he open road

Assorted notes, made during a cultus coolee trip to the North.

DEASE LAKE — Should I have the misfortune to live a thousand years I will probably understand the public’s passion for four-wheel drive vehicles before i die. Less

time won’t be enough.

it is now no longer possible ta drive gravel highway in this coun- try without some earnest soul say- ing ‘‘Of course you must use four-wheel drive.”’

Of course J do not. I began driving B.C. roads in 1945 and long ago passed my million or maybe two million mile mark. I have yet to discover one highway 2. Of even a secondary road that re-

~ quires four-wheel drive except under extraordinary conditions.

Since under extraordinary con- ditions you cannot drive out of your carport in the South Gran- ville area, 1 do not think that they count for the ordinary motorist doing ordinary motoring.

Have | ever been stuck and wished for four-wheel! drive? You bet. I have been dragged through 18 inches of snow by a three- quarter ton working on all its wheels and been glad to sec it plow for me. However such occa-

Paul St. Pie

PAULITICS & PERSPECTIVES

sions occur about once a decade. There is no road graced with a

highway name or number in B.C.,

Yukon or the Northwest Ter-

Ride on the rails

A LOCAL volunteer group of railway buffs is organizing a special train trip, Saturday, Oct. $ and Sunday, Oct. 6.

The trip is geared especially to

seniors and those who want to en--

joy some unique train trave! into British Ccolumbiu’s beautiful Cariboo region for a weekend ' getaway at a comfortable modern hotel. Stunning Coast Mountain sce- _mery, Cheakamus Canyon, ‘Whistler, Anderson and Scton lakes, the Mighty Fraser River . 2,000 feet below the train at -..Moran, and the unusual Lone v Butte will be featured. Bus trans- __ fers in Williams Lake, lunches - both days and.a cold evening meal "on the return trip are included. in the price. — The trip will be fully escorted. ‘Departure will be in a private car, with guides, as part of BC Rail’s regular. service to Lillooet at 7:30 , am. from the BC Rail passenger Station at the foot of Pemberton - Avenue in North Vancouver. _* After a 20-minute stop in “ Lillooet the group continues north independently, arriving in Williams Lake at about 6 p.m.

On Sunday, passengers will be transferred back to the train for a mid-morning departare arriving in Lillooct at 3 p.m. te connect with the regular service into North Vancouver arriving a! 8:35 p.m.

Ticket prices are $249.99 ($260 with UST) for adults and $222.99 ($238.60 with GST) for seniors based on shared accommodation. Singles not wishing to share wiil be charged a supplement of $23.97 ($31 with GST).

Bookings are recommended ear- ly and should be made direct to the West Coast Railway Associa- tion, Call 524-1011, $22-9068 or fax to $22-1293, ur to any travel agent.

The group was recently respon- sible for the Jargest building movement in B.C. history, with the acquisition and removal of the old BC Rail car shop in Squamish to the association’s new museum site less than a mile away. It has an extensive collection of rolling stock and raiiway memorabilia that will eventually be part of a working museum on the site. Membership is open to all with an interest in railways.

ALLEN SAPP

Recent Paintings

Exhibition and Sale October 5-i3

Opening Saturday, October 5 from 10:30am to 5:00pm

HUMBERSTON EDWARDS

1 QL

bm nr 93 4 | 7

1360 Marine Drive, West Vancouver

ritories that cannot be driven comfortably under ordinary con- ditions in a standard Japanese passenger car (the only type | happen to have used for a few de cades).

Somewhere out there is a man who has convinced about half the population that they need two tons of truck and four-wheel drive to see the back country.

If you can find that man, give him all your money to invest for you. Put a mortgage on the farm so you can give him even more. He will make you rich.

LIARD RIVER HOT SPRINGS — There are only 27 vehicles in the hot springs parking lot, scanty for a hot day in tourist time.

More surprising, the number of British Columbia licence plates ouinumbers the California piates. Traditionally Californians have been the travelling people in our north country while British Coi- umbians of the populous Lower Mainland were reluctant to travel farther than Hope on Canadian highways.

Whatever the reason, the Goods and Services Tax or the fact that a cheese sandwich in Fort Simpson costs $6.25 and an ordinary motel rvom $100, the Americans aren't swarming this year.

iN WEST VANCOUVER ®s

ELECT

A MAN WHO KNOWS THE MEANING OF HARD WORK

John Reynolds deserves his reputation as one of BC's hardest working MLAs.

As Speaker of the House he received high praise from both parties. The press called him "the BC Legislature's best ever Speaker.” John's uncompromising stand as Minister of Environment demonstrated dedication, vision and awareness ofthe

On October 17

Campaign Office #103 - 657 Marine Drive, We Telephone: (604) 322-4232 Fax: (604) 922-4090

Friday, October 4, 1991 - North Shore News - 9

The count at the Liard hot spr- ings: B.C. plates: 7 Alaska: vi California: 5 Alberta: 3 N.W.T.: 2 Yukon: I Washington: 1 Saskatchewan: 3

HUDSON'S HOPE — The Alaska Highway is perhaps the only one north of Mexico where a dangerous corner is calied a dan- gerous corner.

The sign Dangerous Corner is common in Mezico and was once widely used by the gringoes. But it was too clear, too simple, too useful and, perhaps, too great an invitation to public criticism.

For whatever reason, vaguer and less helpful signs have been substituted in Canada and the United States, the Alaska road exempted.

There are other road signs now which are more decorative than useful. Near this Peace River town is an unincorporated community called Bear Lake. Tne highway sign prociaisns it:

BEAR LAKE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Has anyone asked what other

kinds of conimunities exist?

SOCIAL CREDIT

a reerties 2 ear

is best when it’s empty

soe PRINCE GEORGE — This is Bellybutton, B.C. Just a few miles west is the province's geographic centre, where ali the Jand north, south, east and west is equa! in area.

Prince George is not the North and never was. However, like Edmonton, it serves ithe North, cares about the North and knows that it’s there in a way that southern cities don’t. {t is also the T in the road where you decide which way you shail travel inte the true North.

You can go left and take the Dease Lake Highway at Kitwanga in the Skeena River valley or turn right aad run up the John Hart Highway to the Peace River Country and connect with the old Alaska Highway.

By force of habit, { turned left for the Dease Lake route. If Whitehorse-bound it is 150 kilometres shorter and has always seemed less crowded and more in- teresting. However every decad2 or so a man should recheck his opinious so this time I took the fong way by way of the Alaska Highway.

The Alaska Highway is quicker. it is now almost entirely paved, complete with centre lines and highway speed signs should read 90 instead of 00, particularly since few travel at less than 100,

APILANG

world we live in, plus, that most important commodity for an elected politician - the integrity to match. ;

ELECT AMAN WHO: UNDERSTANDS

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

John has just served a term in office with the most financially responsible government in Canada.

By keeping government debt down, John has helped tnake more money available for the taxpayers who have provided it.

st Vancouver, B.C. V7T 1A4