Dawson Creek to Vancouver The View From The Sky

Our flight left Dawson Creek on a very cold and clear day in early winter. There were a couple of inches of snow on the ground.

For the most of the flight, we saw snow covered mountains. As we got closer to Greater Vancouver, the snow thinned and the mountains were green.

The skies in Vancouver were clear and our flight took us on an amazing sight seeing tour.

From our chairs in the sky, we saw the ocean, Vancouver Island and big empty cargo ships sitting in the Burrard Inlet, the Lions Gate Bridge with 2 lanes of traffic going one way and one going the other. We saw the Sea Wall and Industrial Parks and the Skyscrapers of Downtown Vancouver.

We really noticed the miles and miles of urban sprawl that stretched farther than our eyes could see.

Our plane landed after an hour and twenty minutes in the air and we disembarked into pleasant weather and enjoyed a city weekend in a beautiful city.

Dawson Creek to Vancouver The View From The Sky

There's No Place Like Home (Dawson Creek) After An Eventful Holiday In A Beautiful City (Vancouver)

On our last trip to Vancouver, we had 3 whole days to hang around and explore the city.

So much had changed since our last visit. We stayed in Fort Langley so when we went into the city, we crossed the Port Mann Bridge and saw the massive construction project and were amazed at how efficient the huge volume of traffic made it's way deeper into the city.

We were awed by the housing developments where whole hillsides being cleared for whole new communities. There was growth and prosperity evident everywhere.

Stanley Park, the Aquarium and the Sea Wall were a full day adventure and we took the long way around across the Ironworkers Bridge, along Marine Drive and back over the Lions Gate Bridge.

We hadn't been to Stanley Park since the big storm a few years ago when so much damage was done to the forest, and even though evidence of lost trees are everywhere, the park is as beautiful as always and parkway drive along the water was a real treat for inland dwellers.

For some reason, the lineups to the Vancouver Aquarium were really long, but worth the wait. The aquarium was bustling and there was so much to see.

One of our other trips into the city was to watch the Canucks play at GM Place. We took the Sky Train from Surrey right to the stadium. It's great to relax, enjoy the views and be a passenger.

I think we crossed most of the bridges in those 3 days. We got our fill of traffic and business and it was with a big sigh of relaxation when we saw the Welcome to Dawson Creek sign outside of our small city and were home.

There's No Place Like Home (Dawson Creek) After An Eventful Holiday In A Beautiful City (Vancouver)

Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire At The Old Fashioned Christmas Festival In Dawson Creek

The annual Old Fashioned Christmas Festival sponsored by the Rotary Club of Dawson Creek is held at Pioneer Village and is free to the public. I went to meet up with some friends and was impressed to see so many people there.

As chance had it, the temperature climbed from a chilly -20 to a balmy -5 on the day of the outdoor festival and the community took full advantage of the reprieve from the cold.

It was already dark by the time the festivities began at 6pm and the Village was all lit up. There were two teams of horses pulling sleighs full of people, bonfires strategically placed around the village for hand warming and marshmallows and Santa hats everywhere.

Christmas carols were being played while hot dogs, hot chocolate and cookies were being passed out to everyone. Chestnuts were actually being roasted on an open fire and the gentleman who was manning the roasting pan was being kept busy by an eager audience of young and old alike. I tried my first one and it was delicious. Kind of Nutty.

Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire At The Old Fashioned Christmas Festival In Dawson Creek

Kicking Off The Christmas Shopping Season With Style In Dawson Creek

We went to the Art Gallery in Dawson Creek for the annual opening of the Christmas Gift Show and Sale.

The Grain Elevator Gallery is one of the few places in the city that is big enough to house a 15 or so foot Christmas tree, and I learned that each year, the Art Gallery uses all it's decorations from the previous year to decorate trees downtown to be auctioned off as a fund raiser.

The Gallery was bursting at the seams with top-drawer work from artists and artisans from the bottom gift shop and lobby all the way up the spiraling ramps that go to the top.

I saw woodwork, jewelry, pottery, watercolors, stained glass, fiber arts, soaps & lotions, metalwork and Christmas decorations. I checked off much of my gift list for the season.

