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.