There’s a big advantage to getting off the main highway and taking the back roads. We did this today, forgoing small numbered highways like 4, 2 and 3 for 310, 340 and 321.

We weren’t 10 minutes from the house when we found the Little Pond Community Centre, with two sweet ladies baking inside. Twelve of the best (and cheapest) cinnamon rolls were hastily purchased, warm from the oven, along with a plate of lemon squares. Yum yum!

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The house we’re staying in is nice and big, which is helpful when you’re trying to travel as a party of 12. We’ve grooved travelling as the four of us but add another eight people who are related but don’t have a ton of stuff in common is challenging. But it’s a good challenge!

We have great views off the back lawn, with a massive sandbar which will be a joy to explore around. Just not today. We’re collectively pressing our luck with the weather and will travel to Cavendish on the sunny day.

I better hit Publish now as we’re loading up the cars. Off to find a tiny village with tourist stuff, a nice beach, stuff for the kids to do, shopping, scenic vistas, crashing surf, fishing boats, a used bookstore, a river, no bugs and possibly a Walmart. But no unicorns required. That would be crazy.

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I kid you not – this is the sunset from our campsite at Cabot Provincial Park in PEI. Our site is on the grass overlooking Malbeque Harbour.

They don’t have campfire fireplaces in PEI parks. It’s just a hole in the grass with the red sand underneath. So cooking is a new and interesting challenge. We were up for it, although the menu was simplified.

Tomorrow we move to the house we rented for the last leg of our trip and join up with Cindy’s family. I look forward to having a home base but might still pitch the tent for old time’s sake. Our old tent has served us well for nearly 20 years but with the kids growing there’s not much extra room.

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…is in Victoria PEI. It has a plaque and everything.

Now you know…

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We pulled into the Day Use area just outside Victoria, PEI to cool off and enjoy all those things we love about this province – the red beaches, warm water, blue skies and the verdant green grass and farms.

It may be 25C and muggy in town, but out here there’s a cool breeze to keep me happy. The beach full of snails keep Robyn happy too!

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We were planning to camp right by the ferry station on the NS side, but it’s full. So we caught the 8pm ferry to PEI.

I thought we’d have lots of killer light for pics, but the clouds took care of that early. I got one of the sunset and a lighthouse just as we were leaving Nova Scotia behind and turning toward PEI.

Tomorrow, the beaches have red sand, and all the fries are home fries!

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Our last night on Cape Breton was at the lovely Whycocomah Provincial Park. Huge grassy sites with great views of the village across the water.

One unique "feature", however is the placement of the washrooms. They’re quite a way from our site, and way down the hill too. The quad and glute workout is free!

In the pic, our tent is up and to the right of the picnic table waaay up the hill.

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We revisited the Skyline Trail in Cape Breton Highlands Park, although we weren’t sure what to expect. It was one of the highlights of our 2005 trip but this morning was very foggy.

The trail started like a trip through the Forbidden Forest, and by the time we made it to the headlands we couldn’t see a thing. We spent about 30 minutes taking pictures of the nothingness.

Then, just as we were heading back down the trail, the skies cleared. We hurried back to a glorious view of French Mountain, the headlands, and the ocean. We could see clear across to Cheticamp. Well worth the wait!

It was also cool to run into Monica Rivers and her family on the trail, who are also from Regina. Small worl indeed…

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The early morning fog doesn’t detract from the views; I think it enhances them.

This is one of Canada’s most beautiful places.

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When you’re retracing your steps from five years ago, you just have to go for it, no matter what the weather. Today that meant a trip to Marguerite Beach on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore. It’s a beautiful white sand beach that just screams out for playing in the surf.

We did just that – fog or no fog – and had a great time. The water was absolutely freezing, but that’s what the Atlantic is all about!

It was a great day that we topped off the same way as our first trip – fish and chips and a lobster roll at the little red shack at the side of the road at Musquodoboit Harbour. Yay!

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