The plan today is to cycle from Moncton to Malden where we will put the bikes back on the RV and drive the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island. They do provide a shuttle service for walkers and cyclists since neither are allowed to cross on their own, but we have Deb and Maggie.
The last time Deb and I were on PEI was before they built the bridge. On that trip we took a ferry from Caribou, Nova Scotia to Wood Island, PEI drove across the province and took the ferry at mid-island to New Brunswick. On this trip, we are travelling in the opposite direction.
Tonight we will stay near Charlottetown since Maggie has an appointment tomorrow morning for a much-needed bath and haircut.
David and I decide that we should cycle for a bit on the Confederation Trail today. After our experience on the New Brunswick Trail we just want to get a sense of how well maintained the trail on PEI is. Tomorrow while Deb waits to pick Maggie up at the groomers, we plan to start cycling to the eastern end of the island. Our friends and neighbours are camping at Somers by the Beach so heading east will mean we can spend a night visiting with them and be right by the ferry at Wood Island for our trip across to Nova Scotia tomorrow.
We find the Confederation Trail to be excellent. It is so well maintained we are told that it is considered wheelchair accessible. It is the first part of what eventually became the Trans-Canada Trail. In 1989, CN abandoned all rail lines on the island. A group called Rails-to-Trails formed and in 1994, the provincial government bought the railway lands and began developing the Confederation Trail. Today it covers 273 kilometers from one end of the island to the other end and with side trails extends for a total of 449 km.
The Rotary Ride for Kids 
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