British Columbia

     For many years we have talked about traveling around British Columbia Canada. So this was the year.

    With no direct flights to Vancouver we planned to fly on a 7am flight to Dallas/Ft. Worth(DFW) to connect to a flight to Vancouver(YVR) getting in around noon Vancouver time. The first flight from Pittsburgh(PIT) was delayed which would make us miss the connection in DFW. Not to worry there is another flight from DFW to YVR at 7:30pm which we could take provided they can get the first plane fixed. But there was another option. Our gate agent was very helpful getting us switched to a flight to CLT (that's Charlotte) where we had to wait till 7pm for a flight to YVR getting in around 10pm Vancouver time. Luckily out bags made it, our car was ready and the motel held our room, so after a long day of airports and airplanes, we made it to Aldergrove BC.

Day 2

Drove through Abbotsford, Chilliwack and stopped at  Bridal Falls.

Than on to Hope BC at the confluence of the Fraser and Coquihalla rivers.

Up Fraser River from Hope

Down Fraser River from Hope

Silverhope Creek

Day 3

Drove up Hwy 5, The Coquihalla Highway, made famous by the Discovery and Weather Channel show Highway Thru Hell about tow truck operators that keep the highway open in the winter. We had a nice day for the drive but, I must admit, this would be a different road with snow and ice. Here is a video, it's a little long and doesn't do justice to the scenery.

Stopped in Merritt BC

Also drove past the Reliable Towing yard.

Since it was still morning we drove on to Kamloops. The elevation of Kamloops is a little higher than near Hope, the surrounding mountains are not as high and have much less vegetation. Here are a few pictures.

Day 4

Left Kamloops on Hwy 1, the Trans-Canada Highway towards the Fraser Canyon. Stopped at Kamloops Lake.

150 or so years ago, the only way to travel western Canada was by river or lake.

Then on to Cache Creek. Guess we will miss Classic Car Weekend.

The Trans-Canada Highway crosses the Thompson River at Spences Bridge.

This is where Thomas Spence built the first bridge over the river.

The Shetland Creek wildfire, although mostly contained, was still burning west of  the ridge along the river. We did see a helicopter with a bucket flying nearby.

Lytton BC is were the Thompson river flows into the Fraser river. 

The town was mostly destroyed by a wildfire in 2021. It is still fenced off and the rebuilding process is going slowly.

You can still see evidence of the fire on the hillside above the town.

Continuing on Hwy 1 down the Fraser river through the Fraser Canyon.

The deepest and narrowest part of the Fraser Canyon is at Hell's Gate. 

They have an cablecar you can ride to the bottom for a closer look.

Down the Fraser River

Up the Fraser River

Part of the reason the river is so narrow was caused by landslides during construction of the rail road and road into the side of the canyon above. The Concrete structures are fishways that had to be built to help salmon get up river through the swift current.

Alexandra Bridge is the site of the original Cariboo Wagon Road bridge over the Fraser River.

Up the Fraser River

Down the Fraser River and new Hwy 1 bridge

Day 5

    Spent mostly around Maple Ridge BC. Did drive by Mission Towing.

    

Day 6

    Using Maple Ridge as base, we explored Vancouver. Instead of spending the money to walk over the Capilano Suspension Bridge, we went to Lynn Canyon Park used a smaller suspension bridge to explore Lynn Canyon.

Walked back over the canyon on the Twin Falls Bridge.

And had to walk up about 200 stairs to get back to the parking area and car.

Day 7

Traveled through downtown Vancouver to Stanley Park.

Lion's Gate Bridge from Prospect Point

 

                                                        Ferguson Point

Day 8

Visited Deas Island Regional Park. First settled by John Sullivan Deas who built and ran a salmon cannery.

Vancouver from Deas Island

    The Fraser river splits around Lulu island, apparently named after a Hawaiian or Kanaka showgirl. Today it is home to the towns of Richmond and Steveston. It is also home to the Gary Point Park with a nice view of the Strait of Georgia and Vancouver Island. We had a nice lunch and saw the Stevenston Fisherman's Memorial. 

Which commemorates Fishermen working out of Stevenston.

With the rental car running out of gas, it was time to head back to the airport for a flight, again through CLT, back to Pittsburgh. It was an overnight flight so we got to Pittsburgh the next day, but otherwise mostly uneventful.

U.S. Route 19

For may years I have lived in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. A major artery through the area is US Route 19. One day in Erie, PA we found ourselves at the corner of 26th St. and Peach St., the apparent beginning of Rt 19.

