Victoria to Prince Rupert

The ferry ride to from Victoria to Horseshoe Bay in Vancouver was calm and the weather was clear.  Navigating on and off the ferry was easy and we were quickly back on the road again heading for the ferry in Prince Rupert.

The road to Prince Rupert is called the Sea to Sky Highway and it is a former logging road with spectacular scenery.  It is a winding road that goes up and over the Coast Mountains with long steep grades (14%+) and hairpin turns.  It is not a relaxing drive, but one we will always remember.  Were were constantly stopping to take pictures.  It is definitely a road to drive slowly on and enjoy the vistas. If you ever have the chance this is a must drive, one of the best we have ever done.

   

On the way to Prince Rupert we passed through Whistler which was a charming town and  we biked to the area where the former Olympics were held  and were awed by the steep downhill ski runs.  We also passed through Prince George which is British Columbia's  4th largest city and was great place to do our shopping before we begin our trek on the Inside Passage. We explored Fort George Park and Cottonwood Island Park and walked along the Fraser River. The 2015 Canada Winter Games are scheduled to held in Prince George and northern British Columbia.

   

When we originally planned the trip we did not realize that the Provincial Parks in Canada did not open until later in May.  Consequently, we have been staying in private campgrounds which have just been ok. This has been a little disappointing because the provincial parks are so beautiful. We were also teased by numerous signs that indicated we would see moose, elk and deer along the way, but never saw any wildlife.  Apparently wildlife are a big problem on the roads during the winter when the animals come to lick the salt off the road.

The rest of the pictures are here.

We are  camping the next several days in Kinnikinnick Campground in Port Edward which is located 6 miles before you get to Prince Rupert.  Our campsite  is jungle-like with so much vegetation.  It has been interesting to learn about the area by touring the North Pacific Cannery, the Museum of Northern British Columbia and the Port Interpretative Center.  We are easily entertained by looking for eagles in the area and have spotted about a dozen.

Saturday we catch the ferry to Ketchikan and will finally begin our journey through Alaska!