The yellow highlighter shows the circular route of our 12-day trip. In addition to five days of boats and ferries (12 sailings in all, ranging in length from 15 minutes to 16 hours), we drove over 2,000 miles.
Les had great fun with our new, improved GPS with embedded maps. And this was Gnomie's first big trip.
The first day we went by car and ferry to Gold River. The little boat there kept very busy.
Our first view of the Uchuck III the next day
The crew kept stuffing cargo into the hold. A lot of it was fish food for the fish farms.
The scenery on the way to Zeballos was gorgeous.
We made 8 stops along the way at logging camps and fish farms like this one (Atlantic salmon).
Unloading a clothes dryer at a logging camp
The white building on the left was our hotel in Zeballos.
The gold mining pan shows the roots of Zeballos.
Back on the Uchuck III for the return trip
We all celebrated Betty and Harry's 60th anniversary.
Everyone drank a toast.
Our next boat trip on the Queen of the North, two days later, was longer -- 16 hours up the Inside Passage from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert.
The lighthouse keepers at remote Boat Bluff lighthouse waved to the ferry passengers.
We stopped at Bella Bella to let off some kayakers and their boats.
Our next ferry, from Prince Rupert to the Queen Charlotte Islands, had an even better cabin -- with a porthole!
The Queen of Prince Rupert arrived at Skidegate after 7 hours.
We stayed in Queen Charlotte City three nights.
This fire engine is at Skidegate, the First Nation reserve near Queen Charlotte City.
We drove all the paved roads, and some unpaved, on Graham Island. This is North Beach, at the end of the road. On a clear day you can see Prince of Wales Island in Alaska.
Arlyn followed these tracks through the sand until they were covered by the incoming tide. Anyone know what creature it is?
Tow Hill consists of basalt columns.
Is Arlyn this strong? No, it's just Balance Rock.
Definitely the most colorful storefront in Queen Charlotte City
On Moresby Island, we again drove all the paved roads, and some unpaved ones. This road at Gray Bay had a cathedral effect.
Gray Bay was lovely.
Les had to try the camera's self-timer.
A lovely short hike led to this gazebo at Onward Point.
Back on the Queen of Prince Rupert, in the cafeteria.
On all the long ferry rides we played lots of Quiddler. Gnomie was helping us out here.
Gnomie at the Prince Rupert waterfront -- he sure is photogenic.
From Prince Rupert to Prince George, the scenery was spectacular.
This is K'san, a restored First Nation village in Hazelton.
The scenery changed, but was still lovely.
St. Lukes On The Lake near Burns Lake.
Les' favorite place in Prince George was the Railway & Forestry Museum.
We always like to check out splash parks. This one is in Prince George.
It seems every city in British Columbia has one. This one is in Quesnel.
Canda is not as paranoid as the US about liability issues. Here we were free to inspect any part of this huge Pacific Log Homes construction facility.
Arlyn was tickled by these cows in the woods.
We took a steep and twisty gravel road over the mountains to Lillooet. This train passing by was an added attraction.
We followed the Fraser River canyon.
We ended our Canada route at Harrison Hot Springs.
