Prince Edward Island National Park, Part 2: Brackley-Dalvay

December 9, 2014

My first order of business when I arrived at the Brackley-Dalvay section of the park was a swim. I was walking the path over the dunes to see if the beach I had stopped at was suitable for swimming where I met a very nice older couple who engaged me in a friendly conversation about how they wished it were warm enough to swim. Apparently they didn’t believe me when I said I was planning on doing just that so after I reappeared from my car with my suit on they actually stopped to watch me get in the water. I was heartily congratulated for my efforts upon getting out which I felt a bit bad about considering it wasn’t one of the chillier swims I’ve taken: The Bay of Fundy was much colder.

Beach, Brackley-Dalvay, Prince Edward Island National Park, Prince Edward Island, Canada

After a walk and some lunch I continued on until I spotted the Covehead Harbour Lighthouse from the road. The beach around the lighthouse and on the other side of Brackley Bay was truly stunning. The marram grass was an exceptional pale green that blended with the pastel blue sky and accents of color provided by the clumps of wildflowers. I hadn’t previously thought dunes could be so utterly beautiful.

Covehead Harbour Lighthouse from the mouth of the harbor, Brackley-Dalvay, Prince Edward Island National Park, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Covehead Harbour Lighthouse, Brackley-Dalvay, Prince Edward Island National Park, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Covehead Harbor Lighthouse from the other side of Covehead Harbour, Brackley-Dalvay, Prince Edward Island National Park, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Dunes, near Brackley Bay, Brackley-Dalvay, Prince Edward Island National Park, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Near Brackley Bay, Brackley-Dalvay, Prince Edward Island National Park, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Shaw’s Shore, Brackley-Dalvay, Prince Edward Island National Park, Prince Edward Island, Canada

I continued making my way west, making my last stop at the spectacular eroding red sandstone cliffs. I was greeted in the parking area by a guy next to his car changing out of a kilt which was obviously very random; I was dying to approach him and ask but seeing as he was in a state of undress I just averted my eyes and walked towards the bay. I walked along the cliffs for awhile, soaking in the swirled sandstone and the sod and wildflowers clinging to the organic shapes of the eroding cliffs.

Sandstone cliffs, Brackley-Dalvay, Prince Edward Island National Park, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Meadow behind sandstone cliffs, Brackley-Dalvay, Prince Edward Island National Park, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Complete failure of my part to identify these adorable little birds – sorry, sandstone cliffs, Brackley-Dalvay, Prince Edward Island National Park, Prince Edward Island, Canada