Woodville Mills, PEI -
Like a spoonful of sugar, Madison Melvin got a sip of some of the finest.
Between dodging the drops of condensation dropping from the ceiling and trying to see her way through the steam, the St. Teresa girl was on a visit to a real sugar shack tucked away beyond Cardigan (Prince Edward Island).
"It's quite tasty," said the youngster while touring the maple syrup operation on her March break with grandfather Bob Melvin of Mississauga, Ontario.
It's sort of a magical place where visitors are welcomed by the sign at the road and brewmaster Max Newby whips up his magic potion in the sugar shack at the Woodville Mills operation near Cardigan.
With partner Rick MacPhee, the two sell Woodlands Maple Syrup from one of the largest commercial operations in the province.
"We're getting a nice run of sap this year and with our new cooker, we expect a good bunch of syrup to become available," says Newby, tossing more wood onto the fire as the syrup boils away.
Newby and MacPhee tap between 300 and 400 maple trees every season and the cold nights and warm days of spring are encouraging lots of the tonic from the trees.
