PG Hash House Harriers

Hashers spread out in all directions looking for trail. The locals were impressed that we NZers had matching team reflective vests with our names on them.
The trail was marked with yellow ribbons tied around branches (no oak trees!) and checks were yellow squares of plastic. False trails were when the ribbons were no more.

How can she find trail if she always covers her eyes? As it was bear inhabited virgin territory, Mum had to run with the runners while Dad walked with the girls.



The trail led us through the Otway cross-country ski trails. Lovely narrow undulating paths through pines, firs, birch, spruce and aspens in their autumn colours. No bears or moose - too many people calling "On on" or "checking".
Beer, wine, nibbles and pizza back at the X-country ski club log cabin. No fines or speeches - just a few drinks, chats and off home.
We are going to set an NZ down-under run at the end of October.

Terry Fox Run

Terry Fox was a young Canadian who had cancer in his knee and lost his right leg.
In 1980 he started a charity run across Canada to raise awareness and money for cancer research. Unfortunately the cancer had spread and he only reached half way but his achievement of 5373km in 143 days raised so much support that charity runs are now held every year throughout Canada.


After successfully running a half marathon in Prince George in the late 70's Terry Fox realised he could achieve his goal of running from coast to coast.
The girls ran/waked 8km and Dad ran 14km.

Ice Hockey

Our first Ice Hockey game. The PG Spruce Kings playing the Trail Smoke Eaters.

The action is very fast with the puck and players moving up and down the rink at full speed. They play three 20 minute periods and the players sub on and off all the time.
We met the team's Business Manager and he passed on our names to the commentator who introduced us to the crowd!

Pushing, shoving and high speed collisions are all part of it.
The girls loved being up by the action but were too scared to remain standing by the wall!
The Spruce Kings unfortunately lost in extra time.

Home Brewing

Pouring the pale malt into the copper heating kettle to make my "home" brew beer. The brewing company offers about 80 different beer recipes and supplies raw ingredients and equipment to allow you to brew your own beer.

My Double Daffy Ale recipe showing you the precise ingredients and quantities.
You also follow a detailed procedure and time schedule.
It takes about 90 minutes.





The wort is then pumped into a keg for fermentation. In the process, it is cooled and pure oxygen is pumped in. Finally you add the yeast. You can employ them to mix the brew for you but you must add(pitch) the yeast yourself so that, legally, they are not making alcohol - you are.
They control the temperatures etc.
3 weeks later you bottle it using their bottling machines which filters and carbonates it.

Wine can also be made!

Hart Highlands School

Libby settling down to her desk at the start of class.
The rooms only have small windows up high but are well lit, warm and have plenty of wall space for pictures and cupboards.


Katies' classroom.
The desks have a shelf under them for books. The girls keep trying to lift their desks open - to the amusement of their classmates.
Her class is a mixed grade, so the desks of one grade face one way while the other grade faces the other blackboard.

Katie in the computer room. They have specialist computer teachers and a learning program.

The school is well equipped with teaching tools and indoor sports facilities while they still use chalk boards and only have few outdoor climbing frames etc (too cold for most of the education year).

If it's raining, the students still have to go outside unless it's 10C below zero. They need the fresh air.

Lake Tabor

Lake Tabor is about 20mins driving east of PG.
Ross and Shauna invited us for an afternoon of boating at their family cottage.










Katie is in the "biscuit" with her friend Nicole.
Libby, Nicole & Katie.

It was the last day of summer, weather-wise. The temperature dropped about 10C the next day and a further 10C through the week.

Dad had two water skis. Being a relativey small lake, there were not many boat wakes.
Sue turned down the offer of a water ski and accepted a biscuit ride.

Checking out the knee board. Should be easy enough! But no, I won't try it today.

The girls playing in the sand on the beach between the holiday cottage and their floating dock. Notice how calm and tranquil it was!

We finished a lovely afternoon with a BBQ on the veranda enjoying the evening colours.

Finding Wild Animals

A squirrel on our patio finishing off food left by the girls. They come to within a few metres of you if you keep still.
When I was picking apples, it ran up the tree and along a branch towards me to get a closer look at what I was doing.









A moose hoof print .
A bear pooh(scat as they say here). They have a redish colour. Notice the seeds from the fruit eaten recently. No obvious odour.
This one was found on the track past our house!

A bear paw print in the sand.

Bears are definitely out there!

Giscome Portage

We visited the Huble Homestead/Giscome Portage area 40km north of PG.

In 1863 J R Giscome was shown a shortcut trail over the Continental Divide (rivers flowing to the West coast and rivers flowing to the Artic and East) by local Lhedli Indians.
1870 unwards it was the main route.
Albert Huble built this house in 1912 from logs he felled, cut and trimmed (hewing and whipsawing).

