Alaska Highway House Interpretive Center

I've been reading about the history of the construction of the Alaska Highway. Many of the people I grew up with knew someone who worked on the construction. Maybe you do too.

Thousands of men living together had to overcome, improvise and adapt to the harshest climates and wilderness in North America.

• How would you like to eat 3 meals a day out of a can for 9 months?
• How would you like to wash your army issue, green wool underwear in ice-cold water and hang them on a line to freeze-dry?
• How would you like to sleep in a tent on a cot without a mattress night after night?
• How would you like to be eaten alive by mosquitoes and flies for months on end?

Not much of a recruitment poster is it? But that is exactly what the thousands of troops and civilians signed up for when they came to Dawson Creek to lend their skills and strength to the enormous task punching a road through some of the north's most rugged landscapes in extreme temperatures.

When you come to Dawson Creek, make sure you take an afternoon to visit the Alaska Highway House Interpretive Center and learn about the history of this project that brought so many thousands together in very adverse conditions.

See for yourself what that green wool underwear looks like and imagine wearing it, check out the actual Willy Jeep on display and imagine bouncing around in it for 18 hours a day over corduroy roads... take a close look at the cans of 'food' and imagine eating it... check out the pictures of what being eaten alive by mosquitoes or incapacitated by frost bite actually looks like...

Then... say a big thank you to anyone you know who worked on the Alaska Highway. I know I do...

Alaska Highway House Interpretive Center

We took our friends from Vancouver on an afternoon drive for an ice cream and a drive around the area.

We went up the Radar Lake Road south west of town to the Bear Mountain Wind Park. All I can say is wow, wow, wow! The wind turbines are huge! And Beautiful!

Seeing those wind towers from below and in the distance is one thing, but being up close, right underneath them is another thing entirely.

Since all the rains of recent times, the road up to the towers is a bit rough, hopefully the road crews will work on it, but the gravel road that winds along the whole 7 kilometers of the ridge is in excellent condition. We parked and got out of our car and walked along for a couple of kilometers.

Each tower is numbered and there are 34 altogether. There is a mystery though, because the first tower has the number '0' and the last one is '34' so by my calculation, that would make 35 towers, there must be a number missing. We didn't have the energy to go back and check.

The turbines are beautifully painted; the area is immaculate and undisturbed as possible. There are several cattle guards across the road as the area is a community grazing pasture. Nature has been well respected and the wind has been harnessed.

This is truly an amazing project. Be prepared to be awestruck!

If you have been driving through the Peace River Country in July, you have undoubtedly noticed a lot of bright yellow fields as far as the eye can see. It's canola. And it blooms for a few weeks every July

I love it when visitors come here in Canola season, often it's the first time they've seen this remarkable sight. When the sun shines it's spectacular.

This is where much of your canola oil comes from. It's harvested in the fall after the blossoms have faded and the pods have developed.

Another common sight at Canola season is people standing beside their vehicles on the side of the road taking pictures of the landscapes. The color is a fabulous backdrop for old buildings, barns and wildlife.

Deer find the canola fields a great place to hide when they are resting and it's common to see only heads above the blossoms or a herd leaping and bounding over the sea of yellow.

We never tire of the beauty.

The Best Barbeque Food in the Peace Country

Dawson Creek is home to the Butcher Block, which has been in the community since the early 1940's.

I remember my Mom taking me into the original store when I was young. I would stand in front of the big glass counter while she chose her purchases. I also remember that they kept sawdust on the floor and I would move it around in patterns with my toe while I waited.

The small original store has been replaced with a new one but the quality of the meats is still as high as ever and the prices are unbelievably reasonable.

They make the best sausage around. When we are traveling on holidays, we often take a cooler filled with various Butcher Block sausages to give as gifts to the people we visit. It is also a common for people who used to live here to stock up any time they come back for a visit.

Favorites that have withstood the test of time:

• Smoked Pork Sausage & Assorted Smokies - Barbeque
• Pepperoni Sticks – Barbeque or snack
• Maui Ribs - Barbeque
• Thuringer Sausage – sandwiches
  

The Butcher Block is right downtown on 102^nd Ave.

The Best Barbeque Food in the Peace Country

Browns SocialHouse is in Dawson Creek and it's Great!

