Crossing BC – Day One

I tried to navigate my way out of Vancouver by paper map and mind instead of Google GPS.
Wrong idea. I did get the opportunity to drive over several of the bridges that I had previously seen only from the bus or on the bike path. Highway 1 is the only transcontinental highway that goes entirely across Canada West to East. It starts at the bay in Victoria, goes Up Island, and then transfers to a ferry line! You pick it up again in Vancouver and can drive all the way to the east coast.
Although it is only two-lane in many areas, I still wanted to take some less-direct routes – even though all routes in British Columbia are rather meandering along rivers, through valleys, and over mountain passes. I decided to follow the Fraser River.

I headed for Mission to stop by the visitor center and see what they might suggest for visiting the area.
She misunderstood when I said I had a week to get to Calgary and thought I wanted to spend a week in Mission. Once she understood, she narrowed down the best of the best to these three:

1. Fraser Valley Historical Park

Flowers in the Foundation

This site housed a Native Residential School from the late 1880s until the 1960s. It has finally dawned on me why I haven’t see as many historic buildings as I do in other parts of the US. They were all built of wood! For example, Denver had no trees suitable for building structures. As soon as possible, brickworks were founded. Here, they definitely have plenty of trees. But after a couple of decades of neglect, wooden structures must be razed; there isn’t even a pile of bricks, just the stone foundations.

Photo Shot in the Old Mission Foundation

No Visitors to This Cemetery

In the early part of this century, developers wanted to build modern housing on this site. I don’t recall who owned the land at this time – it might have still been the Order of Immaculate Mary or another religious group. As in cities and towns across the continent, a group of local citizens felt the historic value of this area should be maintained. They raised the money to turn it into this delightful park with placards describing the original structures and experiences.

Little Shrine on the Hilltop

I could see this restored shrine on the hill, but didn’t understand until now that I could walk the path up to visit. I thought it was part of what I would see when I moved on to number 2.

2. Westminster Abbey

A Few Beautiful Flowers

I am not sure why the Benedictines chose this spot in 1954 for an abbey. Originally, I thought it was a continuation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate who had the Native Residential School, but I don’t see any proof of that.

Church Steeple

Church Was Locked

Apparently, the church has some beautiful artwork and interior splendor. It was locked, so I have to accept the word of the brochure.
They did provide a nice half mile path around the hill where you had a splendid view of the Fraser Valley.

A Walking Path

View of the Fraser Valley

For 10,000 years the First Nations of, I think, the Sto:lo lived in this area. Then Mr. Fraser paddled up this river and realized the value of the timber.

Site of the Fraser Gold Rush

Holy Smokes! There was also some gold. Europeans and Chinese came up from San Francisco; this was closer than going all the way to Alaska. They panned on the sandbars evident in the photo.
Soon the gold petered out and the timber was cleared. The land was prime for agricultural settlers. The great fertile plains continue throughout the valley today with crops of corn and produce.

3. Stave River Power Plant

What An Experience

Get Ready for the Experience

The most interesting thing I learned on this excursion was why it was called Stave River. I had been wondering about that when I saw it on the map and signage. Along this river grew the type of pine trees the Hudson Bay Company used to make the staves for shipping barrels. Crews worked cutting the trees and floating them down the river to the mills where the planks were cut and eventually made into staves.

A Two Hour Tour Was Too Much for Me

I have often said I wanted to return in another life as a civil engineer. After visiting the power plant, I thought perhaps I was wrong. Although an 8 year-old-boy and his grandparents were fascinated by everything on the tour and discussed at great length the generators and all the whirlygigs for getting the water forced through to make electricity, my interest waned shortly after the review of how the special train and crane enabled the construction.
I enjoyed the photos of the town life that was generated around the 24-hour manned plant and the marketing required to generate enthusiasm for the use of electricity more than I did the actual generation of electricity!
My knees were aching so bad that I couldn’t even generate enough enthusiasm to take a nature walk along the former railroad track.
I have had enough touring for one day, so I headed to find a place to camp for the night.
I think I am beginning to get the history of these First Nations and settlers down pat. Wonder what else I will find across British Columbia. I headed towards the famous Harrison Hot Springs. So did everyone else.

No Room at Harrison Hot Springs Campground

I found a resting place in Hope.

I'll Stay Here in Hope