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Category Archives: The Confederation Trail

PEI Bicycle Rack

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Many people come to Prince Edward Island to cycle on the Confederation Trail. Since we are part of the Cyclist Welcome program at Beside the Trail Bed and Breakfast, it was time to replace our aging bicycle rack.

Bicycle rack

For this project, I needed

  • a box of 1.5 inch screws
  • a handful of 2.5 inch screws
  • 6 8-foot 1x3x8 boards
  • 5 8-foot 2×3 studs

total cost under $50

The planning

I wanted about 18 inches between each bike to allow room for handlebars.  I measured my hybrid bike wheel hub at just under 3 inches so I wanted the gap at 3 inches to allow maximum stability. A 3-inch board is 2.5 inches so I wrote out a line:

2.5 – 3.0 – 2.5 – 12.5 – 2.5 – 3.0 – 2.5 – 12.5 – 2.5 – 3.0 – 2.5 – 12.5 – 2.5 – 3.0 – 2.5 

Now I need the total length and a template to mark those lengths on 3 pieces of wood.  Adding instead, we get

2.5 – 5.5 – 8 – 20.5 – 23 – 26 – 28.5 – 41 – 43.5 – 46.5 – 49 – 61.5 – 64 – 67 – 69.5

The numbers in bold represent the large gap between sections.

The Cutting

So now I can cut 3 of the 2×3 at exactly 69.5 inches.  Then I can mark all 3 according to the template above.

The riser in the back I calculated at 27 inches. The top is cut at a 45 degree angle on the wide face.  See picture below.

bicycle rack detail of cut

 Now for the 1×3.  The pieces across the bottom are 27 inches also.  A bit of math gives me 37.5 inches for the angular pieces.  Those will also be cut at 45 degrees at the bottom for an easier fit.  See picture below.

bicycle rack detail

 

A bit more math tells me that 2 27-inch pieces and one 37.5 inch piece can be cut from an 8-foot length.  The 4 remaining 37.5 come in pairs in the last 2 pieces of 1×3.  After cutting the long pieces, cut a 45 degree angle on one end only (the bottom).

The assembly

Since you will often be attaching close to the piece ends, a strongly suggest pre-drilling to avoid splitting the wood. With 2 of the 2×3 on their side marked according to the template, attach the 8 27-inch pieces with 1.5 inch screws.  On the front piece, put the screws near the inside face so as not to interfere with the angle piece that will go on top.  You can just see the head of the screw in the picture above.

Assemble the riser on the outside of the bottom pieces as shown below.  Referring to the previous pictures, attach your other piece of 2×3 on the angle face – here you may need a helping hand.

bicycle rack detail

 

Next, assemble one angle piece on one end at the bottom.  To square off the top, you can just line up the board flush with the top piece or use a square to make sure the angle is perfect.  Repeat this procedure on the other end.  Be careful when drilling pilot holes on the top end to ensure they do not strike the screws underneath.  Finally, attach the other 6 pieces to complete your 4-bike rack.

You could easily extend this pattern to 5 bicycles.  Any longer would require finding longer pieces of 2×3 or strategic splicing.  You may notice I made the rack from economy wood since it is being used indoors.  For outdoor use, your plan may be similar but might require lumber adjustments (pressure treated or good quality outdoor paint).

Regardless, if you are accustomed to working with wood, this is an easy half-day project.  Enjoy

 

Guy

Cycling PEI and Services

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cycling the trail in Prince Edward Island Many people come to PEI to cycle on the Confederation Trail. It is a very serene way to travel. Though you spend quite some time looking at fields and trees, you can also appreciate some nice vistas as depicted here.

At our Bed and Breakfast, we spend quite some time talking to cyclists. The most common comment we get is difficulty finding pit stops on the trail. So I highly recommend that you do a bit of research before coming. Most of our cycling guests come to us from West to East so we are most familiar with the issues between the Confederation Bridge and Charlottetown.

There are plenty of services in Summerside.