I went with a friend to lunch at this new restaurant in town. From the topiaries at the front and the hostess opening the door to welcome the guests, we had a great time!

The restaurant is big and tastefully decorated with several TVs, a great sound system with music and a Sports Bar in the center. On the day I was there, the place was full of people laughing and enjoying lunch.

The menu has a lot of fresh food dishes and I was especially pleased to have a choice of very healthy items to choose from. I had braised cabbage with feta instead rice with my lunch.

The service was excellent as well.

My prediction is this place will be around and popular for a long time. I know it will be a favorite for me.

Browns SocialHouse is in Dawson Creek and it's Great!

Northern Toy Box in downtown Dawson Creek

Everyone loves a toy store. The Toy Box on 10^th street Dawson Creek is one of the busiest and most popular shops in town and a real hit with visitors looking for a special souvenir. This store is known in neighboring communities as a destination for shopping as well as a favorite with locals.

The store is packed to the rafters with toys, games, crafts, books, puzzles, remote control airplanes, trains, models, art supplies, teacher resources, science kits and wind chimes.

No one gets bored in this store, it doesn't matter how old a person is, there's a lot of great stuff to check out. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to look around, you will need it.

Northern Toy Box in downtown Dawson Creek

Café Canadiano in the Sunshine and Fresh Air Downtown

Right in the middle of town on 102^nd Ave is the Hug-A-Mug coffee shop and it has a couple of tables outside. I met my friend there the other day and really enjoyed just sitting in the sun enjoying my favorite specialty coffee.

There was a constant stream of people passing by consisting of both locals and visitors. It was great to say hello, have a few mini visits.

The Hug a Mug is less than ½ a block away from the Mile O Post that sits in the middle of the main intersection so we had a great view of the visitors who were jaywalking over to have their pictures taken.

The Mile O Post is one of the most recognized and photographed monuments in Canada. We noticed how patient the motorists are with the people jaywalking to get to the post and also saw a local offer to take the photo so that both visitors could get in on it. It reaffirmed what a friendly community we have.

Hug a Mug is a popular spot for lunch. Laurie and her staff are really friendly and make great food.

Café Canadiano in the Sunshine and Fresh Air Downtown

The Dawson Creek Farmer's Market is open!

One of the best things about spring is the opening of the Farmers Market and this year is no exception!

Although May is a bit early to find produce, it's the best place to find fresh homemade baking, preserves and local eggs.

Along with the poppy seed cake, cinnamon buns and chocolate chip cookies, I bought a big loaf of unsliced white bread and a jar of local Saskatoon jam.

Cut a big thick slice of bread, toast it, butter it and slather it with jam... can a Sunday morning breakfast treat get any better than that?

There are lots of craftspeople that bring their wares to the market too.

The market is held in and around a big white tent on 8^th Street on the corner of the Co-op Mall parking lot. The tent is stuffed with vendors!

There is plenty of easy parking for RV's and such and along with the locals who make the market part of their weekly shopping; visitors enjoy the bounty as well.

The Dawson Creek Farmer's Market is open!

A Great Hamburger at Stuies Diner

Stuies Diner is one of the newest restaurants in Dawson Creek. The parking lot is often full and it is very popular with both the locals and visitors.

It's a big shiny silver metal building with a 50's retro theme. You can choose to sit in a booth or sit at the old fashioned counter.

There is a big jukebox in a corner and the music is nostalgic. The waitresses were wearing 50's style uniforms too. We listened to Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly while we ate.

The menu has mostly hamburger and fries and the portions are generous. We got there just as the supper crowd was starting to come in and within minutes the place was full.

It's on the east side of 8^th Street, which is one of the main drags in town and there is easy parking. It's a great trip down memory lane.

A Great Hamburger at Stuies Diner

Annual Water Fowl Migration in the Peace

Bring Your Camera and Your Rubber Boots!

Now that the snow is really melting, there is water pooling in fields everywhere and the Canada Geese, Snow Geese, Swans and Ducks are arriving by the thousands and it's a great time to take photos.

About 3 miles north of Dawson Creek on Rd 219, I saw 2 other camera buffs parked beside the road taking photos of one particularly large mixed flock of big birds.

This only happens for a short period of time in the spring until the water runs off and soaks into the fields. Soon the birds will be gone and the fields will be growing a crop. In the meantime there is a lot of activity and much honking to go along with it.

