Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Ride with me: Chetwynd to Edmonton

I left off my journey in Dawson Creek where we were able to find a room at the George Dawson Inn for the evening. In the morning we had to make the hour drive back to Chetwynd for the funeral. There wasn't much time to take photos and the ones I got in drive by shooting are not so great but I think they will give you an idea of the place.

This photo is taken as you enter Chetwynd from the north.
One of the first buildings you come to as you enter town is the white building. It is the Legion Hall and is where many of the wakes for funerals takes place.

Chetwynd is a small town of a few thousand people but it has all the basic services, including a swimming pool. It is always busy work wise but the town itself never grows very large.

One of the old hotels in town has been demolished (right of photo).  It looks like there may have been a fire involved.

This is a slightly better view.  note the wood carving in the foreground. These wood carvings are all over town. Someone or several someones spent a lot of time carving these pieces.

This is a newer and quite large hotel called the Pomeroy. There is another new and large hotel on the hill coming into town from the north.  These two big hotels were not here the last time I visited.  Though I see they are now in every town in the north.  I couldn't get a room though. Everything was fully booked!

After we leave Chetwynd, we will be heading back through Dawson Creek and Grande Prairie, already posted about elsewhere. We are heading south to the City of Edmonton.

Look up on the mountain! Can you see all those wind turbines? I was very surprised.  I counted  27 of them on the mountain but my research told me that are 34 windmill towers with a capacity to produce 102 megawatts, or enough electricity for 38,000. The wind farm has been in place for about two years and is located on Bear Mountain near Dawson Creek.  The project was started by a company based in Calgary, Alberta.

This post officially commemorates "Mile 0" of the Alaska Highway. Many people stop here to take their photos before heading north on the highway.
 
I managed to snap this photo of an old heritage building as we zoomed through the town.  I can't remember now if it was the town of Beaverlodge or Hythe in northern Alberta.
This dock and waterview is in the provincial park at Sturgeon Lake, Alberta.
Many years ago this lake was filled with sturgeon fish but there aren't any more unless they are hiding down in the deep recesses of this glacial lake.  Other fish are there for the fishermen to catch.
Now it is off to Edmonton.  We have a few hours drive ahead but some beautiful scenery and a fantastic sunset to keep us entertained.  We also stopped off in Grande Prairie for a meal and bit of shopping.
 
 
You will see these oil rigs all over the north country.

 
 
We finally pull into the City of Edmonton around 11:30 p.m. or midnight. It has been a long day but we stop at McDonalds to use the wi-fi and check out hotel prices.  We decide on the Ramada Inn and it turns out to be a wonderful place with comfortable beds, a mini bar/fridge, coffee, etc.  Price is $109.00 Canadian dollars plus tax.


I'm always happy for a comfortable bed when I'm tired.

So glad you stopped by and joined me for the tour. Come again soon as we make our way to Calgary and back through beautiful British Columbia.

7 comments:

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

Wonderful wonderful photos, thank you for sharing this journey, I really felt like I was there.. Do they have the signs on the road, "Are we there yet?" love those..and that kids for you. Myself, I like to look,as there is so much to see. Glad they still have those timber cabins and what a sunset!!!. Love Crystal xx

Joyful said...

CM, I'm so glad you enjoyed the journey. There was certainly lots to see! I hope your knee is healing well. It seems I also have knee problems but of a different sort. I pray a healing touch for both of us. Love, Joyful

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your amazing journey!

affectioknit said...

I'm loving your trips...the terrain is certainly similar to ND...

Have a great day!

Carver said...

Great shots from the road. It looks like I beautiful part of the world to drive through.

OneStonedCrow said...

Thanks for the continuing tour Penny - I think I'd be terrified though ... you guys drive on the wrong side of the road ...

just kidding :)

I'd like to see more of those wood carvings in Chetwynd ... and the heritage building, I'm curious to see how it's built ...

Fred Alton said...

Fantastic! Talk about the wide open spaces, you're driving in them in this blog. I love the great outdoors wherever it is.

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