Additional Photos

A 4 Sugar Bike Ride

We had breakfast at 8:00. A plate of waffles with bananas and blueberry's served with a pot of whipped cream on the side which we did not eat. We drove into town and hired 3 mountain bikes from McBike and Sport. The staff were very friendly and the bikes were excellent value at $33.80 per bike  for the day. Louise rejected the saddle and opted for a more padded saddle at $30 which she had to buy. Our pedals were fitted for no charge. My bike was brand new and was taken from the row of bikes that were for sale outside the shop.. It even had the price tag still on it. The shop suggested a route that they described as mainly flat. It did not fit Louise's definition of a ride without hills. We followed the 16 out of town and turned off on Tallow Road towards Telkwa. HB The road started as paved up after a couple of miles changed to gravel. The road started by following the course of the river but had a few unexpected hills. Just outside Telkwa we had to cross the Telkwa River. The crossing turned out to be a footpath on the side of the railway line.

We the crossed the Bulkley river by the road bridge to enter town and located the bakery that had been recommended to us by the bike shop.. The Telkwa Baeckerei Kaffeehaus had a fine selection of bread and cakes and we plan to stop again in the car tomorrow to buy provisions for lunch. Lyn and I ordered a small pizza and sandwich to share. This was a mistake as the sandwich was huge and would have fed both of us. Half was packed up for later. After lunch we called in the local museum next door. Admission was by donation with the entrance fee going towards supporting the museum and church opposite. They had a varied collection of artifacts including a a machine for reeling up fire hoses to allow them to dry and horse snow shoes. We even had a tour of the church opposite after Louise asked if we could see it. We were too full for an ice cream so continued for a couple of miles down the 16 and turned off on Tyhee Lake Road. The road climbed around the lake and when we had got past the trees had splendid views of the lake and glacier and mountains. We returned via Babine Lake Road to the 16. Louise spotted a bus on the main road but it was going in the wrong direction. Fortunately the 3 miles to the outskirts of Smithers were mostly down hill. We arrived back at the bike shop just before 5:00. Louise handed her bike in and we went for a drink and well deserved frozen fruit yogurt at a nearby cafe. The round trip was about 23 miles. No wonder Louise needed a 4 sugar cup of tea to recover.

Whilst Louise wrote postcards Lyn and I cycled the perimeter trail around the town. The trail was marked but did have the occasional missing sign and a section that was closed. We returned to the car at around 6:45 and after a long struggle to get one of my pedals off we decided to eat in the Aspen River House for a second night. Returning to the B+B after our meal for tea and cake.

Prince Rupert to Smithers

We eat at the Cow Bay Cafe. The "concern" that the chefs parking space
was vacant was unfounded and I can recommend The Cow Bay Cafe with its West Coast Italian menu . The ladies decided against a starter. I order the brodchetta with feta and basil. Simple and tasty and went it came it was shared. For the main Louise had the rack of Lamb and Lyn and I Bison  coco  braised ribs. For desert Lyn and I shared a chocolate ganache cheese cake and Louise had a Blueberry ice cream.

We returned to the B+B and played cards.

We were the only guests staying and joined Hans and ffgg for breakfast at 8:30. Most of their guests only stay for one night. They are full again tonight when next ferry arrives from Port Hardy bring their next arrival of guests The B +B is excellent and deserves it 9.5 rating on booking.com. Guests wanting to stay need to be quick as they are planning on retiring at the end of the season having ran  the B+B for over 20 years.

Breakfast was fresh strawberries followed by slices of apple and cheese layered on muffin topped with honey and nuts and then grilled. The was followed by cold meats, cheese with homemade bread and slices of the bread.
The car was packed and after a brief division for food and souvenirs we were heading on the 16 following the Skeena river to Terrace 160 km away. The road followed the river and railway line and the  scenery was spectacular.
Lunch was taken with a view overlooking the river. After Terrace the road widened and although we we still following the river the views we not as as good. A petrol station and diner provided a suitable rest stop although the ladies preferred the long drop toilets in the rest areas. We diverted off the 16 to visit Hazelton and the Ksan historical village. We arrived too late for a guided tour but made a voluntary donation to visit the site. This was a little disappointing as the houses we locked and there was no information boards outside. When we entered Hazelton we had to cross the Hadwilget canyon.

One of the highest suspension bridges in North America. We parked near the bridge and walked across the narrow walkway. The view thought the metal grating roadway gave a good view of the canyon below and the bridge swayed as cars passed. Kate could not locate the B+B and the GPS coordinates that were on booking. com were wrong. Fortunately I had printed off s map. In the end this was not required as the B(B was clearly signposted from the road. We earvin Smithers a 15 minute drive away. Rack of Lamb for Louise and Salmon again for Lyn and Robert.

Prince Rupert and North Pacific Cannery

Prince Rupert

Breakfast was at 8:30. We sat with our hosts Irmgard and Hans and two German ladies who had arrived the previous evenning. We were presented with a piece of a freshly cooked tortilla one of Hans specialities and homemade bread. This was followed by slices of cold ham, salami and cheese and homemade jam. The Weetabix count remained unchanged. The German ladies we moving on to Stewart but we are staying for a second night. It was a short drive into town and after a stop at the post office and camera shop we paid our $6 and entered the museum of Northern British Columbia. The displays explained the history of the region from 6000 BC to the present day. Lunch was taken at Cowpuccino's on Cow Bay. We made a good choice it's an excellent cafe which we found later had been mentioned in our lonely planet guide. After lunch we drove the 20 km to North Pacific Cannery. It was used from 1889 until 1968. At its right it employed over 1200 people and was one of over 200 canneries that were active along British Columbia's coast line. The tour was very informative and one of our guides was a first nation Canadian who's Grandparents had worked in one of the building on the site. She now lives in more of the houses on the site and we even had a brief visit to her front room!
We just had time to visit the Ice House galley back at Cow Bay before return to the B+B for a cup of tea. 

Northern Expedition

The alarm went off at 5:00 am. We were checked out and in the car by 5:15. It was a 10 minute drive to the port where we joined the short queue of cars waiting to embark. It was 7:00am before we finally drove onto the ferry. We booked a cabin for the journey so we could shower and leave our bags. The ferry is very quiet with lots of space. A marked contrast to our usual trip across the Channel. By 9:00 am we had breakfast and showered. Robert had eaten his second Beeny in two days and Louise's Weetabix collection had been reduced by two. The ladies even had time to do the essential job of paintings their nails whilst I admired the view from the deck. There was a slight swell as we crossed Queen Charlotte Sound but this subsided as soon as we entered the inside passage. Time soon passed as we admired the stunning scenery as the ship wound it's way through the inside passage. By lunch time we had reached Bella Bella where those going onto Bella Coola disembarked. The further we went the better the scenery got. A call from the bridge that whales were spotted on the starboard bow set us reaching for cameras and binoculars. The first sighting swam by the boat unseen but it was second time lucky on the second call.
Diner was taken in the restaurant. It was a buffet service, the food was excellent and the staff very friendly. The meal was well worth the $30 and this included all soft drinks and tea and coffee. The highlight was when humpback whales were spotted of the port side of the ship We sat watching spouts of water and breaching whales whilst we enjoyed the food. At one point a pod of around 5 were swimming in a line up the channel. The ferry docked around 11:10 pm and shortly later we were driving off. The B+B was only a 5 minute drive from the port. They are used to late arrivals. We arrived along with a German couple and were shown to our very large bedrooms.

Spot the Whale!