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Bonshaw PEI - Prince Edward Island is the smallest province of Canada - 5660 square kilometers. The PEI Wikipedia entry lists the square miles conversion as 2190 - not sure if they are using US fluid to metric conversion or what, but one mile is ~1.6 km (so it should be 3540 sq miles). Hey - every mile counts, especially when you can drive most of the whole island in a day.
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There are just over 150,000 humans taking care of that 0.1% area of Canada - completely different place from the neighboring provinces of New Brunswick, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. The first thing that's different is the drive to get there - the only road onto the island is the 13 km Confederation Bridge that towers high over the ocean water or ice below (depending on the season).
Being first timers here, we wondered what we'd find for old automobiles. Off the bridge we made a right turn onto the TransCanada Highway 1, as that seemed like the natural thing to do. It wasn't 20 mintues later when a big long building with big museum sign appeared on the roadside near Bonshaw. The Car Life Museum has been in the same spot since 1966, founded by Newton Mackay and now operated by son Kevin Mackay and wife Shirlene.
1918 International Farm Tractor
Automobiles, trucks, tractors and implements alike are jammed into the 10,000 square feet (929 sq metres!). Most are local cars that found their way here for a long rest, providing an authentic history and preservation of car life on this great little island. Highlights include an 1898 Mason Stem Carriage, an 1925 Buick Hearse, and a pink 1959 Cadillac once owned by Elvis Presley.
It wasn't much further down the road toward Charlottetown when a mass of glinting chrome hit in the face, prompting another stop. We were not able to contact the owners, so the location shall remain anonymous. It appeared the cars were recently from auctions or dealers in the US. Some of them nicer than museum pieces - we did wonder why someone would pay so much for great cars then let them sit out in the rain with skimpy plastic covering.
The Island is perfect for cruising - calm, no-rushed beauty awaits at every corner and between. Next time, we will stay more than a day.
The Car Life Museum
18191 PE-1, Bonshaw, PEI Canada C0A 1C0
(902) 675-3555
by Randy Berg