May 26-29 Chilliwack and Princeton, BC
Thursday morning. Time to head to the BC Ferry terminal in Nanaimo. We're heading to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver. We usually take the Duke Point to Tsawwassen ferry and skirt around the traffic of metro Vancouver, but we wanted to see what the Vancouver skyline looks like these days.
After the ferry, driving east along the Upper Levels highway, we didn't see a thing of the skyline - all the roadside trees have grown, considerably!
It's the visible end of the Smelter Lake Tailings Storage Facility. Talk about a blot on the landscape!
A short while later we arrived at the Princeton Golf Club's RV park. We're here for 2 nights.
You're right if you think that the RV park looks suspiciously like a gravel parking lot. It was. But for a short stay it was fine.
That evening, I checked out the "Things to do in Princeton". There were a few of interest.
The next morning, under cloudy but warm skies, we drove out to the airport. The airport, you ask?
Well, the airport has a T-33 jet fighter mounted as a weathervane - how neat is that?!
On the way down you see this "dam" in the distance.
Are you ready?? 8% down grade followed by 7% for 6 kms.
Here's some interesting rock structure on the downhill side of Sunday Summit
Here we are approaching Sunday Summit (1,282m / 4,206'), the second highest pass between Hope and Princeton.
Highway 3 is really in rough shape. BC DOT is replacing one bridge; mehopes they work on improving the road surface too.
Saturday evening, Sonya cooked a lovely dinner for the group.
Sunday mid-day we said our thank you's and good byes and hit the road. We're booked into the rv park at the Princeton Golf Club for two nights.
We drove into Hope and topped up the gas.
Heading east from Hope on Hwy 3 we began the climb to the Hope Slide.
Continuing through Manning Park and over the Allison Pass (1,342m / 4,403'), there is still some snow hiding in the trees.
We arrived in Chilliwack late afternoon at our friends, Barry & Sonya. They sold their motorhome a couple of months ago, so we parked beside the garage and had full hookups. Thanks guys!
Friday morning we drove out to the Cultus Lake Golf Club to meet up with our old Maple Ridge neighbours, Anne & Wally. Wally was a professional "house" painter - he worked on many of my home improvement clients' painting jobs. Anne is an artist and is extremely talented. It was just like old times; we simply picked up from where we left off after our last visit 3 years ago! Here's Wally & Anne.
Saturday, while we attended a Celebration of Life, Barry drove into the city to pick up an old work colleague, Ted. Jen worked with Barry & Ted at Vancouver Community College years ago.
And just beyond the last statue, along Hwy 3, is this group of riders (not bronze statues).
At the other end of town, the other arch. This one has bears!
Also in front of the Museum but not really a bronze sculpture
In front of the Princeton Museum
In front of the library, where else?!
It is well balanced because there was little wind, but we did see it rotate slightly. I'd love to be there on a windier day!
At night, the cockpit solar panels light up its landing lights at night.
Back in the van, we drove into downtown Princeton.
Ever wonder what it would be like to have a jet fighter fly overhead and make you duck?? Well, here ya go!
Princeton has installed bronze statues and is now the "Bronze Sculpture Capital of Canada". We just had to do the walking tour of the sculptures. Did you notice the Elk in the picture above?
Look at the "defences" the town has put in place along the river bank to eliminate the threat of future floods. In 2021, just a few yards east, this was the scene. And now it looks like this.
We hopped into Alfie and drove across the bridge to view the last bronze sculpture, a nesting eagle.
We've stopped at Thomasina's during previous visits. The sun was shining so we sat outside and enjoyed our coffee and chocolate croissants. YUM!
On our way back, heading for coffee, we stopped to look at the Princeton town hall.
