Reservations

Reservations

Well, bite my tongue about being relaxed re reservations in Canada. Who knew about Natal Day? Not us. We did hear about fireworks on Natal Day in various cities on the TV, but we thought they were local celebrations. After all, Canada celebrates July 1, which we thought was the equivalent of July 4 in the US and that is, after all, the date of our birth. So, when we saw it on the schedule of events celebrated in Pictou, we thought we had better ask our waitperson at the restaurant. She was unclear and embarrassed about it. She thought it might be about the navy and seamen, clearly confused about naval and natal. The best explanation we have yet heard is that it is an excuse for summer fireworks. We’ll take that.

So, try and get a campsite with Natal Day just a week away. The whole point of the day trip to Pictou (pronounced pick toe-I don’t want to know.) was to find the best campground. MDT had done the research and even looked at the photos on the website. There was Wi-Fi at the site, and the camp is near the ferry to PEI, and on a beach. What could be better. Facilities. Though we booked for several days, it is clearly not the “resort” atmosphere we expected. Perhaps a step above total trailer trash, but only one.

Our plan had been to stay for a week in the Pictou area, but there was no place for us and we would not want to stay long in this campground anyway. Since our original plan included leaving the RV and doing an overnight in Cape Breton, we felt we could manage our allotted 4 days at the trailer trash campground. There is a lovely hotel room in Sydney (Cape Breton) that welcomes dogs, so we are set for an explore. We will be taking all of the valuables with us and not mentioning that we will not be returning for the night. It just is not that kind of campground.

Luckily, the KOA in PEI has room for us on Natal Day and 10 days after that, so we will get well acquainted with PEI.

Here is the protocol for reservations at our next two campgrounds: Pictou writes my name in a spiral bound notebook along with my RV size, and says, “See you on the 31st. The KOA pulls me up on computer, automatically figures in my KOA member discount, takes my credit card #, and we are all set. I also get an email confirmation from KOA.

I just hope their Wi-Fi works better than the one here. The KOA inspectors told us that the signal was quite strong at the KOA in PEI. However, things change. We were doing pretty good here, with the exception of rainy or foggy days, but the past few nights it just shuts off at our campsite. I notice the benches near the office are often full of laptop people. I myself am doing laundry and computing at the same time.

So, today and tomorrow will be spent cleaning up and breaking camp. This is the longest we have stayed at any campground, and we have come to feel right at home. Stella appreciates not having to ride. “I don’t want to go in the box.” She says. Nevertheless, it is time to explore more of the island(s) and we are glad to be on our way.