There were trays of goodies and glasses of punch being served the whole time I was there. At 2 pm a local woman's choir came in to sing Christmas carols for an hour.

This annual event is a favorite for many shoppers whether they live in the community or come in as visitors and it's always well attended. It's more than just going shopping; it's a chance to participate in a celebration of community, art and Christmas. I wouldn't miss it.

Kicking Off The Christmas Shopping Season With Style In Dawson Creek

19th Annual Dawson Creek Tree Light Up Celebration

The weather for this year's annual Tree Light Up was a bit chilly, it was minus 20 something on the morning of November 19, and we almost decided to stay home by the fire instead of getting all bundled up and driving in to town, but we had arranged to meet some friends, so away we went.

The City of Dawson Creek moved the Mile O Post to a temporary location at the Northern Alberta Railway Park, a block north of it's usual home and put up a 35-40 foot tree in it's place and draped it with multi-colored lights. The streets have been decorated with big white snowflakes and it really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas here.

I'm glad we went because it turned out to be a great community party and the cold weather actually added to the fun. It's nice to offer events like this to both the people who live here and also the many who find themselves far away from home and staying in our hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts.

Many of the local businesses were open for the light up celebration and some were handing out hot chocolate, hot cider, popcorn and even glow sticks.

There were kids of all ages mingling around and of course Santa was there too.

19th Annual Dawson Creek Tree Light Up Celebration

Finding a GeoCache Stash in Dawson Creek.

GPS in hand, I went with a Geo-caching friend on a high-tech treasure hunt to find a cache box near a cemetery just south of Dawson Creek. (Tomslake)

We had checked out GeoTourismCanada online and found a whole list of locations in and around Dawson Creek.

Even though I live in the area and knew where we were going for this hunt, it was very exciting to forget that and just follow the GPS coordinates. I used to love orienteering with a compass when I was in school, so this gave the same thrill.

Learning how to read the GPS device was the tricky part and I'm sure it would get easier with practice. We stopped the truck several times along the way so I could learn and practice how to read coordinates.

Finding the box itself just by following the coordinates was a challenge as well as a lot of fun.

Inside the box was a plastic bag with a small pencil and a logbook to write in. Several other people had written in the book ahead of us. We made sure everything was tucked away for the next adventurer.

I can certainly see why people love this sport.

Finding a GeoCache Stash in Dawson Creek.

Hungry Little Fox

Winter has finally come to the Peace River Area, and with it cold temperatures and the beginning of snow.

I was walking by my living room window the other day, and saw a movement out of the corner of my eye.

My dogs were sleeping on their beds in the house so wondering what the movement was; I looked closer and saw a red fox eating kibble out of our dog food bowl. He/She was right up on the deck.

By the time I got my camera, she must have sensed that she was being watched, because she left the deck and moved farther out to the yard.

I am wondering if this is the same fox that lives in the old abandoned farmstead down the road. People know to watch out for her although as the saying about 'smart as a fox' goes, she seems pretty good at looking after herself.

One of the best things about this part of the country is the closeness to wildlife. All you have to do is drive around; you are bound to see a wild animal doing what wild animals do.

Hungry Little Fox

A Man Made Marvel of the Peace River Country.

I have evolved into the unofficial tour guide for friends and family when they visit.

A favorite day trip from Dawson Creek is to the W.A.C. Bennett Dam on Williston Lake. It takes about an hour and a half to get there and is the perfect way to spend a day visiting and seeing something amazing at the same time.

It's a real treat to drive across the dam itself, it's huge!

The trip wouldn't be complete without taking the bus tour deep into the belly of the dam on the bus. You will have to wear a hard hat.

The guided tour costs six dollars for adults and lasts about an hour.

Once I get over my immediate feeling of claustrophobia, I really enjoy the tour. The air once you are underground is cool and you can feel the energy vibrate and hum in the stone all around.

Visitors are always blown away by the project.

My Dad worked on the Dam from start to finish, so I have lots of stories to tell them, like the day the water was first released and the bear clinging to a floating log being swept away...

A Man Made Marvel of the Peace River Country.

