Another little twist....it’s a shortish blogpost!

I had no intention of publishing a blogpost so soon however something happened yesterday and I received the following message...as part of a string of messages... from a long time friend whom I will refrain from identifying....C*r*l.

"Guy, Guy, Guy!  Just what you do not need.  I think that you have had your share of medical procedures and suffering for 2024……and into the future!  We are sorry to hear of your accident, but on the positive side, you were able to finish your Island Walk! 😊. ...Take care of yourself and relax a bit.  Perhaps write a blog!”

Ok the highlighting (not the message) is my doing...☺️. One should never encourage me like that!

First game of the curling season ...second shot of the game...sliding out of the hack (see a hack picture below)...I planted my sliding left foot improperly and went splat. Directly on my right rib cage side. Hurt but felt sort of ok for the balance of the game... however after an hour or so at home I decided to get things checked out.

Position foot in right or left hack and slide out to deliver curling rock

Four hours later, CT scan confirmed a fracture of the 7th rib on the right side. Unfortunately the timing was doubly terrible as we were leaving today for Thanksgiving weekend in Ottawa to visit a family member, see new friends and stopping in to see long time friends in Kingston on the way there...C*r*l and well I always forget his name 🤔. To boot was looking forward to driving out there comfortably in our new car! 

When I return to curling will be adding this helmet as added protection...I know some will be thinking “why bother Guy?” 😳

Oh well it’s been a year...

2024 to date

- March tripped early morning walking...fractured rib left side...missed last 6 weeks curling

- June surgery...6 week recovery plus tail end longer term “I” recovery

- October slipped curling 🥌…fractured rib right side...will now miss first 6 weeks curling

Taking a step back to look at the 2024 big picture the plus side...hole in one...great week in PEI including completing the Island Walk...and watching these 3 grandchildren grow, amazing us and keeping us entertained exceeds the negative side!

Special Note: there are no graphs in this shortish blogpost ☺️. That does not mean I am not working on a graph or two...far from it...however the new graphs are not blogpost material. 😉. You see the last time I saw my pelvic floor physiotherapist she asked the usual first question  “Guy how are you doing?”. 

A logical question however without actual data/facts how I am supposed to answer this question...considering the “I” condition? So I blurted out my idea “ok here is what I am thinking I should do...xyz...totally ok if you laugh” To which she did not laugh replying “you are not the first person to do this...makes perfect sense”. Perhaps I am the second person and she is being kind...some people simply know what to say! 

Sooo...kitchen scale, compost bags, d*p*nds and graphs are involved. Next physio session I will be prepared and proudly show her my surprise “graphs” and of course my analysis of such.  I expect my approach will immediately be adopted and recommended for all future clients 🤓.

The only person I will send my graphs to...unless a blogpost reader pleads for a copy 🤣...is my brother Marc. If you think I analyze stuff a wee bit much I am in kindergarten compared to his PHD level work. Holy smokes...he is an Engineer specializing in Wind analysis and his associated graphs are incredible! However even Marc has never ventured where I have (long walk analyses) and currently going in “I” graphing. 😉😎🧐 We are both setting new World standards in our respective disciplines. ☺️

Next Walk - TBD

Paulo...my Brazilian walking friend,..has indicated mid May 2025 for 14-16 walking days works for him. Next touchpoint and potential go/no go decision point is set for end December 2024. 

I had been thinking that my current post operative “I” challenge, if not sufficiently improved, would kibosh this walk. However there are always alternatives. One such alternative...as a last resort...would be to utilize a bag carry transfer service. If all else is a go from our individual personal perspectives and the bag transfer service is the only solution... then why not? Should this happen I may well be the first person to ever to utilize baggage transfer for this unique reason.😊 Does not faze me in the least! Who cares?

In 2025...at 68... I will be approaching what some consider to be my senior years and clearly “stuff” has and can happen from so many perspectives...so why wait if the opportunity is there?

Paulo is open to whatever route I feel most drawn to. As circumstances challenged the deferred 2024 walk a number of different routes were considered...ok I drove the creation of many/ok all alternatives. 😳 Seems I have more available time than Paulo considering his young family and thriving law practice.  

The route that keeps calling out to me is the Via Francigena from either Lucca to Rome 16 days or if a shorter time period is required San Miniato to Rome 14 days through the Tuscany hills in Italy.

