The Guardian, Charlottetown, PEI -- Published Oct 01, 2026
COMMENTARY: By land and by sea, Island records are being set
Author of the article: By Ian Scott, Contributed
 |
| A section of the Confederation Trail runs between farm fields in the Emerald, P.E.I. area. Robert Acorn of Charlottetown has cycled the 273-kilometre trail at least 10 times. Photo by Ryan Ross /The Guardian |
I first met Robert Acorn as a fellow early-morning skater, and was fascinated to learn about his record-setting lifestyle. At 98, he was the eldest of the skaters at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown — but it was his summer pursuits that truly had me intrigued.
I knew from media coverage that he was an avid tennis player who regularly cycled 14 kilometres from his home to Victoria Park, but I was unaware of his multiple tip-to-tip completions of the Confederation Trail by bike. After skating one day, I asked him how many complete trips he had made, only to learn that it was at least 10 times — maybe more. With his last completion in his 90s, he finally took his wife’s advice to “give it a rest,” which he did — sort of.
‘Get up and keep going’
Giving anything a rest is not a lifestyle that comes easily to Bob. Long retired from Island Tel, and widowed since 2021, he maintains his own home, walks his faithful dog, and regularly shares meals with family living nearby. He credits his physical longevity to a simple approach: “get up and keep going every day — the same as if you were working.”
 |
| At 98 years old, Robert Acorn will go for daily skates at the Eastlink Centre in the winter and walk, gardens and goes for bike rides in the summer. - photo by Ian Scott |
That philosophy includes much more than just showing up at the rink for skating three mornings a week or playing tennis in the summer; Bob also remains an active writer and musician. His instrument of choice is the saxophone, and his regular weekly gigs include playing Sunday mornings with an instrumental group at his church, Winsloe United, as well as entertaining residents at various seniors’ complexes.
His writing career covers both published poetry and memoirs. Hearing the Acorn name on P.E.I. naturally begs the question, “Who’s yer brother?” — and the answer is yes, he is the brother of the renowned late Canadian poet, Milton Acorn.
During a visit with Bob, we viewed the various certificates documenting his completions of the Confederation Trail as well as press clippings. A CBC report in 2017 noted he had reached 10 completions at that time.
Tackling trail sections
He shared his unique technique for tackling daily sections of the trail with a cycling partner he met through events organized by Island Trails. They would agree on a starting point where one vehicle was left behind along with Bob. The partner would then drive Bob’s vehicle to the day’s finish line and leave it there. Each person would start riding from opposite ends of the section, meeting in the middle with the transfer of Bob’s car keys. This clever system ensured they both had the keys to their respective vehicles at their destinations without either of them having to backtrack by bike.
Bob used another innovation as he approached his 90s to reduce the daily drive from his home to the various trailheads when biking solo. He stayed at local bed and breakfasts along the route and would arrange for the owners to pick him up at the end of his day’s journey. Through this method, he managed his logistics over a two-year span, explaining, “I would complete half the trail staying ‘Down East’ for a few nights one year, and then doing the same thing, I would finish the trail ‘Up West’ the next year.”
Intrigued by the possibility that he might hold the record for the most total completions, I contacted Island Trails and the Province of P.E.I. to check. While these types of cumulative records aren’t maintained by official bodies, if there are any other contenders out there, please let me know.
Record-setting couple
This summer, I met a Nova Scotian couple who had just set their own unique record in terms of water- and land-based travel. At the exact same time Jason White was going tip-to-tip across the Island by bike in The P.E.I. Mussel Tear (navigating 430 kilometres of red dirt roads, rural tracks and parts of the Confederation Trail from the North Point Lightstation to the East Point Lighthouse), his wife, India White, was crewing aboard Rampage in the Around the Island Race. Circumnavigating the 325 nautical mile route facing brutal winds and punishing seas, Rampage was the first to cross the finish line.
Jason and India successfully finished their respective challenges and had reunited when I met them a day later, relaxing on Cousin Shore beach. Truth be told, when introduced to Jason, he didn’t budge; we quickly realized he was sound asleep, face down on the warm sand. It was a well-deserved nap and a truly unique milestone for a couple.
While the sponsoring organizations for those events publish the names and their official times, this combination of a couple — by land and by sea — is something entirely unique and, just like Bob’s multiple achievements, well worthy of being documented.
Ian Scott is a former executive director with the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation and has been the content creator for the Vintage Charlottetown Facebook page since 2012 among other blogs. He lives in Charlottetown.
