We made a decision before we went on this vacation. Before we plopped our butts down on the beach for the day we wanted to try to walk. We needed to move a bit.
We knew from our previous visits there was a longish trail near Cavendish Beach in the national park. we walked a short portion of it but we knew this year we'd do the long loop. I have to say that 8.4km (or 8.7 depending on which sign you read) is longer than you think it is. Especially when you walk it during one of the hottest times of days (oops). Luckily it's a PEI trail and that went we were greated with a good breeze for most of it.
It starts as a walk in the woods.,,
Then field.
And stream
And bay
And then more field
We saw herons and gulls. Chipmunks and moles. We smelled, but thankfully did not see, skunks. We provided nutrition for some mosquitoes and black flies.
Aside from my nose and a bit of my forehead, I did not get the sunburn I richly deserved. (I forgot to pack a hat.)
We were thrilled there was a canteen at the main entrance to Cavendish Beach that provided cold drinks, though a bit disappointed they did not have chocolate milk.
By the time we walked from our car the trail and the trail back to the car and then the car to the beach we walked close to 10km. A good workout for the day. The beaches in PEI are beautiful but the water was a bit brisk. They are pretty much the perfect way to cool down after a long walk.
I splurged on a beach tent this summer. It's worth every cent and every swear word I uttered while setting it up. (It's actually not hard to set up, especially with two people, but we had just walked close to 10km.) The tent is probably what saved me from that horrible sunburn.
Selfie in a beach tent
It was a good day. Even if that long walk made my hips very, very angry with me.