A different adventure…a challenging route…foreign language neither of us speak…not Spain, France, Portugal, Switzerland, UK, Japan but Italy and the hills of Tuscany!

Lucca to Rome 410 kms

Sooo...no more blogposts (hopefully) until a decision is made. Sure I may do the odd deep dive multi dimension planning leading up to the decision ☺️. The way I look at things the planning/dreaming is always totally worth it...even if ultimately a no go decision is reached. 

Happy Thanksgiving weekend everyone! Xmas 🎄 is also just around the corner 😊🥰! 

 

2024 Island Walk Rest Day & Charlottetown

Stunning environment, nice people, food & a lollipop! A blogpost in pictures and a short video.

Yesterday a Rest Day

Came downstairs for a leisurely late breakfast. We did not eat at the Inn last night however Dawn had heard that cranberry pie was served! Well...never had cranberry pie...I thought about my strategy very carefully.

Mellanie approached looking very professional with a notepad and pen...Dawn gave her order. My turn...I was ready “I’ll have the cranberry pie...thank you” Mellanie did not skip a beat “With ice cream?” Oh I found that so very swift and funny...and...

Cranberry pie & ice cream a great start to breakfast and the day! Delicious!

Spent some time roaming the cliffs around Johnson Shore Inn...going both West and East a ways. On my return I met Mellanie and Dave and told them  “Walked the circumference of PEI 700+kms and the scenery you have just out your door cannot be matched...the best!”

Short 18 second video of waves and wind from the shoreline

Johnson Shore Inn - 18 second video

Then on to lunch at the rustic North Lake Boathouse Eatery

BEST Lobster Roll in PEI!

A little rest on the Adirondack chairs by the cliffs edge then on to supper with a great group of PEI Island Walkers/Supporter 🥰...a lot of laughs...a few tall tales “PAS MOI!!!” 🤣

From Left to Right - Dawn (Canada), Neena (Canada), Tom (Australia), Susan (USA), Zoe (USA), Balbir (Canada), ? (Canada)

Salads are amazing!

Chicken cutlets, small potatoes, broccoli and beets - Delicious!

PEI Yo-Yo shortbread chocolate cookie with ice cream!

Then today on to Charlottetown where we immediately set to work to buy some small gifts for the grandchildren, a few kitchen things, 3 varieties of yo-yo cookies (espresso pumpkin spice, salty caramel and zesty lemon) to take home and phew time to eat ☺️

Superb halibut burger, ceasar salad and incredible “flattop potatoes” 

Sorry before eating paid a visit to the PEI Island Walk office and I picked up a nice blue “tech material” t-shirt with The Island Walk crest 

Ok maybe 🤔 not the best picture composition for a t-shirt however trust me…it will look great!😌 

and....voila...the completion certificate #75 (unsure how many of these were walkers vs cyclists)

The LOLLIPOP makes everything worth it 😀!!!

And that is a great way to end a loooonnnnng walk!

PEI Island Walk - September 30, 2024 Day 24 Montague to Gaspereaux

Success! PEI Island walk is complete! 24 walking days,,,705 kms...29.4kms per day....1.04 million steps and 28 shuttle rides! 🤣. There will never be another walk like it! Right now it’s a little hard to process after coping with the many ups & downs along the way...but it sure feels good! ☺️ 

While the outcome was one of my 9 possible 2024 PEI Island Walk completion plans and possibly the one I silently hoped for 🤔😉 frankly walking 30, 37, 36 and 20 kms on consecutive days seemed almost out of reach. But somehow it came together.☺️

PEI Island Walk

A warm thank you to Dawn who over the past 4 days woke up early to drive me to various starting points and then drove to various pickup points at days end. Without fail I never had to wait a minute after a long walking day...Dawn was there with the car...often passing me in the very last stretch tapping the horn as she went by. Without your help Dawn I could never have completed this crazy walk...grand merci  & much 🥰

Stats

Original Plan (Red), 2023/2024 Actual (Blue)

Walking Days: Original Planned 24, 2023/2024 Actual 24

Total Kms Walked:  Original Planned 703, 2023/2024 Actual 705

Walking time 3h 47m [131h 40m]

Kms per hour Walking: 5.4 kms per hr  [5.4 kms/hr]

Steps: 1,040,573

Shuttle Rides: Original Planned 17, 2023/2024 Actual 28

Elevation Gains/Losses: 101 (92) [2,278:(2,208)]

% Come on get a Wiggle on Days (>40 km): Original Planned 7, 2023/2024 Actual 4

Walked to Gaspereaux....2024 Phase 2 PEI Island Walk is complete!

