#188 July 2018 Prince George - Fruitful Tastings

The last post took us as far west as possible this trip. I posted about the communities along Highway 16 from east to west, not in the order we explored them. Now we will start from Prince George and travel north for a while.

Mr. PG welcomes everyone to Prince George.

Northern Lights Estate Winery, established in 2015, is known as British Columbia’s most northern winery. Yes, it is too far north to grow grapes but there are many other fruits and berries that make great wine.

The winery tour was very comprehensive. From the patio the view of the Nechako River is outstanding and features apple, pear and cherry trees.

Across the road a profusion of rhubarb, blackberries, hascaps and more thrive in the garden.

Fruit wines are typically made from frozen, whole fruit, which allows the fruit to break down faster and create a stronger product. Altogether they produce delicious varieties of wine.

The bistro patio is a beautiful setting for lunch with old and new friends. We enjoyed a lovely lunch with a Prince George resident who took the winery tour as part of a staycation.

Cottonwood Island Park meanders along the Nechako River. 

Tree Bark Carvings encourage visitors to look in all directions for new delights.

The Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum is a treasure trove of artifacts from two major industries that played a crucial role in shaping Prince George.

The miniature railway, complete with an engineer and commentary, journeys around the outdoor displays.

Penny Station was carefully moved over 120 km to the Museum. It crossed the Fraser River twice, first over an ice bridge and then over a conventional bridge.

The interior has been restored to its original state including the station masters office and living quarters in the back.

In 1913 the Nechacko Coach was built as a touring car. It later became a business car then converted to an entertainment executive car specifically for Expo 86.

This turntable was originally installed in Prince George in 1913 and moved to the museum in 1990. It is not only a valuable exhibit, but it also helps move rolling stock around the museum site.

After the miniature train traveled through the beehive burner we learned why they are no longer used to burn excess sawdust and wood chips from sawmills. The wood waste is now used as a component in various products such as pellet fuel, particleboard and mulch.

This pine cone collector is a mystery question for visitors. It was suspended from a helicopter above a standing tree. When lowered over the tree and pulled back up it harvested pine cones to use in replanting the forest.

Who recognizes these telephone styles?

Prince George is home to one of three drive-in movie theatres in BC. In early July the sun doesn’t set until after 10:00 so we didn’t wait up for a late movie.

With the unpredictability of resource industries Prince George has turned to wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and other long term prospects to keep its 74,000 residents employed and in town.

#187 June 2018 Haida Gwaii Part 2 The People and the Islands

Our visit to Haida Gwaii was off to a spectacular start with the totem pole raising. That was a highlight but there is so much more to see and experience.

In 1787 the archipelago was named the Queen Charlotte Islands after the ship of a fur trader. In 2010 the Haida Nation returned that name to the Crown. The name was written on a piece of paper, placed in a traditional bentwood box and handed to the BC Premier. Acceptance of the box was part of a provincial bill enshrining a commitment to Reconciliation Protocol.

The ancient name Haida Gwaii translates into “Islands of the People”. The significance of the name is summed up as follows “Haida Gwaii is not only where we are, this is who we are”.

The Haida Heritage Centre is designed to resemble the traditional oceanside village that once stood in its place. Six totem poles in front of longhouses represent the villages that once stood in the area.

Totem poles usually face away from the longhouse to protect the inhabitants.

They also face the water when possible.

When Bill Reid discovered his Haida heritage he wholeheartedly embraced the culture and became one of its best known carvers. In order to preserve his totem pole it was moved to the Haida Centre.

Haida Canoes display the incredible talent of the carvers and artists.

There are totem poles and Haida art throughout the Islands as the people uphold their culture and heritage.

Peter and Christine, our Bed and Breakfast hosts, gave us a tour of the North Coast and taught us how to look for agates on the beach. 

This is one of Christine’s prize agates.

Black tail deer are plentiful and the sandhill cranes can be very noisy.

The Golden Spruce Trail leads to the remains of a unique spruce tree that was tragically cut down, apparently by a disgruntled logger.

The trail through the rain forest is beautiful and has signs informing visitors about the connection between nature and the Haida people.

There are some ancient trees that defy description.

Gray Bay on Moresby Island is isolated and peaceful. A great spot for a picnic.

Returning on the ferry to Prince Rupert we realized that large vehicles back onto the ferry and tuck in tight together. We were in the same “view” spot but lost the view of the car deck.

 Outside the view was lovely.

Visiting Haida Gwaii was a unique experience. We gained insight into the Haida culture and people and the beautiful islands they call home.