We left Williams Lake in good time after a good night's rest. The weather is overcast, what else is new and the temperature about 9 deg C.We were driving down the Cariboo Highway, or Hwy 97, which is a pretty good 2 lane highway. We're still on the Interior Plateau and the scenery is mostly pastoral. By that I mean that there are endless farms along the highway interspersed with some trees. Again, the farms are almost all pasture land with some livestock here and there. Not too interesting to a non-farmer like me. We did see a deer along the road. It was so close that if Annie had opened the side window, she could have almost touched it. It just stood there watching the traffic go by. A little further I saw a bald eagle sitting on top of a tall pole, quite a sight. We also had another encounter with a small grizzly bear. I had to brake sharply to stop in time. It just dashed across the road right in front of us.
By about 9 am, the sun came out a bit, hooray.. When we came to the town of Clinton, we started to get off the Interior Plateau. Until then, we were at an altitude somew
here between 800 and 900m. Now we were descending quite a bit down to an altitude of 200 to 300m. The terrain also changed from the pasture land to rough desert like mountains. Very little grows here, a bit of scraggly grass and lots of sage. The trees here are sparse and the pine trees are infected with the dreaded mountain pine beetle. It's not a pretty sight but unfortunately it's wide-spread in BC. We've seen the devastation in lots of areas.
here between 800 and 900m. Now we were descending quite a bit down to an altitude of 200 to 300m. The terrain also changed from the pasture land to rough desert like mountains. Very little grows here, a bit of scraggly grass and lots of sage. The trees here are sparse and the pine trees are infected with the dreaded mountain pine beetle. It's not a pretty sight but unfortunately it's wide-spread in BC. We've seen the devastation in lots of areas.Shortly after passing through Cache Creek, we turned onto highway 1 which then descends into the Thompson River canyon. At this point we had to endure the first wait of the day for road construction. We were allowed to continue after waiting about 10 minutes. The road gang was hanging enormous steel netting on a sheer rock face about 200ft high. They do this to prevent loose rocks from bouncing off the vehicles below on the road. The crane they used had to straddle 
the road, thus the need for us to wait until they were done. We were to encounter numerous delay this day because of road construction.
the road, thus the need for us to wait until they were done. We were to encounter numerous delay this day because of road construction.When we got to the town of Lytton, the Fraser River and the Thompson River merged. The Fraser from there on wends itself through the Fraser Canyon. Both the Thompson and the Fraser Canyon are spectacular. As dry and desert like that the Thompson Canyon is, the Fraser Canyon is lush, coastal rain forest like. The canyon is now so narrow that the highway at times has to go through tunnels in the canyon walls. The Fraser Canyon's role in the province's history and identity is actually unrivalled by any other route. Originally perceived as a major obstacle to travel between the coast
and the interior, the canyon over time became the principal route for commercial and passenger traffic. Originally dangerous in the extreme, travel through the canyon was always a formidable prospect, although today's vastly-improved modern highway does not hint at the once terrifying and difficult road that clung to the canyon's walls as if by sheer nerve. The narrowest point is the Hell's Gate. These are un-navigable rapids in the Fraser River that prevented the stern wheelers from travelling from the mouth of the Fraser to Prince George. The river is about 1000m (3300ft) down from the canyon top. The Fraser River Canyon if one of the most spectacular sights we've seen on this trip. If you ever visit BC, this is a "must see" area in my humble opinion.
and the interior, the canyon over time became the principal route for commercial and passenger traffic. Originally dangerous in the extreme, travel through the canyon was always a formidable prospect, although today's vastly-improved modern highway does not hint at the once terrifying and difficult road that clung to the canyon's walls as if by sheer nerve. The narrowest point is the Hell's Gate. These are un-navigable rapids in the Fraser River that prevented the stern wheelers from travelling from the mouth of the Fraser to Prince George. The river is about 1000m (3300ft) down from the canyon top. The Fraser River Canyon if one of the most spectacular sights we've seen on this trip. If you ever visit BC, this is a "must see" area in my humble opinion.
This whole area was developed because gold was found in the Barkerville area near Quesnel. If you are interested in this fascinating history here's a good introduction to read: Cariboo Trail.
When we came to Hope, we were out of the canyon and highway 1 turns into a fast 4 lane limited access highway. We made good time to reach Annie's sister's place where we were welcomed like long lost family. We had a great time together, especially when our nieces Irene and Miriam with their husbands joined us for a
delicious Chinese supper. We had to play cards of course after supper and had a good time of fun, laughing and sharing together. Note that we had only seen Corrie and her daughters in April when they were in Ontario to visit us.
delicious Chinese supper. We had to play cards of course after supper and had a good time of fun, laughing and sharing together. Note that we had only seen Corrie and her daughters in April when they were in Ontario to visit us. Forward one day...
Today, we said goodbye to Corrie and Keith and then went a little further down Highway 1 to visit our good friends Ron and Tina. Again, we had a great time wit
h them as well and did lunch. We were staying at their home just a year ago but it seemed more like last week. After saying goodbye to them we travelled a relatively short distance to Everett, Washington. Here we had some trouble finding our way to our hotel. The interchange has many roads going everywhere but we eventually sorted things out and we got here in due time.
h them as well and did lunch. We were staying at their home just a year ago but it seemed more like last week. After saying goodbye to them we travelled a relatively short distance to Everett, Washington. Here we had some trouble finding our way to our hotel. The interchange has many roads going everywhere but we eventually sorted things out and we got here in due time.
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