Cross-country adventure
Travelling during a pandemic unique challenge for P.E.I. man returning home with his fiancee
When Michael Martel decided it was finally time to fulfil his dream to move to P.E.I., he didn't let a little thing like a global pandemic delay his plans. But moving across the country during an economic shutdown presented more issues than he expected.
From a video call to present doctoral research, through border checkpoints, a fast food diet and now quarantine, Martel, his fiancee and their cat have made it home. Next up will be travelling to New Brunswick to retrieve their summer home — a 38-foot sailboat they’ll live on in the Charlottetown Harbour.
Martel and fiancee, Will Carvalho, began the move east in mid-winter, sending items ahead in a moving truck. But they would wait until after Carvalho defended his PhD in chemistry before heading east themselves.
“Me and Dad drove a truck back in February,” said Martel.
“We’re just lucky we did that before the coronavirus.”
As the world closed itself off to public gatherings, Martel continued working as a mechanic at an Edmonton Ford dealership while Carvalho completed his research at the University of Alberta.
After a final video call to present his findings, Carvalho was free to join Martel in pursuit of coastal living.
“For years I wanted to do something off the grid and travel at the same time,” said Martel.
Their six-day journey east started April 30.
Martel had already called ahead and obtained an approval letter from the province. He had supplied a copy of his P.E.I. birth certificate, Carvalho’s information, the car licence plate number and where they’d be staying — an Airbnb in downtown Charlottetown.
They packed up the car with the last of their belongings, fetched their cat and set off to Martel’s home province.
The small car was packed to the brim and was sitting so low, it would scrape when they crossed over a bump.
It soon became clear to Martel that the travel-scape had changed between February and April.
“What we found was travelling with the coronavirus is there’s nothing to eat. Like, no restaurants open or anything,” said Martel.
For instance, supper their first night was Doritos and pop.
It didn’t get any more gourmet as they continued.
“Our very last night in Quebec, we were driving around for an hour because we didn’t want fast food again. But there was just nothing open, so we had to get McDonald’s.”
Screebie, the cat, had her own food supply and didn’t mind the trip.
“The cat just sat there in the car for 10 hours every day, just cuddling. She didn’t move much at all,” said Martel.
Finding places to stay wasn’t too tricky, even with their fluffy roommate. But Martel noticed fewer options than in February; the smaller operations had closed up for the pandemic.
What was still open was pricier than he’d hoped for, but saving on gas made up for it, he said.
“Gas in the truck was $1,000 as opposed to in the car, with coronavirus prices, for $240,” he said.
The couple didn’t see any checkpoints at provincial borders until they entered Ontario where a police officer pulled them over asked their destination.
“P.E.I.” said Martel. “That’s home?”
“Yep.”
“Alright, keep driving,” said the cop.
That was the last checkpoint until they reached the New Brunswick border. The couple was directed off the highway, to a side road and came up to a white tent with about 10 police officers in front of it.
“It was quite an intimidating scene,” said Martel.
He was asked to close the window and press his licence and other documents up to the glass for the officers to read.
The next and final checkpoint was on the P.E.I. side of the Confederation Bridge.
Martel presented the approval letter and they were allowed to head to their accommodations — adhering to the mandatory 14-day selfisolation.
“Mom already stocked the fridge for us with a little bit of beer and wine and lots of groceries. We message on Facebook, and if she’s around the area she’ll pick up a few things.”
Looking back on the journey, Martel said the shores of Lake Superior were the most impressive part, while the worst day was the first day — not only did they dodge a deer, a large piece of plywood flew off a truck in front of them.
“But after that first day, there was nothing too eventful.”