Getting Closer

We knew we were getting closer to our final destination when we saw this sign:

 E's favourite sign:
 

Hell's Gate

On the recommendation of a good friend, we stopped at Hell's Gate Airtram in Fraser Canyon.  Hell's Gate was first written about by the explorer Simon Fraser.  In his journal  he describes this narrow passage as an "awesome gorge" where the towering rock walls of the Fraser River plunge toward each other forcing the waters through a passage only 110 feet wide (35 m).  When the Canadian National Railway was forging through the Rockies and Fraser Canyon, one of the blasts caused a rock slide which partially blocked the Fraser River at Hell's Gate.  This caused a dramatic drop in the salmon run and since that time the Hell's Gate Fishways were built to help the salmon navigate this section of the river.

There is also plenty history, legends, folklore and mystery written about the Hell's Gate area to make your visit all the more interesting.

The Fraser River

In the picture below you can see a portion of the fish gateway built on the side river bank  to help the salmon navigate the river.

 The Airtram and suspension bridge across the Fraser River

I have no idea how the salmon are able to swim up stream against these raging waters, even with the assistance of the fishways, it still seems like an impossible journey with whirlpools and currents everywhere.

Northward Bound

After a fun day at the Vancouver aquarium, we started out on the road again, heading north through BC.

Just a few sites as we started to get into the mountains.

 

Vancouver Aquarium

While in Vancouver we decided to take a day to spend at the aquarium.  It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day in Vancouver, and BC day to boot so the aquarium was packed, but still had a great time even with the crowds.   Who knew that BC Day, which is the first Monday in August was such a big holiday.  In Ontario it is called the Civic holiday and it is not a statutory holiday at all, so in general it is business as usual, but not so in BC it is one of the biggest holidays of the year!


The Beluga whales were so much fun to watch swimming and playing.  There were 4 of them together which was a nice treat you often only see one or two together at a time in a tank.

Waving at the people in the underground observation area.

 

Back in Canada! Yeah!!!

We had a great trip through the States and thoroughly enjoyed everything that we experienced along the way, but there is something wonderful and comforting about returning to your home country.

Mount Baker, Washington as seen from the Trans Canada highway in British Columbia.

Washington

From Oregon it was time to start heading north to Canada.

Just a few pictures from Washington.

Mount Baker, Washington.