Escape Edit

Welcome to The Escape Edit, a place to discover inspiration for exploring Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Halifax, and Prince Edward Island. Here you’ll find upcoming events, local guides, hidden gems, and stories about the people and places that make the regions surrounding our properties so unforgettable.

Do you consider yourself a treasure hunter? That is pretty much what geocaching is about! If you enjoy a walk in nature combined with a bit of adventure, then explore PEI with a GPS or your smart phone. Download a free app and you’re ready to track the cache.

What exactly is a cache, you ask? A cache is a small container, most likely camouflaged and a little off a beaten track or trail. The cache is waterproof and contains a log book or perhaps even pins, badges or small toys. There are thousands hidden in Prince County alone!

When you find a cache, remove the log, enter the date found and sign your user name. Then replace the cache in the same spot you found it. Log onto the geocache site, and in many instances, you will find history of the area and many interesting stories. You can see what others have written and how many have been adventuresome in the same area you just traversed.

Geocaching is enjoyed world-wide; so why not give it a try? You never know it might just end up being your new favourite outdoor activity. On beaches, in parks, deserted roads, in forests, graveyards, in secluded areas across PEI, get out and enjoy the beauty of our Island. A great place to begin your geocache experience is Green Park—a 4-minute drive from The Cottage!

For more information and to register: www.geocaching.com

Article by Carolyn McKillop

In Malpeque Bay, a short distance from The Cottage, lies Lennox Island.

There is no time line for the First Peoples of Canada and when they settled in our area; however, storytelling tradition goes back thousands of years. The ancestors of the Mi’kmaq were 'gatherers' — fish, berries, wood for baskets. They travelled and lived in camps in the area: Northam, Tyne Valley, Port Hill, Conway Narrow, Freeland, and Portage. Hogg Island, also in Malpeque, was a sacred settlement and many Mi’kmaq are buried there.

There are many stories of hardship, struggle and survival. There are also many stories of success and triumph. Two books of interest at the cottage are Ni’n na L’nu: The Mi’kmaq of Prince Edward Island by A.J.B. Johnston and Jesse Francis, and Micmac by Choice by M. Olga McKenna.

In the fall of 2016, CBC profiled five communities in Canada facing serious threats from climate change. Lennox Island was one of these communities: the forecast is not bright—it is reported to have lost one square kilometre of land in a single generation. At this rate, 50 percent of the island could be underwater in 50 years.

You will be warmly welcomed to experience all that Lennox Island has to offer and learn more about this unique settlement. Stop at the Eco Tourism Centre and the Cultural Centre as well as walk the “Path of Our Forefathers.” Gifted artisans showcase original woodwork, painting, jewelry and basket weaving.

To visit Lennox Island, take Hwy. #12 from the cottage to Tyne Valley, continue past Ellerslie and take Rte. #163 to Lennox Island.

To learn more about Lennox Island you can visit www.lennoxisland.com, or watch the North Cape Costal production via Youtube.

Article by Carolyn McKillop