So we started driving south.

First stop, Waterford, PA. home of Ft LeBoeuf and a statue of George Washington, apparently wearing a British uniform.

He was carrying a letter from the Governor of Va. to tell the French at the fort they were on British territory.

We know how that turned out for him at Jumonville Glen and Ft Necessity.



















Other sights along the way, Allegheny Observatory in Riverview Park.

Rt 19 passes through Pittsburgh on the West End Bridge (foreground)

On our way through Washington PA, county seat of Washington County

Rt 19 doesn't actually go past the courthouse. It does pass by Washington & Jefferson Collage. 

It also passes Waynesburg Collage.

Stopped in Jane Lew for lunch at Lightburns Family Diner. The owners are distant relatives of Gen Lightburn of Civil war fame (actually he is not very well known).

Also passes Hawks Nest Workers Memorial and Grave Site.

Road signs along the way.

Stopped at the Falls Mill overlook in (you guessed it) Falls Mill WV.

There is a nice scenic overlook on the left side of the road

Rt. 19 travels over the New River bridge in WVa. When completed in Oct. 1977 it reduced a nerve racking 40 minute drive down narrow mountain roads to a minute. You can still take the old route and bridge but we didn't have time. It takes longer to drive to Beckley on 19 than I-79.

The bridge goes over the New River gorge. If you zoom into the picture you can see rafts floating down the river.

Stopped in Tazewill VA for lunch at the Front Porch restaurant. It was very good and one of the few places we actually found using GPS. Also saw this monument. Yikes! Not many of these left.

Near Bluff City TN Rt 19 splits into a west route and east route. We took 19E through Elizabethton TN. which looked a little more scenic. 19W mostly is on the interstate but there is one section that is up and down twisty turny. So just outside of Burnsville NC we turned back north on 19W. Here is the Google map.

Than back south in I-26 until it rejoins 19 around Mars Hill NC. And on into Ashville NC. Since we had a little extra time we also took a side trip to Mt Mitchell, highest point in NC and east of the Mississippi. 

We had been here some years ago (on the high point tour). Here is a photo of the old tower.

It was redesigned with a handicap ramp but the walk up from the parking lot is still quite steep.

From Mt Mitchell, on a clear day, you can see Clingmans Dome, highest point in TN. It was a clear day but they don't call them the Smokey's for nothing. I believe Clingmans Dome is at the top of this picture.

Then on to Blairsville GA. 

From there 19 goes through the Chattahoochee Nat'l Forest. It is scenic but slow going. Didn't manage to get any good pictures. It is also close to Brasstown Bald, the highest point in GA. I couldn't work out how to be there on a day they were open,  maybe next trip. On to Atlanta.

First stop the Atlanta History Center. As you might guess, it has a heavy Civil War theme. Here are a few pictures.

As part of  its railroads and Atlanta exhibit they have on display "The Texas" of the Great Locomotive Chase fame. 

They have moved the Battle of Atlanta Civil War Cyclorama here. It made an impression when I saw it years ago as a child. It has been completely restored and is quite spectacular. They claim it is 49ft tall and as long as a football field. The pictures don't do it justice. 

The Atlanta History Center is also home of the Goizueta Gardens.

And Swan House.

While in Atlanta we also visited Stone Mountain.

I believe these were vulture's buzzing the mountain.

People have been walking up the mountain for a long time. You can still take the mile long walk to the top (we took the cable car). It looks like it gets quite steep towards the top.

And, of course, Stone Mountain is home to the famous (or infamous) "carving"

Stone Mountain also has a Historic Square with a collection of buildings from GA Antebellum past. Here are a few examples.

Allen House

This would have been the home of a plantation overseer. 

Davis House

This would have been the Manor house on the plantation.

Powell Academy Schoolhouse

On our way through GA we stopped at the National Prisoner of War Museum. 

It is located at the site of the Civil War Andersonville Prison. 

And the still active Andersonville National Cemetery.

Took a short side trip to Plains GA. Boyhood (and current) home of Jimmy Carter.

The old Plains High School is now the Jimmy Carter Center.

Than on into Florida. That's the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay in the distance.

This would be looking west towards the Gulf of Mexico and Mullet Key in the distance.

Rt 19 travels over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Here is a piece of video.

After the bridge Route 19 ends in Memphis FL and becomes Route 41 into Bradenton. There is no good place to safely pull off and take a "selfie". Here is a short video of the sign.

You can stop at the sign at the north end of Route 19 in Erie, PA. Here is a picture.