October 31, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
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We stopped into the historic cemetery in Tomslake, 20 minutes south of Dawson Creek on the day before Halloween.
This beautiful place is more than just a cemetery. It contains the cultural identity of the small Sudetan German Community whose members immigrated here in 1939 to escape persecution and death in Hitler's Germany.
A museum has been built to house the many artifacts donated by the community to tell the story of the journey to a new life of freedom in a new land.
The original Roman Catholic Church is now part of the museum. We stood on a stool and peeked in the windows. Nothing fancy, just hand built pews and some old pictures on the wall. Plastic flowers in a vase on the alter.
There is an impressive commemorative monument to the immigrants and their new home in Canada. It is quite emotional to read what the community went through for freedom. They came on transport ships and each ship and the date it sailed from Liverpool is listed along with the list of family members on the roster.
The cemetery itself is beautifully maintained with a simple rural backdrop. Entering through the iron gates was like entering a history book. The names on the granite headstones are mostly German and date back to the early 40's. I was struck by the short lives of many of the people laying to rest there.
Peaceful.
October 13, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
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When we need to take a break from the daily routines we head down to the ClayHurst crossing over the Peace River 45 minutes north of town on the Rolla Highway and enjoy the fresh air that sweeps down with the water through the valley.
The Peace River is an interesting body of water. Up river is the W.A.C Bennett Dam and all the water that flows is first collected in Williston Lake and then goes through the turbines of the dam to generate hydro before being returned to the river.
The week this photo was taken, the river was low. The bottom of the boat ramp was 30 feet or so above the water. The river seemed calm and steady. We watched several river boats come and go.
We took our folding chairs, a small picnic and relaxed while afternoon turned to evening, listening to the sounds of the water and the almost eerie cries of a couple of hawks hunting on the far banks.
The following week, BC Hydro released more water and the boat ramp that had been so high on the beach was completely submerged under water. What a difference! There is a completely different energy. What had seemed like an almost lazy river had become a fast torrent that had risen way up under the bridge. The water was full of logs and debris as it rushed along.
October 10, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
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This is the most beautiful time of the year to live in or visit the Peace River Country.
The leaves are all shades of red, orange and yellow. The wheat has been harvested and big golden bales of straw sit glistening in the sun.
The Canada Geese are gathering by the thousands in the fields to fatten up on the grains left by the machinery. It's quite a sight to see a few thousand geese converge on a field on the way to work.
Huge flocks fly overhead and if they are low enough you can hear the honking and sometimes hear the sound of their wings swooshing the air.
We just had a beautiful full harvest moon and fall equinox within days of each other. The air is cooling, the sky is clear, the stars are out. It doesn't get any better than this.