Make sure you have your camera handy for those great photo opportunities when you pull to the side of the road to enjoy the water life.

Annual Water Fowl Migration in the Peace

A Scenic Drive to the Peace River in the Springtime

Just a short 45 minutes north of Dawson Creek on the Rolla Highway is the Clayhurst Bridge across the Peace River. It's a great place to experience a big river, a big bridge, a beautiful view and peace and quiet all at the same time.

There is a place at the south end of the bridge to pull over and park so you can walk across the bridge. There used to be a plaque that dedicated the bridge to a former MLA, but it was vandalized years ago and not replaced.

There is very little traffic on the bridge and no other sounds of civilization so you can really appreciate the sounds of the water, the wind that comes down the valley and the vibration of the bridge under your feet. The power is amazing.

The center of the bridge is the best place to stop and lean over the rail to watch the water flow by under your feet carrying the occasional log downriver. The last time we were there, a pair of Canada Geese flew under the bridge right under us.

On the north side of the bridge is another old wooden bridge that crosses a smaller river that flows into the Peace, we like to cross that one too and carry on hiking up the banks for a bigger workout.

I was really impressed with the thickness of the ice on the banks of the river. Take your camera!

A Scenic Drive to the Peace River in the Springtime

The Place To Go For Cupcakes in Dawson Creek

There is a new coffee house in town and it's really great! It's called Cups Tea & Cakes and I spent a morning there last week. I brought my laptop to catch up on some work, sat at a high table in the corner with my favorite coffee and watched the scene on the street and the constant comings and goings in the shop.

Cupcakes are the specialty of the café and they have upwards of 20 varieties for sale each day. The mixing, baking and decorating are done behind the counter for customers to watch and I admit to watching with great interest as batches of icing were flavored and piped onto the many cupcakes.

Strawberry Shortcake, Black Forest, Coconut Lime, Cookies 'n Cream, Red Velvet, Mocha are just a few of the names. It's as hard to choose your favorite cupcake as it is to pick a favorite ice cream. I guess the best way is to just try a different one every time.

Another feature worth noting in this café is their beautiful washroom with granite counters and glass basin... everything sparkling clean.

This is going to be a favorite spot for locals and visitors, make sure you check it out when you come to town.

The Place To Go For Cupcakes in Dawson Creek

A House Warming Gift From Olde Creek Store

Our friends just moved into their new house. They are having a house warming party to celebrate.

Knowing where to go for the right gift was easy. I headed to her favorite store: the Olde Creek Store on 10^th Street, one block south of the Mile O Post.

Finding the gift proved harder. There is so much in that store; I didn't know where to start.

What caught my eye first was the huge display of cast iron reproduction hardware. I chose a chickadee towel hook for them and a set of kitchen drawer pulls for me.

I obviously had to start two piles... one for them, one for me. I decided that a gift basket was the way to go for the party.

The next area I checked out was the bath and linens. Wow! Egyptian cotton hand towels were perfect.

I had to walk by the jewelry display on my way to the antiques, and although jewelry didn't seem like a great house warming gift, I found a great sterling silver bracelet for my pile.

My friend collects antique dinnerware, and I chose a great Royal Dalton teapot that I know she will love and a 1955 Webster's Dictionary in great shape for their collection of antique books.

A couple of stained glass candleholders for me, a sterling silver picture frame and wicker basket for them and I was done.

The woman behind the counter, decorated the basket and gifts with beautiful tissue and ribbon.

A House Warming Gift From Olde Creek Store

Snowshoeing & Game Trails with a Side Order of Wolf

Last Sunday we went out for our weekly winter exercise. This time we went snowshoeing which is one of my favorite ways to enjoy this beautiful country. It's simple great cardio exercise and we especially love the quietness. Snowshoes are light, easy to travel with and a great way to hang out with people.

We chose a spot near the little village of Rolla, about 10 miles north of the city, which has great bush trails and fields with sweeping views all the way into Alberta. It's beautiful there.

We had just about completely crossed a field when we saw something big moving in the tree line just ahead of us. It moved like a coyote but was a lot bigger. We had our binoculars and camera with us.

It was a Gray Wolf. Even though common sense told us that he would not bother us, being out in the middle of a field in deep snow with a wolf watching us was scary exciting.