From Summerside to Kensington is about 14 kilometres. As you approach Kensington, you may see two dairy bars on your right. This is a perfect stop on a hot day. You can also find restaurants in downtown Kensington.

If you are coming from the Confederation Bridge, your best pit stop is probably in Hunter River 37 km away. It is also 32km from Kensington to Hunter river. As you cross the main road in Hunter River, you will see a backpacker’s sign saying “supplies to your left.” It will be a hike back up the hill to get back on the trail, but you are still some ways from Charlottetown.

In Hunter River, there is a bakery that I believe is still closed on Mondays. Other days you can get a good meal and some fresh bread. There is also a convenience store in the village so you can stock up on those high calorie or high caffeine treats.

Grandma's Tearoom on the Confederation TrailHunter River to Winsloe is 20km. Now you are on the edge of Charlottetown. From here you are 11 km to downtown Charlottetown. However, if you are continuing your trek on the trail towards the North East, there is an excellent place to stop right on the trail. Between trail marker 174 and 175 you will find Grandma’s Tearoom. There are a couple of picnic tables in the back yard that are usually in the shade. You can also get some iced tea and a light lunch while relaxing in the tearoom or on the deck. This location is part of the Cyclist Welcome Program so feel free to stop there to refill on water or take a bathroom break.

 In the event your day is about to end, this location is also a bed and breakfast with family friendly rates. There are two rooms with single beds that are perfect for resting up after a hard cycling day.

 I hope you will enjoy a cycling holiday in Prince Edward Island; be safe!

 Guy

 

Safe Cycling in PEI

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You may have heard that in July, there was a fatal accident involving a motor vehicle and a cyclist. While the accident was not as outrageous as the picture depicted here, I thought a shocking photo would get your attention.

Please, if you are planning on cycling on Prince Edward Island, be extra careful. The lady who was killed was wearing reflective and protective gear.  That did not protect her enough from the drunk driver that hit her.

If at all possible, stay on the Confederation Trail where you are less likely to become a statistic.  If you want to ride on the highway, please consult this list of roadways with paved shoulders.

We used to tell aggressive drivers to watch out for pedestrians.  After all, once you get out of the car, you become a pedestrian.  Cyclists should not have to live in fear as Ian Brisbin so well said. They should feel safe on any roadway, paved shoulder or not.  Perhaps we should force drivers involved in cycling accidents to use a bicycle for awhile to “walk a mile in our shoes.”

cyclist welcome sign

While cycling,  watch for establishments that display the Cycle Friendly logo. This logo identifies an establishment that caters to cyclists by providing safe storage, water refills, etc.

PEI has a lot to offer for cyclists; please be safe and have a great holiday on our Island.

 

Guy

Your cYcling holidaY

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cycle tip to tip

Many people come to Prince Edward Island to cycle the Confederation Trail. Some are ambitious enough to cycle tip to tip. Even fewer are ambitious enough to go tip-to-tip-to-tip, making the return trip by bicycle to retrieve their vehicle.

PEI Cycling Guide

No matter how much cycling you plan to do, come prepared. Get a cycling guide. If you have a cycling guide, check the date on it.  The cycle guides usually come out a bit later than the other publications – If you have last year’s guide, then pick up a new one when you get here. If you have not seen the guide, check it out online.

The trail is surfaced – that does not mean paved.  It is the stone dust and cinder bed from the old railway line. Once the railway became obsolete in PEI, they decided to rip up the rails and turn the rail bed into a cycling trail. I am really glad for that because it gives us a good way to get some exercise.

Granny ~oo~

 

Your cYcling holidaY in PEI

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Gulf Shore Parkway

The last time we visited the letter “Y”, I spoke about the trail, the trail guide and finding roadways with paved shoulders. There is one important cycling lane that deserves a second mention. The Gulf Shore Parkway runs along the waterfront from North Rustico to Cavendish. This 10 km trip between the two villages is much more scenic and full of places to stop and step down to the beach.  Last year, they added a dedicated cycling lane several feet away from the main roadway.  This will make cycling the parkway much more enjoyable.

