|
Alaska - 2007
|
|
Back to Index | Next Stage | Prior Stage
Eighth Stage: Day 30 - Day 31 - Day 32 - Day 33 - Day 34
Day 30 - July 26: Hyder, AK - Smithers, BC
Today's Mileage: 244 Total Mileage: 7,713 Start: 8 am Stop: 4:30 pm Weather: Some clouds, lots of sun - low 70's
Via: BC-37A to the Cassiar Highway
Cassiar Highway (BC-37) to Yellowhead Highway
Yellowhead Highway (BC-16) to SmithersHotel: Capri Motor Inn - not a bad place, especially for the price
Breakfast: At Hotel Lunch: Chinese Dinner: Taco Bell/Dairy Queen Comments: Started this morning by going through Canadian Customs/Immigration at Stewart. This time they did look at our passports and after some routine questions we were on our way, and we saw two bears along the way.
We continued to be driving along the snow-covered peaks, and even here in Smithers they aren't far away.
In New Hazelton we visited the 'Ksan Historical Indian Village & Museum, a replica Gitksan Indian village. No pictures were allowed in any of the buildings.
This area is also known as the Totem Pole Capital of the World, although we found the display to be not so impressive.
Last night we didn't have Internet, but tonight we have it again.
The Mets lost today and we were able to listen on XM.
Tomorrow we end up in Prince George, after we visit a sawmill in the morning. But first the van is going to get washed. I think for a while we are done with dirt roads - hopefully.
Click to see a larger Picture
Hyder - Smithers Bear Seven Sisters - - - Capri Motor Inn - - -
- - - - 'Ksan Historical Indian Village & Museum - - - - Top | Back to Index | Next Stage | Prior Stage
Day 31 - July 27: Smithers, BC - Prince George, BC
Today's Mileage: 245 Total Mileage: 7,958 Start: 8 am Stop: 5:30 pm Weather: Mostly cloudy, some sun in the afternoon, short rain showers - low 70's
Via: Yellowhead Highway (BC-16) to Prince George
Hotel: Esters Inn - nice suite; indoor pool and waterslide
Breakfast: Tim Hortons Lunch: A&W Dinner: Boston's Pizza Comments: We had breakfast at Tim Hortons - there was one close to the Capri Inn. After that Arnie & I washed the van - but it got dirty again today with the rain.
We had an appointment to see the sawmill at 11, so we still had some time so we went shopping. Smithers is a nice little town and in the downtown area many buildings look like in the Alps. At least the front of the building.
Then it was time for the sawmill. This was something that Arnie wanted to do very much. I made the arrangements and was very happy that everything went well. I can't imagine what kind of trouble I would have been in had it not worked out :-).
By the time the tour was over it was lunch time, so we ate in Smithers. Then on the Prince George.
We won't get a chance to see much of Prince George, tomorrow we are off to Jasper where we will stay 3 nights, the last time we will spend more than one night in a town on this trip.
The Mets lost today. We listened on XM in the van and finished on the computer once were in the hotel.
$Click to see a larger Picture
Smithers -
Prince GeorgeBreakfast Smithers Dinner - - - - Ester's Inn - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sawmill Tour - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Top | Back to Index | Next Stage | Prior Stage
Day 32 - July 28: Prince George, BC - Jasper, AB
Today's Mileage: 242 Total Mileage: 8,200 Start: 8 am Stop: 5 pm Weather: Nice day; sunny in the mid 70's
Via: BC - Yellowhead Highway (BC-16) to Alberta
AB - Yellowhead Highway (AB-16) to JasperHotel: Juniper House - private house, very nice accommodations; 3 nights
Breakfast: At Hotel Lunch/Dinner: At Tramway Comments: Our goal today was Jasper and there wasn't much in between, except some fantastic mountains - the Canadian Rockies.
After about two hours we came to McBride, BC where the Visitor Information Center was in the railroad station, and the trains still stop there! They also had a gift shop and a small cafe - nice place.
There was very little traffic - reminded me of the Alaska Highway. We did see our first police car on the road - he had stopped a speeder in a 70 km zone. Up till then we had not seen police on the road since we left the US at the end of June. We have been very careful with our speed - the last thing we need is a ticket in a foreign country or Alaska.
