Just remembered Pat’s parents’ anniversary was yesterday, it would have been 70 years
Awoke from
comfy bed but room had one of those adjoining doors and the next door people
had their TV on all night, very low but still audible. In spite of that it was a good night’s
sleep. Left the hotel in full sunlight,
a quick stop at Tim Hortons for drive by breakfast and then a quick drive
through of little alpine decorated downtown with two breweries. All northern towns seem to have their share
of homeless people and it is no different here with the small tent city in a
local park.
We pass by lots
of agriculture, logging, tourism, mining and outdoor sport venues. It is a fly fisherman’s dream with every kind
of fish. Even the king salmon travel 800
miles to get here late summer. The
mountains fade off to the sides of the wide Bulkey River Valley with its rich
black soil. There are signs for deer,
elk and moose. We did see a few elk
grazing. The logging trucks with fresh
cut huge trees and milled lumber are king here.
We finally got our first ding in the windshield, surprised it hasn’t happened
before. The Yellowknife HWY is a main
route from port of Prince Rupert to Edmonton, so many rigs with products on the
move. The HWY is in excellent condition
to handle the load but frequent chain up signs remind what winter demands. This is a land of lakes, province parks and
trails, one of them goes through an ancient forest. Heavy trees line the road and it is a little
boring knowing the Canadian Rockies are hiding from us. Lots of signs for wildlife but they are
hiding. Once past Prince George we rise
into more mountainous terrain and we begin to glimpse the high peaks up
ahead. As we approach town of McBride
where we are staying the peaks have old snow patches and we believe we can see
the majestic Mt. Robson in the distance.
This is a railroad town in the Robson Valley. We began seeing the tracks near the end of
Cassiar and now they parallel current HWY.
We visit the Visitor’s Center in the old depot and trains are passing
by. We have dinner at the Giggling
Grizzly Pub. Very nice newly built. We sit outside on the deck and enjoy the
warmth and mountain scenery and good food.
Our waitress is also a postal worker and operates a vbro, not an unusual
life in a small-town population to make ends meet. We are staying at the Sandman, a Canadian
chain. It is just for one night thankfully,
adequate but shabby and needs TLC. Didn’t realize the number of fall bus trips
that are on the road. No wonder so many
hotels are full and difficult to book. This hotel serves breakfast so that is
easy since there are no other places to get it in town. Winter is not here for a few weeks yet and we
are enjoying that brief time of last warmth and no snow.
Tomorrow we
will be driving to locations in the National Parks, Jasper, Lake Louise and
Banff, spending the night in Canmore south of Banff. Fingers crossed we will have a better hotel. From Jasper onward we will be in the province
of Alberta, eventually crossing over into Montana. Got a message from Marriott Montana that they
have upgraded our room. We’ll hold on to
that thought.
Grateful for
weather, travel mercies and the kindness of strangers.
10 more days
to go. Nighty night, don’t let the
bedbugs bite….. Fingers crossed.
Miles driven
today: 375
Total miles
driven: 2188
t