DAY 56 : September 1/22 Thursday. Summerside PEI to Cedar Dunes Provincial Park, West Point, PEI.

 DAY 56 : September 1/22 Thursday. Summerside PEI to Cedar Dunes Provincial Park, West Point, PEI

Sunny morning in the Walmart parking lot! Jonathan and Ollie went and returned the “speed rope” skipping rope because it was too thin and not suitable for our soon-to-be new exercise regime haha. I’ve not noted this yet in the blog, but we all have silly nicknames as of the past few weeks conjured up when snuggling in bed one morning. Jonathan’s “Fatty Daddy” because he has a tiny pot belly now. I’ve been tagged “LittleEar Rum-Nose” (not necessarily for the drinking but my nose is red every morning), Ollie is “MopHead Tootbum” and Amelia is “FumbleFoot Meel-Toot”. All very charming haha

We researched kite boarding and campgrounds on the island after the kiddos read through the list of activities and highlighted Ice-cream places. Lots of “Dairy Bars” on the island. 

We drove about 10min to Island Kiteboarding Academy on Water Street, but couldn’t find it. We had pulled by by the water’s edge and J&O wandered to look for it while Amelia looked over the beach. There was a big tractor on the beach collecting up seaweed. We think maybe he was clearing the beach, but then later learned about the Irish moss and maybe they were collecting it off the beach (carrageenan!). 

Meems and I found Jonathan and Ollie in a barber shop chatting with a guy in there named Parker who was a keen Kiter. Apparently there was no wind this weekend which was super unfortunate because there was a Kiteboarding Festival this weekend on the island. 

Took the PE 2 to #14 to the Cedar Dunes Provincial Park Campground. Chose U5 campsite and went back to pay. They give out free wifi for one device, nice! Cute little spot by a small clump of conifer trees and a short walk down to the red rocky beach. Just a littler further up the path/beach was the historical West Point Lighthouse and Inn. 

Kids got out their little microscope and delved into setting up a science nature lab and played for hours. They found all kinds of cool plants to look at and set up in their lab. They played at the site in the little clump of trees and at the playground just near the site. It helped there was enough breeeze to keep the bugs away. They also took the walkie talkies to explore around the sites and were content for ages. 

2:30pm Jonathan decided there MAY be enough wind to try and kiteboarding at the beach. Kids were super happy playing and so I walked down to the beach with Jonathan and his kiting kit. We pumped up the kite, and Jay got his wetsuit and harness on. I had a lesson on how to launch and catch a 12m kite (it had been probably 10 years since I did it down in Mexico). We managed to launch it, but there was barely enough wind to keep the kite in the sky… maybe 10 knots? It was fun to try it though and we walked the inflated kite back up the beach to the grass beside the campsite. 

Jonathan and I decided to head to the beach for a swim in the churning red waves. The kids were too into their game to want to come until we had our suits on and towels ready. Then they wanted to join us, so we waited for them to get ready and get their snorkel masks/life jackets. We walked over to the swim beach area just between our site and the lighthouse. Such a good time jumping in the warm red waves and salty water. It clouded over a bit right as we wanted to go in, but the sun came out soon enough. The kids were so cute in their masks and life jackets and I snapped one of my favourite pics of them so far… with the beach and lighthouse in the background. Xo

Jonathan went back to make some sandwiches and I stayed on with the kids at the beach a bit longer while they collected shells and stones for their science lab. Kids went right back to their imagination play as soon as we got back to the RV. I gathered up the laundry into the kite bag and walked up to the laundry building to put two much needed loads in, and then to the office to buy a $2.30 pass for an extra wifi for my phone.  Hung out about 1/2 hour at the site while Jonathan rode his bike to the nearby wharf to see about fishing possibilities. It was a bustling lobster wharf.

When he was back I walked back to change the laundry over and go for a shower. Nice showers. Kids were still heads down in their science play. Jonathan made dinner of fresh Atlantic salmon, PEI potatoes, and veggies. Yum! We were able to cook and eat dinner outside because there were no bugs! We went to watch the sunset at the lighthouse and then the kids and Jonathan rode their bikes over to the Wharf and I went to get the laundry from the dryer. 

A beauty afternoon and evening! We feel like we’ll spend more time on PEI and enjoy these beautiful beaches and views and the friendliness of people.