Wow Factor in P.E.I.

East Point Red Rock Cliffs

Prince Edward Island is a whole new world in my eyes…  I feel like an early explorer first discovering this beautiful island.  Everywhere I look seems to be a postcard image.  There are cliffs and beaches painted in red, lighthouses perched on almost every point, marinas dot the coastline, small fishing villages in pastel colors and the people.. ah the people.. I cannot say enough about the people. They are always smiling, approachable and very accommodating… at least the ones I have met so far.

I continued with my plan of researching and documenting the coastline of P.E.I. following along the East Point Coastal Drive. I took up where I left off from the previous trip and started from the community of Souris located north of our base camp in Murray Harbour. My day would take me to the north-eastern tip of the island visiting with more beaches and lighthouses.

Near the village of Souris there was much to see. I stopped in at the Souris Provincial Park, Sally’s Beach Provincial Park, Basin Head Beach, Red Point Provincial Park and then peaked my day when I stopped in for some quality time gazing, walking and exploring the red rock cliffs near the lighthouse on East Point. (Main BLOG Photo) I thought I peaked then, but I soon later learned you can peak twice in a day when I discovered the P.E.I. National Park near St. Peters.

East Point Lighthouse

East Point is on the tip of the island where red rock cliffs drop off and waves crash the shore. Beside the lighthouse there is a picnic area looking out over the wide open ocean. The lighthouse dominates the point, standing proud and tall, flashing ships passing by. The lighthouse may be telling ships to stay away but it was like a magnet attracting the curious and adventurous like myself.

The information I gathered on East Point told of the lighthouse and of the “Tip to Tip” marketing program they have in place. The “Tip to Tip” promotes exploring the entire island while driving from one end of P.E.I to the other. At one end you receive a ribbon and and at the other end you receive a certificate. I picked up my ribbon and look forward to completing the journey for my certificate. Bro, has done the tour and is flaunting his certificate in my face. The “Tip to Tip” tour is a brilliant marketing move promoting the entire island. Other islands in Canada should take note.. hint hint Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Manitoulin Island, etc.

What I was not informed about from my reading of East Point was that the red cliff pathway leads to a remote beach. From my reading East point was all about the lighthouse.. but hold on.. there is so much more! The point is a sightseeing candy store with beaches, birds, cliffs, caves, ships and more. The sun was hot on this day. The breeze was cool. The conditions ripe. The temptation was far to great to ignore so off I went with camera in hand seeking my money shot.

Basin Head

Prior to East Point I visited a very popular beach and recreation area called Basin Head. Based on the map I almost would of missed it as it was not highlighted.  But because I am snoopy by nature, curious and always seeking an adventure and good pictures I tend to look under every stone when exploring. I am glad I did.

Based on the parking lot the Basin Head area is a very big attraction on the East Point Coastal Drive.  It is a beach ideal for families.  At the entrance of Basin Head, sitting up on a cliff,  is a museum, gift shops, an outdoor band shell, sightseeing viewpoints and picnic shelter.

Below there was a concession, a wooden wharf, a pier, beaches and a canal with a slow moving current.  It is from the canal where you hear laughing and kids yelling in excitement as they jump into the ocean waters.

A small foot bridge crosses over the canal connecting the sandy beaches. The foot bridge and wharf act as jump off point for swimmers who want to float down the canal in the easy going current.  It is a haven for cannonballs, diving and big splashes.

On my trip there was another photo casualty. As I was trying to protect my camera equipment from the barrage of splashes, running kids, slippery wooden wharf  I lost another lens cap.  It was all in slow motion too.  I saw it drop onto the wharf,  do a funky chicken dance and then disappear in the cracks of the wooden planks to its grave on the ocean floor.. or did it float away in the canal to a better place. Who knows? You think I would get use to it as it was the billionth lens cap to go missing this season.

P.E.I National Park - Greenwich

It was slow going on this day.  To much to enjoy and I was operating on a snails watch. Did not cover near as much ground as I would of liked.

I got as far as the village of St. Peters and the Greenwich section of the Prince Edward Island National Park. What a treat! What a great way to end the day. The P.E.I Park is divided into 3 sections, one of which are connected.  The Greenwich section is the eastern most point of the park.

First I made my way to a massive sandy beach. It was accessed by a boardwalk trail leading to a tower and then twisting and turning through fields of yellow, up and over sand dunes, leading to the beach. The views of the yellow landscape and the sand dunes from the tower were amazing. It made for good photo.

Next I made it over to the hiking trails in the park which follow along the shoreline of St. Peters Bay. I felt like a bee in a sea of flowers again. Yellow fields were everywhere. The trails led me to a few lakes and out to the point. It was here at the point I lost myself in my thoughts, grateful for the life I lead and the land I live in.