Driving Days
Leave Dawson City today. Destination tonight is Whitehorse so quite a long drive today. We go via Carmacks. Spent half an hour or so looking around at the First Nation Interpretive Centre. Quite a long drive day with couple of rest stops en route. Arrived at Whitehorse at approximately 6.30 p.m. Noel bought some hardware for the CD/radio so it doesn’t fall out again on rough roads. This has now happened a couple of times so something more permanent and a stronger than normal installation needs to be done. Mr Fix It then spent the next period of time buying materials needed for the job, in the process of repair work being carried out, a vital screw and associated driver was dropped; despite much searching and totally dismantling the dashboard it was never to be seen again. So back to the hardware store and bought another plus dinner. Back to Ronnie, all fixed and back together. But just to make life difficult the headlight switch fell off so another half an hour spent fixing it and gluing it back into place. One could say a long day with a few frustrations – but everything working at the end. A couple of reds did not go astray with dinner this evening. WiFi is obtained easily tonight with the assistance of Noel’s home made 15 foot high aerial which was erected outside Ronnie!!!
Some significant mileage undertaken over the next couple of days. After leaving Whitehorse the destination was Watsons Lake, some of route home is the same as route out. En route to Watsons Lake via a Scenic diversion, stopped at Carcross which is the point to the north of Skagway that the perilous White Pass Railway traversed to the relatively flat country to the north and the gold Fields and paddlewheeler transport.
http://www.railsnorth.com/wpyr.htm
After overnighting at Watsons Lake, another big drive day on Highway 37. We backtracked 20 kays along the Alcan and south on the Cassia Highway #37. Road was very bumpy and poor in places but then leveled out. After covering approximately 300 kays we overnighted off road beside a quite large air strip. We watched a light plane arrive and take off; it was a Britten Norman Islander. The barbecue came out, was ignited and some rather nice steaks found their way to our dinner plates this evening tenderized in a plastic bag with a hammer from the tool box.
We were 139 kays short of an “area” called Meziadon Junction; Just a name and a sign post.
Stewart BC/Hyder, Alaska
Another day spent mostly driving to Stewart, destination is Hyder which is further down the west coast, but just over into Alaska. Hyder is located on the panhandle just south of Juneau. Driving on 37A here, and what scenery, it is described as The Drive of the Province (BC), passing the huge Bear Glacier on the narrow winding road that shares the canyon floor with the Bear River. A stop here at a viewing spot for photographs. We have to cross the USA border on entering Hyder. We, in fact, just drive straight through, no questions asked. We booked into an RV camp here called Camp Runna-muck. Visited the national park bear viewing area, Fish Creek, there is a board walk here overlooking the creek from a safe height! Few people around hoping for sightings. Unfortunately, no bear to be seen, but the odd salmon going upstream. It’s a very scenic area even though and we saw bald eagles flying quite low beneath the trees. We talked to an English couple who live in Perth for a while. We go back into town and spend a bit of time in the “local”. As we left and just going back to camp for the night at the only intersection, we saw a bear and her two cubs crossing the road, as you do in Hyder. Mummy bear sent one cub up a tree, crossed the road with one cub and then came back for the other. So cameras at the ready and we were able to photograph procedure. This was not a figment of imagination seen through wine glasses, photographs are there to prove. So we could have saved our $5 admittance to Fish Creek where NO bears were seen and bought another glass of red where more bears may have been seen!!!! We left Hyder the following day, no guesses for where breakfast spot was to take place today – the beautiful Bear Glazier on Highway 37A.
Kitwanga River Area
Located on the intersection of Highway 37 and 16 at Zero miles. Beautiful warm sunny day today, this looks a pretty location. We book into a well set up RV park, also has a pressure washing facility for RVs. Poor Ronnie is in desperate need of a bath, she is a lighter shade of brown gathered from her many miles of gravel/dirt roads. As we will only be on good roads from hereon out, decide she should be a clean girl, then she won’t die of embarrassment when meeting other RV mates. This was quite an operation – but at the end of the day, a shining Ronnie emerged intact; after 36 minutes of water blasting, before and after photographs as proof.