We stopped and watched the wolf, and the wolf stopped and watched us. We figured we would just wait for it to make the first move and after several minutes the wolf turned and resumed his travels away from us.

When we got home, I looked up Gray Wolves on the Internet and found that there are estimated 7,500 in BC. Life isn't easy for a wolf. Living on large and small game, they only have a 10% success rate with their hunting and so live by feast or famine. I also learned that they often travel 200 kilometers in a day.

A friend told me that a Gray Wolf had been spotted about 30 kilometers from here; maybe it's the same one. The mystery is whether or not there is a pack around.

Whether a local or a visitor, it's important to keep eyes and ears open when you are out an about in the country. There are a lot of wild animals living here. Cameras & Binoculars and a cell phone are a good idea. It's also a great idea to mention to someone where you are going.

Snowshoeing & Game Trails with a Side Order of Wolf

Nothing Beats the Winter Blues Like an Opening at the Art Gallery

We are so lucky here in Dawson Creek to have a really active art community.

When my friend told me about the latest show and concert to open at the Grain Elevator Art Gallery I knew it was just the thing to bring some light and warmth and color into the deep days of winter.

We arrived early and from the first moment of opening the door we were wrapped in soft welcoming music. Looking up the spiraling ramp, the walls were hung with bright, colorful portraits, people were just starting to come in, and apparently with the same idea we had for breaking up the winter.

There was a big bowl of punch and a table full of appetizers to enjoy as well and we strolled up to the top of the gallery nibbling, chatting, and enjoying the art. We often stop to look down over the rails to the belly of the gallery below.

We finished our stroll and returned to the center of the gallery to fill our plates with more snacks and take a seat to listen to an intimate concert by a traveling musician. The Art Gallery hosts regular concerts and art exhibits and we try to go them on a regular basis.

Ticket prices are always reasonable and we never fail to enjoy ourselves. It's a small venue and that's what makes it so enjoyable.

It was a wonderful evening.

Nothing Beats the Winter Blues Like an Opening at the Art Gallery

Annual Cabin Fever Winter Festival at Mattson's Farm in Dawson Creek

The annual Cabin Fever Winter Festival hosted by the Mattson Family took place on a very cold, clear February day this year. We were all dressed up in our warmest winter clothes to be outside.

It was a day of visiting, laughing, eating, dancing, playing and stiff competition between neighbors and visitors alike.

The kids with their rosey cheeks had a great time racing the "Board Walk" (modified three legged race where they have to walk together with feet strapped into two short pieces of lumber and also testing their skills in the "Snowball Toss."

Adult Competitions:

"Tea-Boiling" - contestants had to run to grab a hatchet and kindling and light a fire with no paper and ten matches only and bring a pot of water to a rolling boil – first one to drop a bag of tea in the pot was declared the winner.

"Cross-Cut" Sawing - teams of two people sawing a slice from a big log with an antique cross-cut saw.

"Bale Rolling Race" - Teams rolling 1500 pound bales of hay a specific distance.

"Mitt Mayhem" – This was the best! Contestants struggled to open a canned drink and make a peanut butter and jam sandwich wearing large bulky snowmobile mitts.

The competitions were fierce! The winners were thrilled!

There was a beautiful team of Shire Horses giving sleigh rides. Hot food was served in the warm barn and we had a warm-up fire and hay bale wind break to make the outdoor event comfortable even with the bitter winter day.

The festival ended with a barn dance in "Albert's Loft" with old timey music by the Sweetwater Ramblers.

The festival was a great way to shake off the winter with friends and laughs.

Annual Cabin Fever Winter Festival at Mattson's Farm in Dawson Creek

Cafe Europa ~ a Taste of Europe

When I heard that I could get my favorite Italian Gelato (ice cream) in town, I was thrilled!

The Café Europa has an international atmosphere (Italian & Hungarian) and a menu featuring specialty coffees, European sandwiches and deserts. The display cases are a work of art.

Within days of opening it's doors, this little eatery became a favorite with locals and visitors alike. The café is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. You can eat in or take out and there is a small veranda out back to sit and enjoy your food in the summer months. This is the only place in town where you can eat Tapis one week and Turkish Barbeque the next.