Gaspereaux (Green Arrow)

An interesting little analysis 

I have walked 164 days on various long walks. The table below summarizes the Top 5 walking days based on 2, 3, 4 consecutive walking days without consideration for Elevation Gains/Losses. The PEI Island Walk shows up in the Top 5 for each measurement...surprised me somewhat! 

Walk to Gaspereaux

Today was an easy 20.2km day...perfect weather again...everything was in sync for walking strongly. My pace early was a little too swift at 5.7km a hour...so I had to tone that down a bit and averaged 5.4 kms an hour.

Other than an unfortunate loss virtually at day’s end absolutely nothing to report on today’s walk. Straight up highway 17 from Montague and before I knew it...voila!

Now take a look at the picture below...which I made extra large...this may well be my or anyones BEST selfie ever!!! I am in the picture with my best look and note the sign for Gaspereaux WP #28 is in the background. I am very proud of the composition in the photo ☺️😉!

An impressive selfie with WP #28 on the sign!

The unfortunate incident 3.3 kms from the end is...I lost my left ear AirPod Pro earpiece. I was listening to music...thinking I would like to finish with Vangelis Chariots of Fire a perfect way to end the walk...when the  music stopped. When I pressed play again sound came only from the right ear...then I reached to an empty space on my left ear.

D*mn that must mean the left AirPod is gone was my immediate brilliant deduction 🥲. I searched around and then walked back a way without success. Then I tried “Find my Devices” and it said the AirPod was last seen in Montague 13 kms away. The problem being that I walk with AirPlane Mode on most of the time to conserve battery so I can follow GPS tracks to not get lost and then have stats. 🤓. Find my Devices needs an internet connection to provide the last accurate known location. Oh well 😰.

What happens next? Other than perhaps a blogpost or two I anticipate a long rest for the blog. Paulo had indicated he is a go for mid May 2025 either the Via Francigena Lucca or San Miniato to Rome or the Rota Vincentina in Portugal.

I am really drawn to the Tuscan hills in Italy as a first choice. There are two considerations prior to making a final decision by 2024 year end or into January 2025.

- 2025 has been deemed a Jubilee year by Pope Francis. At some earlier point in life I would have known what a Jubilee year entails...now I don’t however it is expected to draw up to 30 million people into Rome over 2025. This has to be considered in terms of ease of finding accommodation etc. Frankly it intrigues me greatly as this would significantly add to the adventure and might well make for some interesting stories.

- my post prostate surgery issue which I alluded to in an earlier blogpost where I included my packing list would be a very significant hurdle to any future long walk. I understand the prognosis for overcoming this is good with continued physical therapy...hopeful is the current feeling.

Somehow I have an overriding gut feeling that what needs to be overcome will happen...perhaps with a creative solution allowing for this walk. However all is TBD

Completing the PEI Island Walk was unfinished business for me. There is one other walk that falls squarely in unfinished business...Camino Portuguese from Lisbon to Porto...~375 kms. Someday I hope I will give it a go. 🤔

Tomorrow is a much anticipated rest day... planning to go a seafood restaurant and explore around Johnson Shore Inn. I highly recommend the Johnson Shore Inn for anyone visiting PEI...you will not be disappointed.

Thanks to all who have read, skimmed or tried to read these PEI Island blogposts. Weird sentence structure, silly stories etc etc must be due to lingering effects from those mid June 2024 surgery drugs 😉. Seriously your comments and good wishes are more welcome than you can ever imagine 🙏

Other than a few pictures from the day, an email to Heather at PEI Tourism to notify her of my walk completion for a certificate AND a lollipop, an email to Ron metionned in a earlier blogpost that I followed in his footsteps also completing my Island walk as well, wrap up comments below that's a wrap!

Oh also some critical shopping is ahead in Charlottetown for gifts for the 3 grandchildren!

Last night at the Inn!

Salads were incredible!

Roast chicken, mashed potatoes and superb veggies

Somewhere under there is gingerbread cake!!! 🤣

An interesting enterprise and sign!