We found a nice spot to park on grassed area near the trees, a very peaceful scenic setting, time for a relax, some nibbles, an ale/wine, photo slide show on TV, music and dinner.
Moricetown/Smithers
And off we go again the next morning. A beautiful summer’s day. Firstly, we went to the salmon fish counting installation about a mile down a bush track through the RV Park, pretty area, First Nation project, two FN guys there occupied in counting, marking and identifying salmon as they swam up stream. Our destination today is Smithers. We come across a small town called Moricetown, decided we would stop there for breakfast and parked overlooking the rapidly running river canyon there. A young First Nation lad asked us if we would like to buy some smoked salmon prepared by his grandmother. Off he went on his bike and returned five minutes later where the transaction took place. We then walked down to the rapids and watched salmon jumping and fishermen catching them in a basket on a huge pole. We clambered over the rocks watching all going on. Some FN guys had caught large salmon which lay in a small pool. We spent fair bit of time here watching the salmon jumping through the rapids, enjoying the sunshine. Before we left Noel bought a very large salmon for 10 bucks, strict instructions issued from the FN guy he bought it from, not to tell anybody he had sold it to us, it is illegal to sell their catch. It was cut into four large pieces, no guesses as to what dinner was to be this evening. The rest was frozen for future occasions.
We drove on to Smithers in the early afternoon. Scenery on road changed quite dramatically approximately 40 kays outside of Smithers, we are now in quite lush farming pastures. We park outside the museum at Smithers and look through. Fergus, the Museum curator, an Irishman - with a name like that where else would he hail from – gave us quite an informative narration about the area and early times there. A very good diorama of yesteryear was seen ranging from mining days to a lady’s sewing room. We explored the rather quaint town, during our walk through we came across a band playing; on closer inspection discovered that it was the local church youth group. The female singer had a great voice accompanied by a couple of guitarists and drummer (rock type music but with a “Jesus loves you” theme. There just happened to be “smokies” (very large barbecued smoked sausages in a roll) on offer, so that was lunch, a hot dog while being entertained.
Later we went down to the Smithers camping area and parked next to the river, the salmon is going to be cooked on the barbie here. We have a wander, chatted to a couple of folks here, relaxation time over drinkies while salmon is cooked. Delicious dinner, beautiful evening, full moon over the river. What could be nicer! Watched a couple of fly fishermen trying to hook salmon. But spawning salmon do not eat on their trek to the creeks they were born in several years before.
We had heard during the week on the radio that the Terry Fox Run/Walk/Cycle is on this weekend. Smithers just happened to have one leaving from outside the Museum on Sunday afternoon. We decide we’ll stay another night here and do the cycle leg of the event which was a 10 kay ride through town. We arrived along with many other locals taking part in the event complete with the large Ozzie flag. It was a fun afternoon meeting folks and taking part in the afternoon. Sandy was interviewed on the PA as the only OS visitor!
Prince George
Big drive day, 300 plus kays to PG (as the locals call Prince George.) We go through the small town of Telkwa not far out of Smithers. We pass a café that is advertising an American breakfast – third time lucky – they are open and cooking, chatting to the friendly waitress that served us. We go through the town of Houston, there is a huge saw milling operation here, in fact the largest operation in BC. We discover the location of the mill, find it and park outside and watch operations in full swing. Huge cranes, vehicles, thousands upon thousands of logs treated and untreated. Further along the finished product, millions of planks of wood stacked high. Also famous for the worlds largest fly rod.
We arrived at Prince George late afternoon. Parked close to the aquatic centre there. Had a delightful swim, beautiful to stretch out and relax in the tepid water after a long drive. We went to the cultural centre the next morning and wandered through the art gallery there. Some unusual exhibits on display.
Quesnel
Second visit here. Some of our route back to Agassi has to be the same as route out. We enjoyed our time here before so as it is a lovely summer’s day are happy to have some relaxation time here again. A walk through the main street, Front Street, we find the ice cream parlour from yesteryear, get two huge cones – and we only ordered single scoops – not sure what a large one would look like – river is across the road so we park ourselves on bench while we devour cones, very peaceful and pretty. Some photographic opportunities here where the two rivers meet, the Fraser and Quesnel. A walk along the river and then through a small shopping area, spent some time talking to Jan; a very pleasant English lady, who ran an antique/second hand shop.