Red Island Relay

Have you heard of the Red Island Relay? Cycling PEI puts on several events weekly to promote cycling and other outdoor activities.

Cycling loops

The Government has put together 5 cycling loops ranging from 40 to 75 km. They have full turn by turn directions but unfortunately have not included a Google-Map type reference so you can see exactly where you will be going.  So drive to a destination, take a 50k ride and drive to your evening rest spot.

self guided tour

I found a self guided tour that plans out your itinerary along the trail with side jaunts to find food and accommodations.

Accommodations

If you are looking for Accommodations close to the Confederation Trail, there is no easy answer. You can consult the cycling guide, but you may need some help finding accommodations in the more remote areas.  A Goolge Search for “accommodations close to confederation trail pei” yielded no useful results.  I determined that there probably are not many motels and hotels ON THE TRAIL, so I tried “b&b close to confederation trail”.  I got several indirect results form Trip advisor, Tour PEI and BB Canada for http://besidethetrail.ca/ and another reference to http://www.islandhomebandb.ca/.  Then I tried “b&b confederation trail” and I got Country Charm B&B.  Although a nice enough looking establishment, they are in Murray River which is not close to the official trail.  I did get several references to Trailside B&B again.

Wherever you go on Prince Edward Island, look for the Cycle Friendly logo.  This means the owner has special amenities for cyclists. Whether that be suitable parking while you shop or extra amenities at a B&B.

Enjoy your cycling holiday.

Granny ~oo~

X marks the spot – Geocaching in PEI

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treasure map

Since my first post on Geocaching a month ago, I have become quite adept at geocaching. I now have 40 finds to my name and working on getting over a hundred before the summer is out. As the weather gets warmer, I spend more time ridding myself of pesky bugs and weeds. Therefore I may be spending a little less time treasure hunting.  Check back in about another month for an update on my progress.

explorist GPS

This is my GPS.  The screen is an adequate size but the printing is a bit on the tiny side.  If you are close to my age, you had better have your good reading glasses with you to go exploring.  Last time, I spoke about digit accuracy.  Now I understand a bit more about it. This particular model has a “check satellites” function.  It tells you how many satellites you currently track and how accurate your reading will be.  In Prince Edward Island, I usually have only 2 satellites in the green.  This translates to an accuracy between 9 and 30 feet.  So I have gotten into the habit of looking at my accuracy periodically to determine my search radius once I reach my destination.

One of the fun places to find geocaches is on the Confedertation Trail. There are many good caches just a few steps away from a roadside parking area. Of course, if you are walking or cycling the trail, you can find many more. I am still looking for an easy way to locate all the Geocaches on the trail.  In the meantime, I have a workaround.

  • Go to Geocaching.com and look at their Google Map Interface.
  • Zoom in to a reasonable detail level
  • Look for a string of caches that do not seem to be on a roadway
  • Turn on the satellite view – you should be able to see the trail
  • Select the Caches of interest
  • Happy hunting

If you are new to geocaching, stick to the simple caches.  You can progress to the more complicated caches like letterbox, puzzles, mystery, and multi once you get the hang of the sport.

Geocaching is a wonderful way to explore PEI.  Many geocachers who have placed their caches on the Island have chosen the more picturesque areas – you will see those descriptions in some listings.  So please come to PEI and do some treasure hunting.

Granny ~oo~

 

Run PEI

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running on PEI

If you like running, you have plenty of opportunity on Prince Edward Island.  The government website devotes a section to running. There are trails everywhere. The best trail, or course is the Confederation Trail. It offers 350 kilometres dedicated to runners, walkers and cyclists.  In the winter, it is a way for snowmobilers to get around.

pei marathon

Mid October is the PEI Marathon.  Sure it is not as popular as the Boston Marathon but it is a great way to get in shape, train, and experience the fall beauty of PEI.  This year, it will be October 14-16.

roadrunner

The PEI Roadrunners club has the mission of promoting running and a healthy life style.  If you are an avid runner you should check out their schedules events all over the Island.