I'm most excited about the international nights. –Italian, Greek, Spanish, Serbian, Hungarian, German, French, Turkish menus. All those flavors in one restaurant.

It's right downtown, a block away from the Mile O Post, tucked away in a long narrow building. You can pop in when you are checking out the murals. Then you can stroll and drink your coffee or eat ice cream at the same time.

Cafe Europa ~ a Taste of Europe

Flying on a Snowmobile in Dawson Creek

We try to spend as much time outside as we can in the winter and since we get so much sunshine here in the Peace River Country, the cold doesn't seem to bother us.

Our friends invited us to go snowmobiling with them. I hadn't been on a snowmobile since I was in elementary school. The machines certainly have changed since then.

We met up at the entrance to the Bear Mountain Wind Park and spent the whole day exploring back trails.

I couldn't believe how fast we went. It was very exciting! There are a lot of places to ride around here. In addition to the oil and gas pipelines and back trails, the ditches along the highway are really wide in a lot of areas and you can go for miles and miles with ease. You have to have your own machines because there is not a business that rents them.

We weren't the only ones on the ridge that day, we heard and saw several other groups of people.

Our friend packed some kindling and small firewood along and we stopped along a trail that had a panoramic view of the valley to the east of Dawson Creek, built a small fire and roasted hot dogs. Thermos' of hot coffee and chocolate made the day perfect.

We had one problem right near the end when we crossed a field and were met by a farmer who was out plowing snow on his tractor.

We stopped and he told us that being on the fields was not allowed unless we asked permission and then it depended on the crop. Apparently it packs the snow down and can damage the crops. He said our two little trails wouldn't do much damage, but groups roaring around on a field can really affect it.

If you are visiting our area with your snowmobiles, make sure you have permission to be on private property.

Flying on a Snowmobile in Dawson Creek

A Spirit Art Festival Walkabout in Dawson Creek

The Spirit Art Festival has transformed Dawson Creek streets into a city-wide art gallery for the month of February.

Many of the downtown businesses have turned their street front windows into display cases for our local artists.

Last Sunday, I bundled up, parked my car at the corner of 102^nd Ave & 10^th Street, by the Mile O Post and went for a walkabout with my camera.

I stopped at Café Europa for my favorite specialty coffee to sip and walked up and down the streets looking at the awesome local art. It was great to have the time to stop and really look at all the work.

There are displays from potters, print makers, painters, photographers and quilters.

My absolute favorite is the display inside the Alaska Highway House that features the work of a local potter who just recently lost her life. She was an avid potter and her family put her latest work on display for the community and visitors to enjoy.

Projects like this really enhance the city. We are bursting at the seams with talent and I am looking forward to taking into many other performances and displays. My congratulations to the planners who chose the winter month of February to put on this festival.

Grab a hot drink and check out the art!

A Spirit Art Festival Walkabout in Dawson Creek

City Wide Spirit Arts Festival

I was one of the many enthusiastic art lovers at the progressive opening for the Spirit Art Festival in Dawson Creek.

It was pretty exciting to see the fliers for the month long city wide festival. The line up includes visual art displays, live performances, workshops and lectures

Many of the businesses downtown are sharing their street front window space with local artists. Several venues will be hosting events. The whole city is alive with art!

The opening began at the local bookstore and made its way to the Alaska Café where we were treated to several readings of poetry by celebrated Canadian Poet Ms. Lorna Crozier. Ms Crozier read several pieces of her work and was accompanied by local musician Andrew Ho on the piano. Her poem "Snow" was especially powerful and evocative for us northern folk.

It was awesome to be back in the Alaska Café, which is now only opened on special occasions.

This promises to be a great month of art!

City Wide Spirit Arts Festival

Brrrr in the Peace River Country

I woke up to -34 degrees Celsius (-29 degrees Fahrenheit) the other day. That is the coldest yet this winter and although we have been colder in years past, it's cold enough.

Temperatures like this require extra travel considerations whether you live here or are visiting:

~ All vehicles must be winterized (winter tires, block heater, anti-freeze, emergency kit, extension cord, warm clothing, ice scraper, cell phone).

~ Pets need to be monitored carefully while outside if they are not used to the cold.

My sister from Vancouver was here at the time and we had quite a discussion on the hardships of our respective winters.