At the entry of Anchors Alley

The “crooked” purple house! 😉

iPhone camera has a mind of its own 🤣

Dave’s boots at the Inn! Perfect!

Wrapup Comments

When I completed the 2023 20 day portion of the PEI Island Walk I wrote the following in my final blogpost. The thoughts still very much apply therefore I am including a modified version below. If I was to add one thing it would be this...”So very proud to be a Canadian today and having explored a beautiful part of our vast country"

Reflecting on the PEI Island Walk I have asked myself a few questions

Was it worth it?

Yes. An honest answer however this has to be my craziest long walk…I had been thinking about this walk for a few years…was most interested in a Canadian long walk. In the end based on what information I had at hand it essentially followed the script.

I was fortunate to have the chance to give it a go and I will remember it as a positive experience. I hit a rough spot on day 16…and still managed to walk into Charlottetown 😊…that makes me feel good!

Some may ask “geez you must regret eating those oysters?” Well the result wasn’t good but how/why would I regret it? I had a kind offer to spend an evening as a guest of George the accommodations owner. It was one of the highlights on the people side of the entire walk! No regrets for accepting the invitation and eating what was offered to me…an Island style reception was received!

There is no doubt in my mind that I would have completed the challenging walk as planned. Honestly I was surprised how strongly I was walking. However a problem occurred…I dealt with it…and I feel good about the overall experience.

To my way of thinking I am much better off trying something a little challenging than simply wishing and wondering what if I had.

Would I do it again?

No. That is the same answer I would give to any long walk…with the possible exception of the Kumano Kodo in Japan…there are simply so many possible outstanding walks…so little time. Why would I do the same walk twice?

Would I recommend it?

Frankly I don’t like recommending long walks to anyone as there are too many variables involved. Everyone’s goals, preferences, abilities, mindset are so very different. What I am prepared to say is if you choose to walk The Island Walk some key considerations are:

- You must be comfortable walking by yourself for days on end 

- You should not simply rely on signage…it is good however GPS tracking saved me more than once 

- Be prepared for many days where there is nowhere to buy food etc between start and finish

- Attractions ie museum’s, small bars historical churches etc are few and far between 

- Road walking is at least 50% of the walk

- Be prepared for nature bio breaks…biffies at are a premium 

- Walk is way more expensive in comparison to Camino walks…no “ pilgrim” type accommodations

- Seriously consider utilizing the services of a professional such as Bill Kendrick PEI Experience. In my opinion the existing Island Walk website and the Guide are not sufficient planning tools 

- Above all consider the Island Walk only if your prime consideration is the pure enjoyment of simply walking 🚶

What did I like best?

Easy responses…the friendly people of PEI…the outstanding beauty of many areas of the province…opportunity to sample seafood. What amazes me is simply this…PEI is a lot bigger than it appears to be as a tiny island on the map!!! 😂😮‍💨

Maybe above all else it spoke to my sense of adventure and trying something new and different!

What did I like least?

Not meeting fellow walkers…mosquitoes on one section of the Confederation Trail…too much road walking on some days…few small towns if any on many days…lack of accommodation choices 

What is future of Island Walk?

An honest assessment is unless significant improvements in accommodation choices are made in the next few years The Island Walk will never really take off.  It is simply too expensive due to the accommodation challenges necessitating shuttles etc.

Having said this the walk is only 4 years old…and let’s see COVID and Hurricane Fiona! Amazing progress in a short period of time. Having a few dozen homes hang an Air B&B shingle for a room or two in key areas would make a significant difference!

Comparison to a Camino Walk!

No comparison possible to a Camino Walk…anyone reading my blog entries who has completed a Camino walk will recognize significant differences immediately. 

PEI Island Walk - September 29, 2024 Day 23 Howe Bay to Montague

Nailed it! A very peaceful day walking 36.1 kms over 7h 9min walking time at an average pace of 5.0 kms per hour. The walking pace was slower than the first 2 days at 5.2 kms...2 main reasons 

- I am simply tired having walked 103 kms in the last 3 days. ☺️  

- Mental confidence and physical ability must be in sync. Today I felt great about walking...thought I had a chance to complete  the long walk to Montague.  However my legs & feet (see below) weren’t happy campers. Much like Day 1 my left calf was cramping up...with massaging, early slow pace it eased up within the first km. 

