Late in the day from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Ken stops for a short break towards the end of a cold, wet and miserable day. Still following the Skeena river, as he’s done for over a hundred miles.
Late in the day from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Ken stops for a short break towards the end of a cold, wet and miserable day. Still following the Skeena river, as he’s done for over a hundred miles.
The Skeena river wasn’t one to disappoint. For, continuing my journey along its banks inland beyond the town of Terrace towards the small settlement of Kitwanga, it was truly the river of mists. Cold, wet and miserable day.
Just a decent, nourishing packed lunch and a flask of hot coffee to keep morale up. Both carefully eked out to sustain myself over the six five miles or so along the highway.
There’d been interludes. A few walkers on the far bank. Wondering how they had crossed, for I’d not seen a bridge for ages. A train. Much shorter than the earlier ones. A large bird on the far bank. A bald eagle perhaps. But otherwise, pushing along the highway, trying my best to settle into a rhythm as the traffic flew past, fine spray coating my glasses.
Whilst my general direct was east towards the large regional centre of Prince George, I’d mountains to negotiate, necessitating a day running north east, before heading south east for a few days.
Big bird from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Is it a plane, is it a bird, or, more to the point, is a bald eagle? Or has Ken been drinking out of the wrong bottle? Again? You be the judge. Answers on an e-mail, or drop him a postcard if you can find an address…
I’d followed the Skeena – River of Mists – east from Prince Rupert on the coast, inland to the small town of Terrace. An old trading route discovered long ago by the indigenous – First Nation – people, it cut a straightforward, mostly flat, path through the Coast Mountains towards British Columbia’s Interior Plateau. Today a well made highway and a railway line. Goods trains.
An inspired choice of route. But accidental at that. For it was the only one, save for the ferry south once more from Prince Rupert towards Vancouver close to the US border. I’d been suggested I’d be best heading for Vancouver Island. Better scenery I was told. Maybe, but then I’d end up riding precious little in British Columbia. And I’d not felt comfortable about that.
The river, or the valley at least, had lived up to its name. Frequent rains, rarely heavy, but the air always seeming moist. Not cold, except during the occasional downpour, but little sun until close on the outskirts of Terrace. But none of this really mattered, for the scenery had been quite breathtaking. Wide, gently flowing river. Steep wooded mountainsides. Towering cliffs. Wisps of fine cloud.
Stumped from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
No bears at Ken’s brief lunch stop along the Skeena river in Canadian British Columbia. Just wasps…
If you go down to the woods… from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Ken stops for a short lunch break along the Skeena river, between Prince Rupert and Terrace in Canadian British Columbia.. Peaceful spot. No bears..
Wisps from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Ken admires the the wispy clouds along the Skeena valley east from the coastal town of Prince Rupert, towards Terrace. Skeena, incidentally, meaning "River of Mists". And it’s a moist day… Which, if you’re a fan of the late 80s comedy "Blackadder goes Forth", you’ll know is not a dirty word. Unlike crevice…
Warning signs from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Ken discovers a sign warning of bear presence at an overnight stop along the Skeena river between Prince Rupert and Terrace in Canadian British Columbia. But it’s not a deterrent, it’s encouragement. Still to see one of the cuddly critters in the wild… Outside of his tent of course..