  We study single-electron charging events in an Al/InAs nanowire hybrid system
with deliberately introduced gapless regions. The occupancy of a Coulomb island
is detected using a nearby radio-frequency quantum dot as a charge sensor. We
demonstrate that a 1 micron gapped segment of the wire can be used to
efficiently suppress single electron poisoning of the gapless region and
therefore protect the parity of the island while maintaining good electrical
contact with a normal lead. In the absence of protection by charging energy,
the 1e switching rate can be reduced below 200 per second. In the same
configuration, we observe strong quantum charge fluctuations due to exchange of
electron pairs between the island and the lead. The magnetic field dependence
of the poisoning rate yields a zero-field superconducting coherence length of ~
90 nm.