My favourite run (actually walk for me) was September 18 2005 when we crossed the Confederation Bridge on the 25th Anniversary of the Terry Fox Run. It was done again in 2010 for the 30th anniversary. The CBC news article still exists in cyberspace.  See below some of my pictures from 2005.

terry fox run

approaching the long climb to the peak of the bridge

terry fox run on the confederation bridge

meeting people coming the other way

foggy day on the bridge

wall to wall people but dimmed by the fog

terry fox run

Victory as we crossed to the other side

Join me tomorrow to see what “S” will bring – so many choices I still have not decided.

Granny ~oo~

Your Cycling Holiday

Posted on by Posted in The Confederation Trail .

Confederation Trail

So you are planning to Cycle in PEI.  You have probably read that the Confederation Trail is surfaced.  Be sure to understand that that means the stone/cinder packed trail bed and not a PAVED roadway.  A hybrid or mountain bike is certainly preferred to a racing bike; you need wider tires for better traction.

 

tourism cycling guide

Now that we have that out of the way, you should get a trail guide.  This is a pocket size cerlox guide that is water resistant.  It should hold up to several days of rugged cycling.  I know it just went to print in April and the 2011 guide should be available for distribution shortly.  You can consult last year’s guide online.  For each featured section of the trail you can find information on accommodations, supplies, and attractions.  Note that only those who pay to be listed in the guide are featured – there may be many more interesting stops along the way.

Of course, you are not limited to the Confederation Trail.  Many cyclists like to go up to the national park:  Cavendish, Brackley, and Greenwich.  This involves travelling on some highway.  You can find a list of highways that have cycling lanes or paved shoulders on the government website.

See yesterday’s post about geocaching.  You can find several geocaches right on the trail although I have not found a way to list them seperately fromt he other hundreds in PEI.

Here are some other cycling resources:

trail markers

Remember to do some research.  If you are looking for accommodations close to the trail, it may be handy to know the trail exit closest to where you need to go.  It has been my experience that many operators do not know where they are in relation to the trail: exit number and distance from the trail. A bit of Google Map research may be helpful.  The trail is marked in Kilometres starting at zero in Tignish.  I have only found one establishment that knows exactly where it is and how far:  The Trailside Bed and Breakfast is located at 174.5.  I know there are no “.5” markers on the trail so I guess they mean they are halfway between 174 and 175.

For more information on the trail, please refer to my previous posts.

tomorrow I will finish my first A to Z of PEI – what will Z be?

Granny ~oo~

PEI Cycling – travel the trails in Prince Edward Island

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Traveling the Trails in PEI may mean, pedaling, walking, or jogging across what was once a railway line.  This abandoned railway line will take you through quaint villages, around wetlands, and alongside shining waters.

 

A Confederation Cycling Guide publication will be helpful with your cycling vacation. The guide will introduce you to participants of the Cyclists Welcome Program (organizations and business that take cyclists into consideration) noting accommodations close to the trail, maps, and needs.  It is a waterproof handy guide that has a fold out map.  Order a cycling guide to be mailed to you.

Often I see travelers on the trail standing by with this cycle guide in hand mapping out their route and taking the time to plan their next stop.

Yesterday I did a little arm chair cycling trip and made a grand discovery.  Although the Visitor’s Guide suggests;  “For touring enthusiasts, just get on your bike and start pedalling.”  I suggest you get on your phone and start calling.  When I called three accommodations in Central PEI they have either closed, moved, or don’t operate a B&B accommodations any longer.  I suggest B&B because that is the type of accommodations found in touring regions of the Trail. It is in Charlottetown and Summerside that you will find Hotels and Motel type stays.  Looking further I noticed the exits of the trail are not always a spot where a person can locate food, water, or a bite to eat or a place to stay (better left for another post).  I called four places in the guide and asking them where on the trail they were and at which exit of the trail their business was?  All four places learned that the trail had exit markers  at each km point and thanked me for the information and found it useful and said they would check out the exit they are at to help with cycling plans.