Up the Alaska Highway: Pink Mountain, Mile 143

We set out from Dawson Creek, Mile O of the Alaska Highway while it was still dark, with a full tank of gas and fresh coffees.

About an hour and a half up the highway, just as the sun was rising, we found out how Pink Mountain got its name. Fire weed grows everywhere up the mountain and in the ditches. We must have hit peak season because along with the pink flowers, there were butterflies everywhere. Sadly, many butterflies got caught in the grill of our vehicle.

The air was fresh and clean and the views were awesome. We stopped at an interesting place called Sasquatch Crossing Lodge to fill up our coffee and ask about the butterflies. We were told that these are yearly phenomena and are Arctic Yellowtail Swallow butterflies.

We didn't see any Sasquatches though, maybe next time.

Up the Alaska Highway: Pink Mountain, Mile 143

Rainbows Like This Need a Big Sky

Living in the Peace River Country has always meant big skies and big weather.

One particular day this fall started out with a big clear blue sky. It was the perfect day for being outside.

Later in the afternoon, the sky darkened and we could see a storm brewing in the west. We watched the black clouds move in accompanied by thunder and lightening.

We timed the intervals of the bolts of lightening and the claps of thunder and could tell that the lightening was very close and moving east.

We stayed outside as long as we could, eventually having to seek shelter from the driving rain.

It poured hard for 45 minutes!

The storm continued it easterly path, and the thunder and lightening receded off into the distance.

Then, the most amazing set of rainbows we have ever seen filled the eastern sky behind the storm.

My camera captured two rainbows, but there was a third, much fainter that the others. WOW!

Rainbows Like This Need a Big Sky

Visiting a Cemetery on Halloween

We stopped into the historic cemetery in Tomslake, 20 minutes south of Dawson Creek on the day before Halloween.

This beautiful place is more than just a cemetery. It contains the cultural identity of the small Sudeten German Community whose members immigrated here in 1939 to escape persecution and death in Hitler's Germany.

A museum has been built to house the many artifacts donated by the community to tell the story of the journey to a new life of freedom in a new land.

The original Roman Catholic Church is now part of the museum. We stood on a stool and peeked in the windows. Nothing fancy, just hand built pews and some old pictures on the wall. Plastic flowers in a vase on the alter.

There is an impressive commemorative stone and bronze monument to the immigrants and their new home in Canada. It is quite emotional to read what the community went through for freedom. They came on huge transport ships and each ship and the date it sailed from Liverpool is listed along with the list of family members on the roster.

The cemetery itself is beautifully maintained with a simple rural backdrop. Entering through the iron gates was like entering a history book. The names on the granite headstones are mostly German and date back to the early 40's. I was struck by the short lives of many of the people laying to rest there.

Peaceful.

Visiting a Cemetery on Halloween

Chilling Out at The Sukunka River

One of the prettiest places to go for a weekend of camping, especially in the fall, is the Sukunka River, about an hour and a half west of Dawson Creek.

We went in early October when the fall leaves were at their colorful peak. We found a great place to camp a short distance from the road that is right on the banks of the river.

The Sukunka is also well known for some great waterfalls. They are beautiful and easy to get to as well.

Getting to the Sukunka is a bit of an adventure itself because all traffic must share the road with coal trucks going back and forth. The road is radio controlled, so the best thing to do is wait for a truck going the same way you are and get in behind it. Stop when it stops and go when it goes.

The Sukunka is in bear country so it's really important to be smart. We are very careful with our garbage and cooking methods and very watchful as well.

The fishing is great! The river is awesome and the setting is spectacular! A real favorite!

Chilling Out at The Sukunka River

Mother Natures Peace Country Patchwork Quilt

Friends from Oregon told me that one of the things they love the best about their visit to Dawson Creek is the square block of fields that stretch from horizon to horizon. She said it reminds her of a big patchwork quilt.

I agree. Even after living here my whole life, I still admire the panoramic views of green and gold fields, separated by dirt roads and hedges of trees.

No matter the season, it does look like a patchwork quilt. The view is especially spectacular in the July Canola season. The yellow-est yellow imaginable, all set out in perfect squares as far as the eye can see.

