Four years ago, I left home in Halifax for a week to visit my brother in Fort St. John, British Columbia. My sister-in-law took me around town, and on a tour of the area all the way to Grande Prairie, Alberta. I was in awe: so much beauty, and so different from what I was used to.
Dawson Creek, British Columbia's claim to fame is in being "Mile 0" on the Alaska Highway. Though I'd seen it before, I almost drove over this sign in the middle of the intersection in order to get a better photo than last time.
It was that trip that solidified my plan to move to the west.
This August I returned to the area, camera in hand. The trip brought me through a few of the old places, and some new, and all in a brand new light.
First, not even out of Alberta yet, is this train trestle. Since my first trip to camp coming up on 2 years ago, I've been wanting pictures of this thing.
Done.
Dawson Creek, British Columbia's claim to fame is in being "Mile 0" on the Alaska Highway. Though I'd seen it before, I almost drove over this sign in the middle of the intersection in order to get a better photo than last time.
And I certainly wasn't the only one stopped to take photos of this...
And this guy across the street.
A drive around the outskirts of town? Those SKIES!
I've woken up in worse places before...
...with less friendly neighbours!
"STOP THE CAR!" moment in Hudson's Hope
and a "Hey, what's down here?" moment at Dinosaur Lake.
This bridge I've seen before: Peace Bridge at the Peace Canyon Dam.
No stopping on the bridge for photos, but you can slow wa-a-a-a-a-ay the heck do-o-o-o-o-wn...
Another "What's down here?" drive found us this...
...and it turns out there is a whole town of them!
From speaking with the locals, I gather that there was a man whose passion was chainsaw carvings. When he passed, his children accepted that there was no way they'd be able to sell all that he'd done, so they donated them to the town. From this, sprang an annual chainsaw carving competition. All photos are in black and white because you need to focus on the detail... and remember, they're all done with chainsaws.
Welcome to Chetwynd, British Columbia.
CHAINSAWS!
This terrifying fellow...
...up close.
and one with the colour version because he was my cohort's favourite.
But the weekend wasn't over yet.
Fishin' mission, and this guy was definitely not a carving:
Fortunately, we must've just missed him because despite the fresh track, he was nowhere to be seen.
And stop#2 where I did catch a fish, but the lucky thing squirmed off my line about two inches from shore and swam away.
I swear, he was THIS BIG!
The more I visit British Columbia, the more I fawn over the entire west coast, and I've still got so much more exploring to do! Looking forward to seeing more of this stunning province again, and even more of it for the first time!
