My Electronic Scrapbook: Driving Through British Columbia

One thing you need to know about my story that I may not have shared until now is, I had never actually been to British Columbia before. What I knew of it was photos and stories from people who had made it to this fabled green province. My husband had been there once for a work trip and said the second he walked off the plane he smelled cedar trees. He fell in love immediately.

I did not know what to expect exactly at all. Rain, OK, rain, I knew there would be lots of rain and there was. But watching the clouds get caught in the mountains and live there indefinitely? No, I wasn't expecting that. I also wasn't used to all the signs along the highway with so many warnings stacked on top of each other I could not possibly read them all. The wild horned sheep at the side of the road, the baby bear trying to climb up the side of the cliff, the sudden drops along the highway that appeared to go on infinitely... It was overwhelming.


What was even more amazing was seeing where the trains go when they travel west, their journey must be unimaginably adventurous and special, areas only accessible by train track. But gone were the levelled roads of Alberta. We were in British Columbia now and the ups and downs were constant and my eyes could no longer look through a camera. I had to be a second set of eyes on the road to keep us safe and alive. We had no idea how long these climbs upwards and then sprees downward were going to last. It seemed endless. Just when you think you made it out, another mountain range would begin. My brain could still not process the vastness of what we were adventuring through.

It seemed infinite but, as unnerved by the roads as I was in our questionable Uhaul, I was in love. Never had I seen so much green. Even the water that was filled with glacial runoff was a bright green! I totally understood the farther we trekked into this impossible wilderness why people felt healing energy here.



We eventually had to make a decision. This drive had been pretty easy so far when it came to navigation. We had taken the Trans Canada Highway the entire way but at this point we had to decide whether or not to go into Golden or take a toll highway which would be easier terrain but we would miss the beautiful landscape. Being cheap and always preferring the scenic route, we went through Golden. Oh I had no idea what we were in for! At first it was fantastic. We were in Golden at golden hour and the mountain range was covered with sage brush that looked like it was going to burst into flames at any second.

Then, it dawned on us. It was going to be dark soon. We had no idea if there was a motel nearby. Reg drove along the winding scary roads as the sunlight started to disappear. Then, for the first time, I was scared. Big truck lights would suddenly blind us around an impossible turn in the dark. We did not know these roads. They were completely unpredictable and treacherous. Then, we found our refuge along the side of the highway.



The Quarter Circle J Motel in Spences Bridge saved us. My poor husband's nerves were a tad frazzled and in this country and western themed mirage we fell asleep for the night, exhausted but happy to be off the road.



Notice how the motel is right up against the mountain? We did not know it at the time we parked our Uhaul but we were sleeping at the bottom of a bowl of mountains.

After that stressful night, I was done sightseeing. I wanted to get to Vancouver right away. So we got up early and had an uneventful drive all the way to North Vancouver. We "dropped anchor" at Park Royal shopping mall. We were exhausted. We went into the mall to get some lunch and were shocked. This place was so rich! I mean, RICH. This was ten years ago and every kid was on their cell phone (unheard of at the time) and I freaked. We're not rich. What are we doing here? OMG, did we make a mistake???

We had more important things to do than me have a panic attack. We had to figure out what to do next. We did not have a forwarding address when we left. And, we were behind schedule. We were getting low on money and had no place to stay.

So what did we do? We camped under the Lions Gate Bridge. Yup, that's right. Sounds rough and tough but this place had a whirlpool and heated recreation room which was great but we needed a home. Now! We had been in contact with Vicki at Accommodation Solution Services before we left, wanting her help to find a place to live but with an unreliable cell phone in a camp ground, that just did not work.



We got a motel in North Vancouver at a spot where they used to film episodes of the X-Files. There was a Denny's and an Earl's Restaurant within walking distance.



Here is Reg filming the mountains of North Vancouver before we settle in to yet another motel. It was after October fourth and every apartment was full. We were going to need Vicki's help.