I also appreciate the soft browns of late fall when the crops have come off and the fields are getting ready to rest for the winter. The grain left by the harvest machinery makes easy pickings for the wildlife that lives so close to us.

Mother Natures Peace Country Patchwork Quilt

The Scoop on the Alaska Highway Road Conditions

• Do we need 10 sets of spare tires?
  
• Will our windshields get smashed out by rocks?
• How many miles of gravel will there be?
• Is there still muskeg?
• Do we need to carry spare gas?

These are the questions that came up around the fire with our friends who were on their way up the highway this year. They had heard horror stories from people who had traveled the Highway years and years ago.

The Alaska Highway is a fairly smooth road all the way from Dawson Creek. BC to Fairbanks, Alaska. It is pretty much paved all the way.

The ongoing issue is that every year the ground freezes and thaws and the pavement ripples and heaves and cracks in spots.

Maintenance crews are constantly repairing the road and you will have periodic waits while flag people get you through safely.

You will undoubtedly come across patches of loose gravel and occasional rough spots but as long as you are well prepared to begin with, you will be just fine.

The road is a pleasure to drive.

The Scoop on the Alaska Highway Road Conditions

Yield the Right Of Way... to Moose!

It seems like more often than not when I'm driving the back roads of the Peace River Country and up & down the Alaska Highway in the fall, I see moose and deer.

Yesterday I came around a corner and had to stop my car for Mama and Baby who were taking their time crossing the road in front of me. Once I stopped my car, they stopped as well. They did not seem afraid of me in the least.

I just happened to have my camera with me and they obliged me with several minutes of photo opportunities. Once they sauntered over to the field on the other side of the road, they started grazing in the oats stubble left by the harvest.

It was getting dark when I took this photo and if you look closely you can see the light from my headlights shining on their long legs. I am confident I will see this pair again over the coming months and I just hope that their lack of concern for vehicles does not cause them harm.

Thankfully, it is a common practice here for the highways departments to clear the roadside ditches of shrubs to make it easier to see the wildlife. We are all used to scanning ahead in the ditches when we drive.

Driving carefully is a must!

Yield the Right Of Way... to Moose!

Power & Serenity on the Mighty Peace River

When we need to take a break from the daily routines we head down to the ClayHurst crossing over the Peace River 45 minutes north of town on the Rolla Highway and enjoy the fresh air that sweeps down with the water through the valley.

The Peace River is an interesting body of water. Up river is the W.A.C Bennett Dam and all the water that flows is first collected in Williston Lake and then goes through the turbines of the dam to generate hydro before being returned to the river.

The week this photo was taken, the river was low. The bottom of the boat ramp was 30 feet or so above the water. The river seemed calm and steady. We watched several river boats come and go.

We took our folding chairs, a small picnic and relaxed while afternoon turned to evening, listening to the sounds of the water and the almost eerie cries of a couple of hawks hunting on the far banks.

The following week, BC Hydro released more water from the Dam and the boat ramp that had been so high on the beach was completely submerged under water. What a difference! There was a completely different energy. What had seemed like an almost lazy river had become a fast torrent that had risen way up under the bridge. The water was full of logs and debris as it rushed along.

Awesome!

Power & Serenity on the Mighty Peace River

Peace Country Gold & Canada Geese

This is the most beautiful time of the year to live in or visit the Peace River Country.

The leaves are all shades of red, orange and yellow. The wheat has been harvested and big golden bales of straw sit glistening in the sun.

The Canada Geese are gathering by the thousands in the fields to fatten up on the grains left by the machinery. It's quite a site to see a few thousand geese converge on a field while driving to work.

Huge flocks fly overhead and if they are low enough you can hear the honking and sometimes hear the sound of their wings swooshing the air.

We just had a beautiful full harvest moon and fall equinox within days of each other. The air is cooling, the sky is clear, the stars are out.

It doesn't get any better than this.

Peace Country Gold & Canada Geese

Alaska Highway History: Surviving (or not) the Cold

My Dad came to Dawson Creek to work on the Alaska Highway as a civilian in 1942. He operated heavy equipment along side the American soldiers.

