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