Confederation Trail Map

 

Legend: (km / miles) are road distances, Cyclists Welcome Program, attractions, (trail marker exit).

North Cape, Windmill Farms Attraction, Irish Moss Interpretation Centre

(9.3 km/ 5.5 miles) East Point, East Point Lighthouse Attraction


Confederation Trail, Riding & Hiking PEI Rail

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Hiking or Cycling PEI’s Confederation Trail is a slow adventure across the Island’s tip to tip route. The trail will take you to exploring History in Charlottetown or Summerside city, or tour to the many ocean beaches. The view of a countryside on a slower pace and easy on the budget vacation for the summer seems the right thing to do.

Confederation Trail PEI

The Confederation Trail in PEI was the first of the provinces Trans Canada Trails to be completed in the year 2000. The tip to tip trail was once the Rail Line across PEI. The incline never being of a high altitude makes the trail manageable at the same time challenging for the long distance cyclists.

trail surface in PEI

The Confederation Trail in PEI
It’s 400 km surface is crushed stone and a graded surface, some spots are soft in the Spring or after a heavy rain fall. With a no vehicle policy in the summer this trail takes a top destination for hiking and cycling (order a free guide) in PEI. The tip to tip trail being 270 km beginning in Tignish around the west end of the Island of North Cape, going through the centre of the Island and up to Elmira near the East Point. Shorter routes named branches reach several parts of the Island making the total surfaced trail about 400 km long.
The Trail passes through;

  • O’Leary
    • Potato Museum, and Mill River Provincial Park Campground
  • Wellington
    • The old Mills Park and Interpretive Centre
  • Summerside
    • Spinnakers Landing, Mulberry Motel
  • Kensington
    • Kensington Rail Yards, The Home Place Inn and Restaurant
  • Hunter River
    • Irving Gas bar, By The River Bakery, New Glasgow Country Gardens
  • Winsloe
  • Mount Stewart
    • Hillsborough River Eco Centre, Crane’s Landing B&B
  • St. Peter’s
    • St. Peter’s Landing, Rick’s Fish’n Chips, Tir Na Nog Inn

Other branch trails lead you to:

  • the heart of Charlottetown
  • the waterside communites of Souris, Georgetown, and Montague
  • the Confederation Bridge
  • unconnected sections run through Murray Harbour to Iona
  • a short branch to the Wood Island Ferry

For a small island most of Prince Edward Island is covered in farmlands and narrow county roads a lot that are unpaved. Cycling the trail means you want to do a little planning to find local stores and bed-and-breakfast or a spot to get a bite to eat.  Even a long cycling journey such as biking the island from tip-to-tip can be done with a little planning.  Be sure to pick up a ribbon at one end and hand it in at the other end for a certificate to show you did a tip to tip journey.

The Confederation Trail in the Fall

When your trail guide arrives be sure to check the routes you will be taking and examine the guide as it even marks most of the sections in distances, as well as how hard of a terrain it can be.  Many places are marked in the guide giving you a range of places to stay and things to do as well some activities along the way.

MacQueen’s, Charlottetown, 902-368-2453 (bike rentals, bike tours, and shuttle service) be sure to take note of the number in case of an emergency or flat tire.  Helmets are mandatory here on PEI, and most bike rentals come with a lock, helmet, water bottle, maps and information. Some journeys could be further than others so plan ahead and always have an extra few granola bars, water and a rain coat for those rainy biking days.

Well I suppose, you might have enough information about the trail to cycle most or parts of it.  I know I got on a bike last year after 18 years and although some day I might think of going tip to tip for now I’m only up to 9 km. Do you ride? Are you planning on riding the trails in PEI some day?

Till next time, this is granny  ~00~