In what was one of the earliest and coldest autumns ever recorded, Dad said the equipment took a real beating that year. The temperatures froze lubricants, seized transmissions and snapped axels. Equipment had to be kept running 24 hours a day, shutting them off was out of the question.

Wrecked and abandoned vehicles were a common sight on the sides of the road as it grew in miles. The combination of the brutal cold weather conditions and the scarcity of spare parts meant many were left to rust where they broke down.

A lot of the creeks that had to be crossed were swift water and resisted freezing even in the harsh cold. Often rushing through the interior of the smaller vehicles, cold water drenched men and steel alike. The underside of any vehicles that crossed became immediately ice coated and had to be kept moving or else the ice would lock the wheels within seconds of standing still.

The cold temperatures not only froze the equipment, it brutalized the men too. Dad said one of his friends froze to death alone when his bulldozer broke down and no help was available. Many of the men who worked the road experienced frostbite that year.

When you travel the highway you will see the rusting relics of the abandoned equipment. A fitting tribute to the effort it took to build the Alaska Highway.

Alaska Highway History: Surviving (or not) the Cold

Appreciating Wildlife in the Peace River Country

Anyone traveling the main or back roads here in the Peace River Country is bound to see wildlife near the roads.

Just this last week alone, we have seen two bears, several moose, countless deer, 4 hawks, thousands of Canada Geese and a Grey owl on our way to town. It's harvest season and the animals are taking advantage of the easy food.

Bears are intent on putting on weight to get ready for hibernation, moose, deer and elk are taking advantage of the ripe grains being left behind by the field machinery and the birds of prey are having a "field day" with the mice in the swaths and stubble.

The animals are in peak condition with shiny coats and healthy weight.

It's important to be watchful on the roads. Dusk is a favorite time for wildlife to be close to the roads and they can be hard to see.

I keep my camera handy in my car. There are so many great photo opportunities.

Appreciating Wildlife in the Peace River Country

Dawson Creek, WWII and the Alaska Highway

My Mom came to the Peace River Country as a young woman in 1939 with her family. They were political refugees fleeing Nazi Germany. She found work at the original Dawson Creek hospital where the nuns taught her to speak English.

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, the leaders in Washington decided they needed to have a supply route to Alaska. They wanted it done in less than one year. They needed men and equipment and lots of both.

Mom remembered the arrival of the US troops and Canadian civilians along with all the equipment that came to build the Alaska Highway in 1942. She said the quiet agricultural town burst at the seams overnight. There were soldiers and equipment and noise and mud everywhere.

My Dad was one of the civilians who came here as a young man to operate heavy equipment on the construction of the highway. They met at a dance hall on a Friday night.

There are great original photographs of the period at the Alaska Highway House downtown by the Mile "O" Post and also at the Dawson Creek Art Gallery.

The Sudetan Hall at Pioneer Village also houses a great collection of original photos of the Czechoslovakia pre and post WWII as well as the building of a new community in a new land.

Dawson Creek, WWII and the Alaska Highway

The Cost of Building a Hotel in 1951: The Windsor.

60 years ago, you could build a 54 room hotel for the same amount as a modest single family dwelling today.

The Windsor Hotel was a Dawson Creek landmark for 54 years. Built in 1951 at a cost of $250,000.00 the hotel had 54 rooms, a modern dining room, 2 beer parlors (one for "Men Only" and the other for "Ladies and Escorts"), a 250 seat banquet room, and room rental rates that were $2.50 a single, to $6.00 a double occupancy per night.

They added a hard liquor lounge later as it was illegal in BC during the time of the original plan.

Sadly, this grand Dawson Creek landmark endured years of hard times, delinquent property taxes and disrepair. The hotel was taken over by the City of Dawson Creek and when they were unable to find a buyer, it was demolished in 2005.

The whole town watched the demolitions and remembered the grand old hotel's better days.

Today a grassy lot sits on the corner where once stood the grand old Windsor Hotel, waiting for it's next occupant.

The Cost of Building a Hotel in 1951: The Windsor.

Memorial Roses in Gardens North!

There is Chinese proverb that says "A little fragrance always clings to the hand that gives roses" and I'm sure the people who tend the flowers at Pioneer Village's Gardens North have experienced that.

