August 27, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Terrace, Historic & Heritage Sites
Find more information about Terrace - Historic & Heritage Sites
View a larger image on flickr.com
My name is Herb. H. A. Vore, actually. I work as a Motivational Therapist and I am approaching retirement. I decided to write my Bucket List and one of my top dreams to achieve was traveling through Northern BC and beyond. With list in hand I approached my mother (and my boss, too). She said: "Let's do it!". I was thrilled. I asked her if my English nanny Susan could come too and she said: "Yes". So we packed up the Ford Focus station wagon with all my stuff and off we went. We took the BC Ferries from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo and headed up Island. I wanted to stop and check out the local grass along the way, but we booted up to Port Hardy and stayed overnight in the Youth Hostel. It was full of young folk (we 3 are over 60 yrs) but it was an inexpensive and great place for the night. The next morning at 5:30 a.m. we boarded the ferry to Prince Rupert. I achieved my first check-off on my list. Standing on the railing as the beautiful Inside Passage sparkled in the sun, I yelled out: "King of the World!". Mom and Susan enjoyed a wonderful buffet dinner on board and we arrived in Prince Rupert at 11 pm and had a lovely sleep at the Crest Hotel. Next morning, bright and early we headed for Terrace, then turned left, and drove up the Cassiar Highway. We side tripped to Hyder, Alaska to look for grizzly bears then up to Watson Lake. There were many motorcycles outside our hotel and all of the riders were our age! Too cool! From Watson we drove on to Whitehorse. We camped at Robert Service Campground and I checked off more items off my list: sleeping in my own tent, cooking smores over a campfire, log pole climbing and meeting new friends. We visited the local animal shelter where Susan walked dogs and Mom, as usual, schmoozed with the towns folk. On we went to Dawson City, Yukon. What a brilliant area, full of history and charm. Everywhere we went we saw flowers! We stayed at the wonderful Whitehouse Cabins, right on the river! I scurried into my suitcase and brought out appropriate clothing to match the wonderful ideas I had written on my Bucket List. I golfed at Top of the World Golf Course, I panned for gold in the mighty Yukon River, I fished and caught my first Arctic Char, I sampled the greenery at Dome Mountain and climbed the weather torn beams of an old paddle wheeler. I sat in silence at the RNWMP graveyard and I snuggled with Diamond Tooth Gertie and her cancan dancers. Then, one morning, Mom surprised me and said: "Let's go! We can do this!" and off we set in the Ford to challenge the Dempster Highway! We passed Tombstone Park and were the only vehicle on the hard packed gravel road. Miles in front of us and miles behind, we were alone. I helped drive. It was the most beautiful spot on Earth. We saw Cariboo, Elk, Arctic Fox and Ptarmigan. We had lunch at Eagle Plains (pop:8) and 40 minutes later arrived at the Arctic Circle. I tastily sampled the tundra and contemplated buying land and building a log home there. I checked my hugest goal off my list. I think I am the first Guinea Pig to arrive at the Arctic Circle! The scenery was awesome. I made friends there, too. I will never forget it. I am inspired. Next year, I am hoping to be off with Mom and Susan to Churchill, Manitoba to see the polar bears! Respectful and thankfully submitted by: Herb A Vore.