BC Bound 2004

Of course, what trip westward would be complete without a stop at the Terry Fox Memorial just outside Thunder Bay? We also got a chance to pass by the old haunted house I used to live in when I worked for CJLB. Funny - it did not show up on film!

The perennial question - how long does it take to get out of Ontario?

Now THIS is real prairie country! 120 km/h and the miles fly by. Has anyone seen a Corner Gas?

Ahhh, finally the mountains! They really ARE that big! Robert's comment - "With these mountains as a backdrop, even the ghettos look good!"

Fourth night out and it was a lodge in Golden BC. Not luxury, but the view was fantastic. Three channels of TV. Robert is in withdrawl.

Now this is even better than a video game! Take my picture again and I'll jump!

Now I KNEW I had some real estate out here somewhere!

I did it My Way!

This is Fred, affectionately known as Fwed. He and his wife Joan were our gracious hosts in West Vancounver. An old friend, it has been several years since I have seen Fwed, so it was nice to catch up.

Robert really liked Fwed and Joan. Robert, the aspiring actor renewed his friendship with Fwed, who is a movie producer. The fact that Sarah McLaughlin lives half a block away was pretty cool for him too!

In the morning it was off to the Vancouver Aquarium and boy, this fellow won't be making it on Canadian Idol!

These whales put on quite a show for us. We also got a chance to tour by my old Vancouver apartment (circa 1972) but the neighbourhood has changed.

Then it was the ferry across to Vancouver Island. I wanted to rent a spot - not buy the boat!

Robert and his Godfather, Bruce. Who is going to take care of whom? Robert loved Victoria, and Bruce may get to perform his godfatherly duties yet!

Yes, we are into the brewskies at a small hotel in Victoria that used to be hangout for all the media types. They all left when Bruce joined Ocean radio!

The real entertainment in downtown Victoria is on the streets. These musicians drew a large audience with a lively performance.

Yes, Bruce actually does have friends, and they dropped over for a drink one night during our four night stay. No mosquitoes make the evenings perfect.

Off to Naniamo, up the Island, to visit Tamara and her hubby. She is an interesting lady and I had to meet her after all Bruce has told me.

Yes, the obligatory vist to the Buchart Gardens. This picture, one of about 50 or 60 I took, says it all. BEAUTIFUL....even for a man with a brown thumb.

All too soon it was on the road again. I HAD to try the old Power Line Road which had defeated me in the past when it was a logging road. Now paved, it traverses some of the most remote mountain areas along the coast. Not for the weak-kneed, even since the upgrades.

Meeting at the junction at Mackenzie, two ham radio operators discuss the road ahead and tell war stories of the Pine Pass and the Alaska Highway.

Deep in the Pine Pass, Robert takes a last look at the mountains before heading east.

The CJDC radio and TV studios in Dawson Creek looked lonely on a weekend. I used to work out of this building several lifetimes ago, just half a block from the Alaska Highway Mile 0. To be honest I was very disappointed in how "the Creek" seemed to have gone downhill. It just seemed really shabby.

Almost forgot this shot of Robert and the orca in Victoria. No doubt he was wishing he were back there as we pulled out of Dawson Creek. The place was so run down we decided to stay in Grande Prairie that night, rather than visit my old haunts in Dawson Creek.

The West Edmonton Mall revived our spirits and we stayed an extra night in the city so we could explore properly. Then it was a long haul drive all the way back to Thunder Bay!

While at the mall, I had to take Robert on his first visit to Hooters! It was the wings that drew us there - honest!

We actually did see some wildife along the way, fortunately none at night on the road!

That could be awhile - back to work to pay for this trip!