A Nostalgic Journey North

September 7, 2010

As soon as we depart Prince George I start seeing landscapes that bring back fond memories.
Ahead, it seemed in the middle of the highway stood two tall dark blue silos. Of course they were part of a familiar farm setting that is close to the Salmon River. We saw a black sow bear and two yearlings in the hay field. The highway was straight, both sides cordoned with aspen and dark blue rolling mountains were the backdrop.
Hints of yellow in the deciduous trees hint that falls is coming soon.
Names that we haven't thought of in a long time are before us again.
Bear Lake flashes by, now with no trees on either side of the highway because it has been completely logged, obviously due to beetle kill.
Crooked River next, where we had often seen white swans, but not ever at this time of year.
McLeod Lake, calm and reflecting a summer sky.
We enjoy the northern forest with its own beauty. Thick glades of jackpine and every free foot between filled with fir and aspen pushing their way upward to reach for sunshine.
The town of McLeod Lake seems unchanged or a little more drab.
We see signposts for Carp Lake, Tudyah Lake, only names to us because we have never (in 30 years of driving that highway often)taken the time to check them out.
Whisky Point, a large log building, housing a cafe we often stopped at.
Then it was on to the Parsnip River bridge at the bottom of a long hill, up the other side and on northward although many large signs invited us to visit Mackenzie.
The dead jackpine throughout here is ugly, the green profusion of aspen keeps it from looking like a war torn landscape.
Immediately ahead I see the Rockies, their bald heads above a forest of many rich green hues.
The Misenchenko River flows quietly along the east side of the highway.
We pass Honeymoon Creek, no clue where that name came from.
Oops, the right turn corner across the railroad tracks always comes up quickly.
We see Bijoux Falls but it is hardly visible from the tree lined highway. Always a stop with the kids and always a site of beauty, even in the dead of winter.
The miles roll gently by as we listen to Brad Prevadora on a cd.
There are at least 17 rolling mountain peaks that are a backdrop to Azuetta Lake.
Hello Powder King, won't ever be on your slopes again!!
High in the pass we see that the trees are definitely turning yellow, and red, but often a great slash of rust/brown reminds us that the beetle kill is continuing.
We have gone through a lot of construction areas on this trip but none of it has held us up unduely. There is a $40 million project in the Pine Pass. Shannon's waterloo corner will no longer be an issue.
We are reminded of Hart Lake, then the Pine River Bridge and the embankment where we picked fossils many times.
Silversands looks a little more bedraggled. Mt. Lemoray is closed.
We cross those little creeks that will all join the Pine River which joins the Peace River which joins the Mackenzie River which empties into the Arctic Ocean...
Creeks names like - Cairns, Lillico, Martin,Big boulder pass by.
We see our fiddlehead patch under the tall Cottonwoods and pines. That was a May 24th outing to get us fiddlehead for our freezer. Too bad we didn't enjoy them more!
More creeks; Trocher, Crassier, Willow, and then we're at our Willow Flats farmstead. The owner has built a large hayshed on the front piece of land, trees have grown up all around the house so between both it is impossible to see where we lived.
There are horses on Nelson's property now, gone are the Herfords.
The sloping hillsides along the highway were a favourite of mine, and now we see Hassler Flats.
Roller's old farm looks well tended. The rest of that area couldn't be seen for the growth of the poplars.
We glimpse at Eldens log house, now almost hidden by poplars too.
Family Names come to mind that we haven't thought of in a decade - Proctors, Gerstels, Wild Mary, Bozarths, Macauleys, Kiles, Schreibers, Cloarics....
Chetwynd is a nice little town. The trees down the boulevard are mature! Houses and Businesses are making an effort to look good.
East Pine seems virtually the same. Small farms, and groves of trees.
The remaining trip to FSJ was very enjoyable. Not as many yellow leaves, I guess because we're out of the mountains.
We notice about 20 windmills along a hillside near Dawson Creek. Will have to investigate that. The rolling fields have been harvested and they look lovely in a patchwork quilt kind of way.
So we have arrived at our most northerly habitation. Nothing calls us back but I do admit that the beauty of summer and fall in this country can match what anywhere has to offers.
I hope you'll be able to make a trip this way one September (maybe in two years when the road construction is completed).