4th of July on Prince Edward Island – Day 46

Happy 4th of July!!! We have had a great day of bike riding on Prince Edward Island between Summerside and Kensington. The bike paths are amazing, following the old railroad tracks throughout the island for some 400 km!

Bike riding on Prince Edward Island.

Bike riding on Prince Edward Island.

Looking out at farm land from the bike path. They literally removed the tracks and ties and made the surface great for bikers.

Looking out at farm land from the bike path. They literally removed the tracks and ties and made the surface great for bikers.

The fields and woods were lush green and beautiful.

The fields and woods were lush green and beautiful.

Another view of the amazing bike paths throughout PEI.

Another view of the amazing bike paths throughout PEI.

Ok you gardening buffs and farmers, what is growing here?

Ok you gardening buffs and farmers, what is growing here?

So you want to see it up close and personal? So, here it is. What do you think it is?

So you want to see it up close and personal? So, here it is. What do you think it is?

If you said 'potato plants' you would be correct. It is a major crop on PEI.

If you said ‘potato plants’ you would be correct. It is a major crop on PEI.

We went by this amazing field of wild flowers on the bike path on our way to Kensington.

We went by this amazing field of wild flowers on the bike path on our way to Kensington.

This is a replica of the original Kensington train station, about 15 km from Summerside. It's now a fun restaurant.

This is a replica of the original Kensington train station, about 15 km from Summerside. It’s now a fun restaurant.

The Kensington station as seen from the other side.

The Kensington station as seen from the other side.

Next to the current bike path at Kensington is this old locomotive that was once used in PEI.

Next to the current bike path at Kensington is this old locomotive that was once used in PEI.

These are potato storage silos. It's a big business in PEI.

These are potato storage silos. It’s a big business in PEI.

Comments

4th of July on Prince Edward Island – Day 46 — 3 Comments

  1. Bruno I have enjoyed your trip through your postings. I have not received one since July 5. Any this wrong?

  2. Beautiful photos! I’m curious about why they stopped using the trains. Did anyone tell you? You are both amazing, riding those bikes around the island!

    • Hi again Pat. So glad you are enjoying our trip accounts and pictures. The trains started around 1875 on PEI. They changed peoples’ lives from horse and buggy travel on dirt/mud roads to the ability to get produce to markets and people to travel from place to place and back home all in the same day. By 1948 all steam engines had been replaced by diesel engines. It was the building of paved highways and roads throughout the island and the ease of using a family car and trucking for commodities that made trains less useful. The last passenger service ended in the 1970s and the last train stopped in 1989. The idea of changing the track lines to bike and walking paths started in 1994 and the project was completed in 2000.
      Thanks for asking as it was interesting to research this a bit. Hi to all!

      Bruno