Fifteen minutes into a 3-day, 63-km long-distance walk, a pungent, overripe, fruity scent brought me to a halt. What was that familiar aroma? A quick visual scan revealed the source—a cluster of wild apple trees, covered in ripe apples, lined the roadside! This abundance of wild apples became a recurring theme on my recent Island [read more…]
Define Your Own Walk
As soon as I saw an article about The Island Walk, I knew it was a walk I (we) wanted to take. After two years of lockdowns and vaccines, a long walk to regroup and re-energize seemed to be just the ticket. I reached out to Bryson Guptill, bought his book, and started thinking about [read more…]
Cycling the Great Walk with E-bikes
After many bicycle trips in Europe, my husband and I were looking for a tour in Canada. We heard about this walk in PEI that some people had done by bicycle. We decided to try it as it seemed to fit the bill. In preparation for the walk we: decided how far we would like [read more…]
“Come Back Different”
Why does anyone decide to step away from their life for a month and walk 700kms? A time-out? An opportunity for reflection? A spiritual pilgrimage? Slow tourism? For me, all were reasons. Two weeks into the pandemic my middle son who lived with significant disabilities died from complications of non-COVID pneumonia. In the early months [read more…]
I Ride for You and Me
I returned home in June 2021 from Toronto where I received a single left lung transplant. I was in Toronto from September 24th, 2020, through June 9th, 2021. I bought an e-bike and rode various trails in Nova Scotia to raise funds for Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation thru their Hope Breathes Here program. My most [read more…]
Pandemic Camino?
Anyone who has ever done a long distance walk knows how easy it is to plan. Basically you just plan to get to your starting point….and that’s it! You know that for the next 30 days or so all you have to do is get up and start walking…..and nowhere is the infrastructure better than [read more…]
My Island Walk Adventure
My 250 km Island Walk adventure didn’t start when I arrived in Charlottetown last October 2021. It began 8 years earlier when I set out from the town of St Jean Pied de Port to start the Camino Frances, the first of many caminos. I had hoped to walk again in the spring of 2020 [read more…]
One unforgettable Island Walk
On September 3rd, 2021, I began The Island Walk, travelling the spectacular beaches and charming byways of Prince Edward Island. On October 3, I completed 714 kilometres. The tad more distance than the official 700km route was due to a slight detour, specifically a visit to Lennon House in Rustico. I raised funds during my [read more…]
Island Walkers Starting in May
While Islanders will be watching fishermen set their lobster traps this May, there will be new activity to see along PEI’s coastline this year. From Charlottetown to Miminegash, Seacow Pond to Gaspereaux, Islanders will be seeing hikers (and cyclists) on red dirt roads, secondary roads and the Confederation Trail. These long-distance trail enthusiasts will be [read more…]