• Rain versus snow.
• Warm weather versus cold.
• Grey cloudy days versus lots of blue skies and sunshine.

We came to the agreement that both areas have pros and cons in regards to winter climates.

Then a Chinook came through and the temperature jumped from -34 to +2 (35 degrees Fahrenheit) on the same day.

Chinooks are usually accompanied by big gusty winds and this one was no exception. Drifting is another reality of northern winters and are a novelty unless they plug roads.

Several years ago, a blizzard caught quite a few people unaware and there were reports of a dozen or so motorists stuck in big drifts overnight.

Graders, snowplows and sand-trucks are winter heroes here in the north.

Brrrr in the Peace River Country

Flying on a Snowmobile in Dawson Creek

We try to spend as much time outside as we can in the winter and since we get so much sunshine here in the Peace River Country, the cold weather doesn't seem to bother us.

Our friends invited us to go snowmobiling with them. I hadn't been on a snowmobile since I was in elementary school. The machines certainly have changed since then.

We met up at the entrance to the Bear Mountain Wind Park and spent the whole day exploring back trails.

I couldn't believe how fast we went. It was very exciting! There are a lot of places to ride around here. In addition to the oil and gas pipelines and back trails, the ditches along the highway are really wide in a lot of areas and you can go for miles and miles with ease.

We weren't the only ones on the ridge that day, we heard and saw several other groups of people.

Our friend packed some kindling and small firewood along and we stopped along a trail that had a panoramic view of the valley to the east of Dawson Creek, built a small fire and roasted hot dogs. Thermos' of hot coffee and chocolate made the day perfect.

We had one problem right near the end when we crossed a field and were met by a farmer who was out plowing snow on his tractor.

We stopped to chat and he told us that being on the fields was not allowed unless we asked permission and then it depended on the crop. Apparently it packs the snow down and can damage the crops. He said our two little trails wouldn't do much damage, but groups roaring around on a field can really hurt it. Oops...

Flying on a Snowmobile in Dawson Creek

Cross Country Skiing on Bear Mountain

I put my cross-country skis on for the first time this year on a beautiful, sunny Sunday. We went up to Radar Lake to the Bear Mountain Nordic Ski Trails.

Being a confirmed beginner skier, I have yet to move beyond the beginner trails, but my more accomplished friends tell me that the intermediate and advanced trails are superb.

There are over 20 kilometers (12 miles) of trails and they are kept beautifully groomed by the Nordic Ski Club.

Cross-country skiing is is a great cardio workout and I love the feeling I get when I find my rhythm. I enjoy the smell of the trees and the sound of the skis and the many wildlife sightings. It's common to see deer, moose, squirrels and an abundance of birds.

It's also great to stop for hot chocolate and lunch at one of the warming huts. The hut on the beginner trail is called the Grizzly Den, where we build a fire and warm up. I haven't been to the other warming huts because they are on more advanced trails.

There are trail maps posted along the trail, but it's recommended to have a paper one for the many intermediate and advanced trails.

Cross Country Skiing on Bear Mountain

Winter Fun at the Lakota Equestrian Center in Dawson Creek

December 30 was a cold winter day in Dawson Creek, the temperatures plunged to -32 Celsius. Our holiday company had been up for a week and we were all feeling a bit house bound. Our 2 nephews were getting bored and we needed something different to do.

The 3^rd annual Christmas Extravaganza was being held at the Lakota Equestrian Center in the new Multiplex.

We have gone every year so far, so decided to brave the cold and check it out. The place was packed! People had come out in droves to watch the different horse clubs that use the facility put on demonstrations.

The show started with a Grand Entry of Flags, then came the jumping horses, dressage horses, a rodeo drill team, barrel racing, western pleasure horses, team roping, reining, and cow penning.

There was a young woman riding without a bridle, but the best were the little kids on ponies tying goats and riding around obstacles and a young man who had taught his miniature donkey to jump over rails.

There are a lot of thriving horse clubs in Dawson Creek and the equestrian center is in constant use There are 110 indoor stalls and each one is rented all year round.

We will definitely go again next year. If you are visiting over the holidays, I really recommend you check it out. It's free and open to the public. Even if you miss the showcase, a trip to the Lakota Center is a great place to spend time.

Winter Fun at the Lakota Equestrian Center in Dawson Creek