What's Up?!: Traveling North I: Vancouver - Prince George

here we go - already 10 days traveling and I still haven't posted anything. Internet connections do exist, but there is just so much more to do and in Skagway (where I've stayed the past couple of days) there is only one wireless around, which is really slow... I try to keep you posted more frequently even if it's only with pictures.

So far: absolutely wonderful trip! I am so happy and thrilled!

Sa May 7^th & Su May 8^th, 2011 – VANCOUVER to PRINE RUPERT

After a wonderful farewell night-out with friends in Vancouver I caught the bus Saturday morning leaving for Prince George. It wasn’t very hard leaving the city since it was raining very badly. A 13 hours trip was ahead of me, which was interrupted by several longer stops along the road. One of the first stops was in Lytton, which is one of the hottest places in BC. The landscape was accordingly shaped – looked like a vast moonscape.

Lytton, BC

Cache Creek, BC

We stopped over an hour in Cache Creek, waiting for the bus coming up from the Okanagan Valley. Finally after a 13 hours bus drive we arrived in Prince George where it was still light.

The next morning I was woken up by sunlight and full with energy. I had some time before my next bus left, so I walked up a little hill in Prince George and enjoyed the sunshine. When I got to the bus stop a wonderful surprise expected me: my former roommate was sitting there, waiting for the bus taking her to her summer job (treeplanting). We had a great time and were both so glad that we’d met again! How random! :)

And back on the bus – heading towards Prince Rupert. Huge forests provide excellent conditions for the local logging industry in that area. On our way we saw some wildlife including a moose and its young crossing the street! Besides that, I saw a bear, deer, rabbit, raccoon… . The further west we got the more snow-capped mountains surrounded the highway, which hit its peak on the last 100 miles where the highway follows the Skeega River through a beautiful valley. In Prince Rupert I was warmly welcomed in the hostel and invited to the bonfire & barbeque. At night we went for a little stroll down to Cow Bay where we saw a seal catching salmon in the harbor.

Mo May 9^th, 2011

After a good night’s sleep and breakfast chat I went out to explore the town. I saw four young bald eagles really close sitting on the ground. Observing these huge, impressive birds – wonderful! I made my way walking along hiking trails, through an industrial area and finally along the highway to get to another hiking trail going to the Butze Rapids. The Butze Rapids are waterfalls which change their directions accordingly to the tide. Kayakers surf in these up to 5 meters waves ;). It was a wonderful hike continuing along the coast. Peaceful nature. On my way back it started raining, so I spent the afternoon with two other people from the hostel strolling through the little town. In the evening two kayakers arrived, having kayaked all the way from Washington (USA) up to Prince Rupert. So they had some stories to tell ;).