My legs were simply not driving forward well...they were being very lazy...”I’m tired...I’m sore etc” Well after a bit of a talking to they gradually improved throughout the day.  

The walk had a nice balanced mixture of busy highway, country road , PEI red mud road and Confederation Trail walking. Perfect! However NOTHING happened today...no 😱 stories, no 🐍 , no 🐝 ,no 🐕 and no fellow🚶‍♂️. NADA so everyone get’s a blogpost story break 🤔...mostly pictures for today! Plus I am pooped!

Stats

Original Plan (Red), 2023/2024 Actual (Blue)

Walking Days: Original Planned 24, 2023/2024 Actual 23

Total Kms Walked:  Original Planned 703, 2023/2024 Actual 685

Shuttle Rides: Original Planned 17, 2023/2024 Actual 26

Elevation Gains/Losses: 155m (157m)

Walking Time: 7h 9m

Kms per hour Walking: 5.0 kms per hour

% Come on get a Wiggle on Days (>40 km): Original Planned 7, 2023/2024 Actual 4

***Important note had to modify Shuttle Rides as yesterday’s blogpost incorrectly had Actual 25 when it should have been 24. So VERY sorry if this has caused reader anxiety 😉

Day 3 reached Montague

Montague (Green Arrow)

I received a number of encouraging messages after the Sep 27 blogpost “Pinch me...we are here!” They are always most welcome and appreciated. One in particular deserves special mention. I will not identify who sent me the message as that seems unfair...will only say that C*l a former System Architect, author of several books and a dedicated golfer (however 😰 he has never had a hole in one ☺️) sent me this:

" OMG. You're at it again. Someday there's going to be a "Guy Arbez Extraordinary Determination" award, handed out annually by the Governor General. Of course, I'll recommend it be renamed to the "Guy Arbez Daring and Daft Deeds" award.

Nonetheless, well done, sir."

Made me laugh 🤣 big time!

Last night Dawn and I tried a different restaurant for supper. driving straight to the Fiddling Fisherman Lookout in Souris (pronounced Souree...similar to mouse in French) after the Howe Bay pickup. A beautiful location overlooking the bay with a wide ranging menu.

I wanted  a change and ordered the Maple and Bacon pizza1 Absolutely delicious and even went crazy and had a ginger ale...infrequently have soft drinks anymore but the sugar rush was badly needed.

After dinner we decided to go for a walk along a superb boardwalk in Souris along the bay. I  had walked this boardwalk a few times while recuperating in 2023 from the raw oyster issue. Now for something different...Dawn walked the boardwalk alone for 30 minutes or so...I could not budge myself and stayed in the car!!! 

The foot with the blister was really sore. Somehow when walking you know there is pain somewhere but one sets that aside to reach the day’s endpoint. Once finished the body simply says “Enough buddy...now you will feel it!”

Today’s Walk

Before setting out for the day footcare is essential. Clearly this won’t win any best nursing care awards however it effectively did the job  covering the pesky blister problem! I normally rely on Dr Paulo for this stuff. Why is the tape so wrinkly? Is there really a way to avoid this considering the placement? I am open to any suggestions.

Got off to another early 8:15 start...merci beaucoup Dawn! An absolutely perfect day weather wise...not too hot...some cloud cover and light winds. Some pictures on the first major 24 km leg to Montague.

Great way to start 😊 So much better than a busy highway!

Not sure what crop this is? Yellow flowers

Typical PEI Farmland 

Curious llamas...they came right up the fence

Great rest stop...however it came at 10 km so much too early

So many churches in PEI...every denomination

So many cemeteries...many have a very old section dating 150+ years

That’s the life!

Around 1:15 or so I reached Cardigan...I had already committed to walking on to Montague instead of stopping here.

Cardigan WP # 26

Great lunch spot!

Another delicious packed lunch...Greg note the bar 🤣

And then to my great surprise...as I had not read up on the walk today...the entire last 12 km section between Cardigan and Montague was on the Confederation Trail. No cars! Felt so very peaceful!

A wasp nest?

The longest walking trail in the World!

Harbour at Montague

Well everyplace has to have some kind of monument!

On to tomorrow and the final 21 kms to Gaspereaux to complete the entire PEI Island Walk. I will candidly admit it’s been a real struggle to get to this point...it sure will be a great feeling to get it done! I may even have a beer to celebrate!