Getting There
All along the north shore of Prince Edward Island there are places to put in. Two places we know of that make launching fairly simple are from the campground at Prince Edward Island National Park and from Twin Shores Campground. If you are asking...."How do I get to Prince Edward Island?"...we did it via the 9 mile Constitution Bridge that connects New Brunswick with the island. Save $40.50 for the return trip toll.
Kayaking
After every warning in every guidebook and website we consulted, the first thing we did when we arrived at camp was to unleash the kayaks from the top of our car and head down the beach to the seaway. The day was warm and breezy, the water was gently breaking in petite intervals, and the sun was smiling. Temptation won.
We got into the cool water, protected by the temperature in our wet suits and started to climb in when we noticed a jellyfish. Then another. The another. we were surrounded by them. Some the size of quarters, some the size of flowerpots. I thought it best to step out for a minute to gather a bit more information.
I pulled my bike off the top of the car and peddled to the campground headquarters (sans wet suit) and enquired as to what the species of jellyfish was that was so prevalent that day. When the woman asked me "Why, did you get stung already?", two of my questions had just been answered. Yes to the "do they sting" question, and No to the "will I die from the sting" question. Upon further queries, I learned that he Arctic Red jellyfish will sting parts of the body that have hair, so not the palms of your hands (I did not touch one to find out if this is true), and if they do, put wet sand on the sting. Time to peddle back to camp and report.
Now donned in full farmer john wet suit with long sleeve nylon shirt, paddling gloves, booties, and stupid hat, I retuned to the water with only my face at risk of getting stung. Reminder: ski mask and goggles next time.
On board about 10 feet off shore, I start getting my skirt tucked in and paddle at the ready and I then notice I am already 100 yards out. Shoot. I start to paddle back to shore and notice that every time I put the paddle in, there is a jelly fish. Can they get hung up on my paddle so that when I pull it out of the water they will slide down the shaft and land on me? Shoot. Now about 150 yards out. Shoot. OK, lost at sea, or returning to work with face swollen by jelly fish. Hmmm. Ok, sting will not make the news, helicopter rescue will. Must paddle. Shoot.
Now Bill is a tiny dot at shore and I am on my way to the north pole via Mother Nature. I start paddling with all my might. Not getting closer. Maybe if I angle towards that arch a mile down. Yeah, good idea.
Good idea until I am still too far out and will overshoot the arch and I can't see what is behind it. Shoot. I wave to Bill. Takes about 20 seconds for him to reach me. Takes us 20 minutes paddling together to get back to shore right before the arch. Serves us right for not taking the warning.
The initial goal was to see if we could paddle through the arch. The short answer to that is No. When we got to the arch it was (a) smaller than we thought, and (b) had rock exposed on the other side if the opening. During swells: looked good, when the water fell again: waterfall on to rock.
We beached and walked around a bit to inspect the arch and watch birds. This is vacation and we have no where else we need to be. Life is good.
Delaying the return trip long enough, we decide to do the walk of shame along the shoreline while towing the kayaks behind us. Not a bad day!