PEI Island Walk - May 25, 2023 Day 9 Alberton to Portage

Daily Information 

Distance:    23.9 Kms   [263.9 Kms]

Walking time:   4h 21m [48h 34m]

Doddling time:    20m  [252m]

% Doddling time:  7.1% [8.0%]

Avg walking speed:   5.5 Kms/hr  [5.4 Kms/hr]

Elevation G/L meters: 22(30)  [742:(827)]

Total Daily Steps: 36,512 [412,600]

% of Walking Days Complete (24): 37.5%

% of Total Kms (estimate 703): 37.5%

% of Shuttle Rides (estimate 17): 64.7%

% Come on get a Wiggle on Days (>40 km): 42.9%

Overall a good strong extremely quiet day with a potential dangerous animal encounter averted. I left La Petite France B&B at 7:40 am after a fabulous breakfast…hustled hard knowing the forecast and beat out the rain by an hour or so.

While the Packa was on the backpack it was not deployed which may have been the saving grace in the dangerous animal encounter.

Hubert told Ron and me that in France all his work was thinking as opposed to physical therefore he decided in his spare time to train and obtain his bakers certificate.

The bread was superb…he brought his own milling machine from France…makes his own flour and of course all the bread served. The yogurt, jam etc are all homemade. The food presentation was what one experiences in France. While I have deliberately stayed away from mentioning any $ to date I will stray from that for La Petite France…$80 per night tax included…cannot be surpassed!

Hubert and the spread!

Hubert mentioned that I could travel light today and leave everything behind…but I told him I could not do that because of the Packa look without the backpack. 🤣 Just have a look at the picture below of the Packa without a backpack…really! 

Hubert did not buy my reasoning so I told him the real scoop…it would feel like cheating! I came here to walk the Island Trail with a backpack and barring an injury reason that is what will happen.

When I walk the Coast to Coast with Greg in England in September it will be without a backpack as that’s what the trip package includes…this will also save Greg the $ required to buy all the gear. So no Packa in the Coast to Coast walk!

I don’t know how describe the look…

I did make two major concessions and left behind the following due to expected rain!

Small pad of paper and wet socks

Yesterday I went shopping for a packed lunch…note the massive apple which must have weighed 1kg and fruit! Essentially no fruit so far this walk so it’s time otherwise scurvy could be a problem 😉

I got off to a real fast start…not one that could be maintained 😂

Today’s inspirational early Spotify songs were Set fire to the rain Adele - like the music beat and 

Hero Mariah Carey - like the words 😊

And now for the diversions of the day…

Over preparing or just being sensible?

Some people think I may over prepare… the odd time…no idea why 🤔. I mean just because I drafted the skeleton of each daily blog…just the daily stats and title before leaving for PEI…why would that be considered over preparing 😊. Wouldn’t everyone do this? Sure I am having to adjust the daily stats section everyday now as I invent new stuff that tons of subscribers are pleading for but that’s ok…the initial work was all worth it!

Conclusion - just being sensible 😉

Medical information for walkers

I mentioned in yesterday’s blog about talking to the pharmacist about wanting something for chafing. Believe me walking hours daily invariably leads to this in different areas…this is important information for walkers!

So when the pharmacist asked where chafing occurs I was well prepared to answer this…otherwise how am I going to get help. She then led me to an area of hydrocortisone creams “I recommend the lower % considering this sensitive area” …ok no problem.

Then she led me to the baby section where I see all kinds of stuff I used on babies…Zincofax and the blue Penatin tin which I bought. Seriously have something like this in your backpack…I did not!

Packing and Unpacking

Everyone has their own approach…knowing what works best for them. Same for me and my approach…other than having packing cubes…is terrible…not efficient in the least!

Upon arrival I empty the whole bag and lay things out wherever…one of the reasons why dorm style accommodation doesn’t work well for me.

The next morning I simply try to guess a logical order and throw the stuff back in the bag hoping that I will have what I need during the day on top 🙏.

I have 3 or 4 dry stuff bags for clothes…you would think I have a system…not really. At this point in time…shirts, socks, underwear where I have 3 of each…I honestly don’t know what has recently been washed. In a self improvement commitment I will tonight nominate a bag as dirty clothes…unless of course I forget to do so.

Update - done orange bag = dirty clothes. Now if I can only remember this beyond tonight I then have a system ☺️

Ah…great stuff…just found my third pair of socks…woohoo…they were in the front outer mesh pocket of my backpack to hopefully dry out during the day…note to self having them next to a plasticized card does not enhance drying 🤔.

Walking was pleasant but essentially nothing happened until… 

First Elaine aka IslandWalker commented that red for the Packa was a great visible colour…cars, hunters etc…agreed.

Going back I proved that red is an extremely good colour in dangerous animal situations…cut and paste from previous post.

“Dangerous animal colour recognition

Cows including Bulls - Cannot see red! Recognize yellow, green, blue and violet. Movement of matadors cape is what makes bulls angry.

Chickens - Recognize red, blue, green, and ultraviolet light

Dogs - Basically cannot see red. Recognize green, yellow, orange as yellowish, violet & blue as blue

Bees - Cannot see red! Recognize blues, purple and violet

Snakes - Cannot see red! Recognize blues, greens

Slugs - Cannot see any colour!

Based on the above my Red Packa provides significant protection against most dangerous animals...cows/bulls, dogs, bee swarms, snakes. Chickens and slugs remain an issue.”

So I came across the following today…I think they were beehives…looked a bit dilapidated so maybe they are no longer used? The beehives…if that’s what they are had heavy rocks on top…how do the bees get out? I was NOT wearing my Packa so did not dare approach any closer thus avoiding a potential dangerous animal 🐝 swarming…

Well that’s basically it for the walking day except for the superb fish sandwich…real fish fillet…not the breaded kind!

After the walk I caught up with Ron went to the hospital today…no other medical option…and was told as an out of country patient he would have to pay $900. They did mention to him that the pharmacist would be his best bet which worked out well as she took a picture of his foot for reference and suggested a stronger cream.

I went over to his room as he has been laid up all day…I remember well my situation in Porto Portugal. I had a large sandwich and offered him half which he was glad to have. Man he has had some wild walking adventures including losing his backpack (too long to explain how) and lucking out that another fellow came down a trial infrequently used. 

Anyway we both wished each other well and I’m sure we will keep in contact occasionally. He admits his long walking adventures…which are totally way more arduous than mine are a thing of the past at 76. Hopefully he recovers to complete the Island Walk.

My foot issue remains the same…hardly hurts when walking…seems like a blister but no fluid so will leave as is for now.

Tomorrow rain in forecast all day…5:30 am shuttle…41 kms…loooong day ahead! Once complete I will have done > 50% of the long days…that will be a real plus!

Finally some pictures from the day…

What is the small hut for?

Nice street name!

Day’s End