At the entrance to the Village is a memorial rose garden. Beautiful rose bushes greet you as you begin your journey into the lives of our pioneers. The roses have little memorial plaques at their bases.

I found plaques with the names of several former community members I recognize and varieties of roses I had never seen before. It is a touching tribute.

The rest of the themed gardens in Gardens North are beautiful and lovingly cared for. There were many folks from the neighboring RV Park strolling through enjoying the flowers. I chatted with a couple from Texas and talked about the differences in climate and types of plants we grow. They had photos on their camera and showed me their desert garden.

I had a pad of paper with me and wrote down a couple of new rose names and went to the local nursery and was thrilled to find both varieties for sale and hardy to this zone.

Memorial Roses in Gardens North!

Mystery on the East Pine River

We took a friend from out of town for a sight seeing drive around the area. We started here in Dawson Creek and drove to Fort St. John, taking the little side trip to drive across the Kiskatenaw Bridge. I was disappointed because the batteries in my camera were dead and we had to use our cell phone to take some pics of the three of us on the bridge.

In Ft. St. John, we stopped at a great local coffee shop and picked up specialty coffees for our journey and of course batteries for the camera.

The next part of our tour around the neighborhood is to Hudson Hope and to the W.A.C. Bennett Dam. Because we had plenty of time, we went in and bought tickets for the underground tour.

Our friend was blown away by the sights and sounds under the dam and no matter how many times I go, I am always awed as well.

From Hudson's Hope, we drove to Chetwynd. I love Chetwynd, it's home to dozens of chainsaw carvings. They are huge and spread out all over town. It's amazing that a chainsaw can do such delicate work. We walked along the main drag and took a close look at the carvings there.

From Chetwynd, it's an hour to get home again. One of my favorite parts of this jaunt is the railway bridge over the East Pine River. Some brave soul spray painted "Dread Pirate Roberts" on one of the concrete pillar supports. Much speculation was involved in figuring out how it was accomplished and who did it. Does anyone want to fess up to the deed?

Mystery on the East Pine River

Rocking at the SweetWater905 Music & Arts Festival

Just outside of Dawson Creek in the hamlet of Rolla, a yearly Music & Arts Festival is held each September. The talented artists come from all over western Canada to participate in this jewel of an event.

I've gone every year as an enthusiastic supporter and am continually amazed at how far people travel to enjoy this festival. A field of campers and tents attest to the numbers and dedication.

The festival is held on a private working farm and the artistry of the owners is apparent with each building and garden. All the stalls in the farm's two barns have been turned into individualart galleries, there are films offered in Albert's Loft, the small performing art center above the main barn, butter churning and ice-cream making in the yard and stock dog demonstration and pony rides for the kids.

I also took a tour of the farm on a wagon pulled by a beautiful team of Fjord horses as an extra treat.

On Friday night, after a short but intense storm, we were rewarded with the most spectacular triple rainbows I have ever seen. We gathered around bonfires well into the night visiting, listening and dancing to great music.

Sitting on a bench near a flower garden, I especially enjoyed the Saturday morning offerings in the main yard. A group of women poets who have recently published a book graced an enthusiastic audience with selected readings.

If you are looking for something extra-ordinary, this 3-day event is not to be missed!

Rocking at the SweetWater905 Music & Arts Festival

Black Bear In Back Yard... again

We had an unexpected visitor one Saturday afternoon a while back.

A young black bear sauntered into the yard without a care in the world. We think it was a young male looking for food.

He walked as thought he owned the place, sniffing various things in the yard. Thankfully everyone happened to be in the house at the time, even the dogs were inside.

Crowded around the kitchen window, we watched as Mr. Bear made his way across the lawn on his way to the forest nearby. He must have liked our yard because he stopped to eat some grass and decided to lie down for a couple of minutes in the same spot we had just walked through minutes earlier. He was probably making his way to the wilderness on the banks of the Kiskatenaw River a few miles away.

Closeness to wildlife was one of the reasons we chose a country lifestyle here in the Peace River Country. This is the fourth bear in our yard in the years we have lived here.

Black Bear In Back Yard... again