We find a nice parking spot adjacent to the river walking track this evening, cooked dinner, digested nicely with a couple of reds, a very nice location for evening meal with full moon in a cloudless sky. A good day and nice evening.
Williams Lake
About 120 k drive on Highway ?? and arrive in Williams Lake around lunch time. We visit the a rodeo and ranch museum, photographs and biographies depicting many local cowboy/girls, theme rooms with saddles, clothing worn by stampede queens back in the mid thirties. A well laid out display; as in most of the other museums we have visited, each town does its best to portray their own history and supporting artifacts. We had a walk through town, replenished books from a second hand store. Walked over to the railway where there is a gallery and gift shop. Had a wander through. After getting a more detailed map of the area, we drove to walking trails and did an exercise stint down a fairly steep trail and up again. It was quite deserted. Good to stretch legs and elevate heart rate a little.
Lill We watched a light plane arrive and take off; it was a Britten Norman Islander. The barbecue came out, was ignited and some rather nice steaks found their way to our dinner plates this evening tenderized in a plastic bag with a hammer from the tool box.
Lillooet
Is today’s destination. A very spectacular drive on an extremely winding road the last 75 kays from Lillooet travelling about 1,000 feet above the Fraser River twisting and turning, hairpin bends, different shades of green, gold and brown on the steep mountainous hillside, quite unique and unusual. Stop here and there for photographs where we can although many are taken through the windscreen. Arrive at the historic town of Lillooet around 7 p.m and find a parking spot in the farmers market area. Had a look around and walk through town. Visited the museum and a jade store the next morning before leaving and the farmers market. Talked to a local who had taken her pets out – a rabbit in a plastic shopping basket and a cockateal perched on her shoulder. Cocky decided to make friends with me and found a finger to sit on for a while. You never know whose acquaintance you will meet while travelling!! She was born in Adelaide!! The smell of freshly baked bread led us into the baker’s shop where we bought fresh croissants for breakfast. Leave town later in the day and take a slow ride to Hells Gate, the canyon that runs over the Fraser River, at Boston Bar. Once again we go through spectacular scenery on a winding road. We take the airtram descent down to the viewing area, walk across the observation deck and suspension bridge, gold panning display, gift shop, film show etc. Although it was a nice sunny day it was quite windy on the bridge. We caught the last airtram back to the top just on closing time.
http://www.hellsgateairtram.com/
A little way past Boston Bar we parked and walked through a pretty wooded area to the old Alexandria Bridge. A suspension bridge built in 1928 and stayed in service as the only road crossing of the Fraser River for over 300 km of its length for over 40 years. A dual lane bridge replaced it in 1964 about 500 M downstream. Nice walk, we cross the railway line, locate the old bridge, walk across it, a quite magnificent structure. We drive on, destination tonight is the old town of Yale, the tiniest of places, just 150 inhabitants here. We walked down to the river, park next to the museum and the railway line. Very long goods trains in excess of 100 carriages pass at fairly regular intervals. This is going to be an interesting night!!! Next morning we visit the old museum and very old now disused church. A guided tour through the outside area where three large tents are set up in the museum yard depicting early time, a bar, a house and a shop next to the church.
We left Yale and headed out towards Hope for breakfast. Found scenic location by lake. Had a walk around and then spent half an hour or so casting a line – first time I’ve fished or tried to – however, did not provide anything for dinner table.
Hope
We find a nice place to park Ronnie for the evening and then go out for dinner. Not a large town, but very picturesque with literally hundreds of giant redwoods dotted all thru town. The youngest of them would have been here before the town existed. Next morning it was decided aq walk downtown and find a breakfast spot. A small café / bakery provided njust that.
By lunchtime we headed for the Farm at Agassiz judt 40 kms away. A little bit rainy. The paddocks are very green indicating the rain of the last few weeks.
8883 kilometres and just over 6 weeks of travel. Ultra enjoyable and quite an adventure.
Thank you Sandy.
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