The large barn and animal shelter were built in 1915 & 1914. The barn collapsed in the winter of 72/73 due to heavy snow but was re-erected.


They all contain impliments used in their day and up until recently.
In fact, the blacksmith shop is still functional.


Katie hiding in the meat cache and Libby climbing down.
The Fraser River can be seen behind where the boats from Vancouver would deliver/collect goods on route across the divide.



A canoe in the process of being carved.


The farm was used up until the mid 70's.

Being Boys

We had been out Moose spotting, unsuccessfully, and were returning home in the dark and noticed all the cars and people at the PGARA. Having no idea what PGARA stood for, we went in to have a look. It was the last race of the night and it was the "Push to Pass" race. A demolition derby! The girls were really excited with all the noise, skids, crashes, sparks, loose wheels and smoking tyres. A contrast to silently looking at no moose!

Our Street

Our street in the morning. Our house on the left.

No sidewalks means everyone walks along the road. I have difficulty walking on the left and not moving off the road when a car approaches from behind. Of course the cars are on the other side of the road but my instincts are inbedded!



The street light gives us excellent evening light.
Everyone is very proud of their front gardens and water their lawns regularly.


The house is two storeys with a full basement below which the girls use as their area as it has it's own TV system, computer, large desks, fitness area, library and bathroom.

Patio deck to the back yard. Forest beyond the back fence.




Our street in the late afternoon.

Our house on the right.

Sand Dunes

There are no beaches by the sea to play at but there are huge sand dunes in the forest. These ones are down the hill a couple of kilometres from our house. They are also good for showing all the footprints of the wild animals that wander around when humans are not there.

Views of the city of Prince George

Views of Prince George southward from the top of a sandy cliff on the north side of the Nechako River.

Down Town is the group of tall buildings to the left.

Rail yards in the foreground.

College of New Caledonia in the distance amongst the trees to the right.

The western suburbs of Prince George.

The recently built University of Northern British Columbia is in the forest on top of the hill in the distance. You can see the road leading up to it.

Our house is on this side of the river up to the right about 4 km north of the river.

We then had fun sliding down to the road below, getting very dusty and dirty.

Wild Life

A beaver walking along the edge of a pond. When they are swimming you can hardly see them, they just look like a small stick floating, but the steady wake gives them away.






Two bald eagles keeping an eye on things.











Black bear cub happily playing in the water. The mother was further up the stream. The photographer keeping his distance.

Sunday Bike Ride

We drove down to the Nechako River and stopped by the Cameron St bridge. From there we cycled next to the river to Cottonwood Park. There are logs all over the place - the main industry around Prince George. Katie's tyre burst so I had to take her bike back to the car. We continued the journey with Katie riding Libby's bike and Libby sitting on my cross bar.




We stopped at Fort George Park for a rest and the threat of suicide if ice creams weren't bought.
We cycled to Carrie Jane Gray Park and the girls watched a baseball game while I went to get the car.





Back at home the girls have a pet woolly bear caterpillar called Fuzzle Wuzzle.

Malthus Family BBQ

A Malthus get-together with my second cousins in Canada. We have the same Great Grandfather. Unfortunately, Nancy and Steven (and his wife Sue!) couldn't make it. They live in Alberta so we may meet at some stage. All the other Malthi in Canada are my 2nd cousins and their children.

Barkerville

Billy Barker discovered gold in 1862.
Barkerville became a gold rush boom town and then slowly declined.
It still has a few active mines in the region but the old wooden buildings and mining/dredging machines have been preserved.





All the shops along the main street have all the old goods for sale.
They have set up models of Doctors and Dentists in action.





You can take rides on the horse drawn carriage up to the Court House to listen to actors playing their roles in period costume.








We had half an hour in school where we were taught the correct behaviour and manner of the day. Sue was glad she wasn't at school then!

A quick lunch and pint of their finest in the saloon.

Off in search of gold, our fortunes!

View from Teapot Mountain

Looking north acros the plateau. Vast tracts of rolling countryside covered in forest. Pines, Aspens, Birch and Fir trees. About 1/4 of it is Lodge Pole pine that is slowly being eaten and killed by Pine Beetles! We thought the red and brown trees added to the autumn colours and looked pretty but then we learnt that they were the various dying stages!

Looking south towards Prince George from Teapot Mountain. The plateau is dotted with shallow lakes and ponds, 1600 in 100 mile radius they say - I believe it! Summit lake below is one of the larger lakes. Most have holiday homes and are good for swimming, fishing, water skiing etc and the smaller ones have beavers, otters and moose. Have only seen beavers and humans so far.