Since we got to Jasper too early to check-in we decided to take in one of the most popular attractions - a ride on the Jasper Tramway, Canada's highest guided aerial tramway, to The Whistlers.
This was a multi-purpose ride - there is a restaurant on the top which was our lunch/dinner stop. McBride was too early for lunch, then we lost an hour once we crossed into Alberta (just before Jasper),and there was a wait at the tramway - so it was 3 pm before we ate.
Since the weather was great, not only did we get a good look at the mountains, we could also get our first look at Jasper - which is a town of about 5,000 residents.
By the time we got off the mountain it was time to check in to our accommodations - which are in a private house in the middle of town. Jennifer & Brent Park only have two rooms for rent, so we got our own private space: 2 bedrooms and a kitchen/sitting area. Very nice!
We took a walk into town where we had some ice cream for 'desert'. It's a neat town - many of the buildings have an alpine look to them. Lots of tourist in town - so it looks like other people have heard of Jasper :-).
We will be here for three nights - our last multiple night stay of this trip.
The Mets won and lost today. They played two games - the first one we listened to on XM in the car, the second game we caught some of it on the Internet.
Click to see a larger Picture
Prince George -
JasperMcBride Rockies - - - "Our House" - - - Jasper
Railroad Station
- - - - - - - - At the Tram - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Going Up - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - Jasper - - - - - - - - - Rockies Tram Top | Back to Index | Next Stage | Prior Stage
Day 33 - July 29: Jasper, AB
Today's Mileage: 72 Total Mileage: 8,272 Start: 11:30 am Stop: 4:30 pm Weather: Mostly sunny, mid 70's - another nice day
Hotel: Juniper House (second night)
Breakfast: At Juniper House Lunch: In Town Dinner: At Juniper House Comments: Easy day today - sort of. Rose & Arnie went to church in the morning. After that we went into town and picked up tickets for the Lake Maligne boat ride tomorrow at 2 pm. Had lunch in a cafe in town.
Our next objective was to conquer Mount Edith Cavell - well, the van had to conquer it - almost 7miles of a winding, narrow mountain road. But it was worth it for the views.
Next an easier target - the Athabasca Falls, about 14 miles from Jasper. After that we needed some refreshments which the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge was only happy to supply.
Tomorrow laundry, Lake Maligne and whatever else we may think of.
Click to see a larger Picture
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mount Edith Cavell - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - Athabasca Falls - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - - - - Top | Back to Index | Next Stage | Prior Stage
Day 34 - July 30: Jasper, AB
Today's Mileage: 67 Total Mileage: 8,341 Start: 8:30 am Stop: 6:30 pm Weather: Mostly sunny, some clouds, high 60's - in other words another nice day
Hotel: Juniper House (third night)
Breakfast: At Juniper House Lunch: A&W Dinner: Utopia Comments: Rose & Jeanne were off to do the laundry today - they have a real nice laundromat downtown. While this was going on Arnie & I did some chores (bakery, fruit stand) and then we checked out more of downtown.
After the laundry was safely home, it was time for one last shopping opportunity in Jasper and then lunch. We were due for our cruise on Maligne Lake at 2 so we were on our way.
The cruise is one of the premier attractions in Jasper. The lake is about 30 miles from town. The scenery was great on the lake. We had a brief stop on Spirit Island (which is not an island, but who cares?)
Our last stop for the day was Maligne Canyon. Arnie did the canyon, the rest of us went to the gift shop/restaurant. We discovered a $1 million dollar jade bear in the gift shop. Nobody bought while we were there, so it's probably still available. I was told they have had it for at least 25 years.
On the way back to Jasper we found an female elk which was grazing along the road.
The Mets were off today.
Tomorrow we are on our way to Calgary.
Click to see a larger Picture
Laundry Day - - Downtown Jasper - - - - At the Train Station - -
- - - - - - - Getting ready to Cruise - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - The Canadian Rockies from the Cruise - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - Spirit Island - - - - - - -
Jeanne &
BearMillion Dollar
Bear"Elk" Top | Back to Index | Next Stage | Prior Stage
