it was so special, as if I recall correctly it was mince fruit with an extra blend of apple and toffee with whipped cream cheese topping. My jaw dropped. As we'd already ordered and consumed our sweets, I gallantly stepped up and ordered a mince tart cut into quarters to be shared out among the guests. Caroline refused to take my money and shared a wee piece of heaven on earth with us. Oh that I had this when I first sipped my tea! Cinnamon, nutmeg, perhaps some allspice and mace? Ginger? Wonderful and somehow creamy in texture. Everything autumn that I love in one little tart shell. If you think you get good pumpkin spice at Tim Horton's, then there is nothing for you in Murray River, so move along please. :)
We paid up, smiled a fare thee well and parted with a wave and headed off to our next stop, the apple orchard up north of us in Cardigan.
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| A wee tributary of the Cardigan River Cardigan PE |
We gassed up in Cardigan before heading east along the Cardigan river, where I had to stop again just a wee bit off of the highway on Water Street (311 PEI) and grab this picture before heading further east along where Water street meets up with Launching Road but remains the 311 PEI just to keep you on your toes.
I warned Caroline that I wanted to stop near the blueberry fields to get a picture, well to recapture a shot I'd made in November of 2012, but I'm a few weeks early I think. You can see why I might want to visit this again.
Another reason for us to head back this way in future, right?
We grabbed four two litre jugs of freshly pressed cider at MacPhee's, and loaded Caroline's topbox (green milk crate) with them, then headed off again, but this time north along Woodville Road (334 PEI) but I had to stop when I the colours bordering Fitzpatrick's Pond
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| Taken November 2012 |
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| Blueberry fields of Cardigan PE |
We grabbed four two litre jugs of freshly pressed cider at MacPhee's, and loaded Caroline's topbox (green milk crate) with them, then headed off again, but this time north along Woodville Road (334 PEI) but I had to stop when I the colours bordering Fitzpatrick's Pond
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| Fitzpatricks Pond PE Looking north from the bridge Woodville Road |
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| Fitzpatricks Pond PE The view to the south of the bridge Woodville Road |
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| And north once more, because I just can't help myself! |
Caroline was leading us back out towards Fortune Bay, sort of in search of some nice gravel roads to play on, but her real goal now was the desire to repeat Sunday's ride from last week, and take all back roads south of Morell PE all the way into Mount Stewart, if she could retrace the route I'd taken her on last week.
I had to stop and take this one, but sadly the shadows made the finished shot darker in this media. I should really tweak the shot one day. A Rolls Royce parked out from of the Inn at Fortune Bay.
I had to stop and take this one, but sadly the shadows made the finished shot darker in this media. I should really tweak the shot one day. A Rolls Royce parked out from of the Inn at Fortune Bay.
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| The Inn at Fortune Bridge |
I did cut out some modern vehicles off to the left. :)
Now we were riding into more shadow, I was leading but Caroline was telling me the directions she wanted us to be going, and if she was happy in back, I was more than pleased to be ripping the odd corner and seeing if I could keep the Versys upright and well ahead of the KLR that Caroline was piloting today.
Our short term goal was to cross the Morrell River on the Indian Bridge Road, a gravel road that would serve as our kick off point for a long stretch of unpaved roads that Caroline is finding a passion for with her "new to her" KLR. Earlier this spring she admitted to being intimidated by the bike, as it's a heavy sucker to pick up, and she can only tippy toe that toxic green tractor, so she gets her kicks riding in company, provided that company is capable of helping her pick up her tractor if the need arises. I think the big things she's working on this fall is controlling the bike in sand and mud. Guess what I'm working on? Avoiding sand and mud because I lose control of my bike. Hahahaha!
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| The Inn at Fortune Bridge |
Now we were riding into more shadow, I was leading but Caroline was telling me the directions she wanted us to be going, and if she was happy in back, I was more than pleased to be ripping the odd corner and seeing if I could keep the Versys upright and well ahead of the KLR that Caroline was piloting today.
Our short term goal was to cross the Morrell River on the Indian Bridge Road, a gravel road that would serve as our kick off point for a long stretch of unpaved roads that Caroline is finding a passion for with her "new to her" KLR. Earlier this spring she admitted to being intimidated by the bike, as it's a heavy sucker to pick up, and she can only tippy toe that toxic green tractor, so she gets her kicks riding in company, provided that company is capable of helping her pick up her tractor if the need arises. I think the big things she's working on this fall is controlling the bike in sand and mud. Guess what I'm working on? Avoiding sand and mud because I lose control of my bike. Hahahaha!
There were a lot of turns but the roads were fun, and the colours had much improved over last weekend along these same roads. We noticed a few parked cars just before crossing the Morrell River, and there was the reason, three fly fishermen out trying their luck.
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| Fly fishing the Morrell River |
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| Looking south west off Indian Bridge |
I knew the ride was coming to an end shortly as Mount Stewart was up ahead of us, and we'd land in Pisquid or Mount Stewart proper, but I don't think I've ever followed Barr Road (352 PEI) from end to end, and we had to scooch over to let some machinery get past us, then a bit later we saw a hunter with his dog on the roadside, and he was kind enough to hold the dogs collar until we were safely past him. I wish I'd had a camera to take that picture, but it is going to be one of those remembered moments, the dog, the shotgun, the road, along with all colours and the season. I find if harder to describe the moment and the feeling than it should be, so call it my pumpkin spice of the moment. ;)
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| Warren's Pond and the last shot of the day as the shadows grew longer |
The shadows were lengthening, and we were headed into the light, as we continued on our way to New Haven to drop off some fresh cider with Caroline's mother, and from there it was a dark ride by headlights and the Trans Canada Highway until we pulled into the driveway where Caroline discovered that an exposed zip tie end had eaten it's way through one of the jugs of cider, so we were forced to drink half a jug of it right then and there. Oh my.
From there it was a quick change and a quick meal made of our Home Plate Restaurant takeaway, then off to celebrate a birthday with some fellow riders.
The bikes aren't being winterized just yet as we hope to get a few more rides in before the bitter end, but it's getting there. The gear you wear at 1000 in the morning just won't hold up past 1800 in the evening any more. Winter is coming.
Cheers!
The bikes aren't being winterized just yet as we hope to get a few more rides in before the bitter end, but it's getting there. The gear you wear at 1000 in the morning just won't hold up past 1800 in the evening any more. Winter is coming.
Cheers!
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