Cavendish - Planes and a Car

New York -  Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Alarm set for 4am and I was still awake before it. Got organised and down for the shuttle to LaGuardia for the first flight, to Ottawa. Here's the POD as I left...

It was a great little place (thanks heaps to Megan for telling me about it) and the shared bathroom was no issue at all - I never saw anyone else and it was always vacant.

Another queue to get through to international. Why does this woman behind have to stand within millimetres of me? It doesn't get her there any quicker! The second I moved, she was right there. A couple of times I turned and stared just to the side of her head as if there was something fascinating back there. That kept her back a bit - ha.

Sat in the departure lounge and heard the planes and remembered I actually had to get on two planes. Should I take an anxiety pill? I thought yes, then remembered I had to drive later in the day. As it was 6ish and I wouldn't be driving til 3ish, I decided on a halfer and it was the right choice - took the edge off but still alert.

Onboard the first flight. Very small plane, just two seats on either side. The flight seemed shorter than Melbourne to Sydney - up then down. Of course there had to be turbulence enough to put the seatbelt light on and it sounded like the engine shut down on one particularly violent jerk! Now I'm very glad of the half tab. The landing gear made a huge noise when they came out but at least we could tell they were out.

Here's the plane...

Very small plane!

I went through to the connecting flight section, through Customs and to the other side. Tried a biscuit sandwich for breakfast - basically a scone with egg and cheese and it was actually pretty good.  I already like Canada a lot - the instructions are generally clearer and the toilet stall doors go to the ground and there aren't huge gaps on either side of the door - you can literally look at people putting on makeup at the mirror while you're in the loo in America.

Onto the flight to Charlottetown - same size plane, I'm even In the same seat. Less turbulence, same loud landing gear.

Here's THIS plane...

See the difference? 

Had to walk down the stairs to get off this one...

Some notes to travellers -

On a plane, maybe don't drum and air guitar to the music only you can hear. 

Please, please don't crack your knuckles!!! 

If you go to the loo, you can take your sleep cushion off from around your neck coz you do look a bit silly.

On the phone in the line to Customs, I don't really care that your bag didn't arrive and it's your son's birthday and you need the gift from the back and no-one else had this problem, blah, blah, blah...I could go on, we ALL heard the conversation ALL the way to the front of the line when he realised he should probably hang up.

Anyway, here we are.

Through to the Thrifty office to pick up my car. Am a bit worried about driving on the right side of the road but have to get used to it - I've got a whole nine days driving around New England in a couple of weeks. 

Got the full insurance so if I total the car, I'm in the clear. That is not the plan, though. Then couldn't find my credit card. Not in the spot it should be, starting to worry a bit. His machine doesn't accept the supposed card from the bank which is especially for travel. So have to get the other card from the luggage. It's not an issue of not being able to pay, it's an issue of "where is that card??" Can't do much about it now, will get to where I'm going and empty the bag. (Don't worry, we do have a happy ending here).

In and off to Cavendish - thankfully like driving to a small country town with not many people on the roads. Have to focus, it's okay, will get more comfortable, I'm sure. 

I'm not a big one for selfies but couldn't resist this one.

The island is quite beautiful, from what I see. Arrive in Cavendish to this...

And reception, where they had apple and cinnamon cupcakes on the desk...

Just gorgeous!

And then the lovely receptionist walked me over to my room...

Just right for Anne country!

Found the credit card wedged between the iPad cover and the iPad. Got back into the car and down to Green Gables Shore, which was just perfect!

Went down to have dinner at a lovely cafe overlooking a lake and had a lobster pot pie - thought I should try lobster and it was okay but I probably won't have it again. Had a near miss on the way back when I turned into the left and into the lane. Luckily no-one was around except one car waiting to turn who looked horrified. I corrected the car and went on my way. Phew, hope that's it.

Back to my fabulous room where they had the air conditioner on at 18 - now that's perfect!

Tomorrow - to Anne's house which, if you look from this photo of my bedroom window...

..is just past those trees!