August 4 Vancouver arrival - end of Simon Fraser's journey

The last day of this voyageur was from Burnaby's Fraser Foreshore park, down the North arm of the Fraser River, around Point Grey, past Spanish banks, to end at Maritime Museum.

This is a busy part of the river with lots of industry and log booms. A few seals watched the canoes go by.




The paddlers stopped for a break on the beach of Sea Island where the Vancouver International Airport is.



After a 32km total the canoes arrived to end this long journey with a last reenactment arrival at Jericho beach at 4pm.






Though not all the same paddlers started and ended this journey of the reenactment of Simon Fraser's trip from Fort St James to Vancouver, each one added their own individual touches and each took away with them their own memories.

August 3 to Fort Langley Brigade Days reenactment then to Burnaby's Fraser Foreshore Park

This morning the four canoes from Hope paddled the 5km to Mission and joined the rest of the boats in a flotilla for the Brigade Days voyageur reenactment making a total of 9 boats.

Together they paddled to Crescent Island for a stretch break, then, in costume, to Fort Langley for the reenactment arrival to a large crowd and blackpowder salute.

The paddle from Mission to Fort Langley is 26km.

We left the boats on shore, paraded to the fort for welcoming ceremonies then enjoyed a truly voyageur meal of bannock and beans.

Two of the Fort Langley canoes then continued on Simon Fraser's journey down the river, paddling a total today of 64km, to camp at the Fraser Foreshore Park in Burnaby.

August 2 to Hatzic Rock

Paddled 52km today, stopping at Kilby general store and museum on the way. Arrangements had been made to stay at the Hatzic Rock long house, tenting in their yard. They told stories and drummed

August 1 Hope to Sea Bird Island

Drive 110 km from Fort Langley to Hope and launch the voyageur canoes. There were three Fort Langley Canoe Club boats and the Quesnel paddlers brought their voyaguer canoe for a total of four starting at this point.


On the water about 2pm. This stretch everything is carried in the boats as there are no escort vehicles like on the northern leg of the trip, Fort St James to Alexandria.

Today paddled 34km from Hope to the Stolo band Village on Sea Bird Island, where arrangements had been made to camp for the evening.

July 27 to Alexandria - end of northern leg

We loaded all the gear in the trucks and boats and drove the boats back to Quesnel to launch.









Today we would end this leg of our journey paddling 45km and pulling out at Alexandria as Simon Fraser's crew had done so many years before.







After loading the boats on the trailers we drove the 580km back to Fort Langley. We travelled much faster than Simon Fraser would have done so we got a few days at home before we continue our journey at Hope.

July 26 to Quesnel reenactment

The Quesnel club paddlers had paddled this stretch of river often and told us history and information about the area as we paddled through.








We stopped at the Blackwater River for a break. A few went for a swim while most explored and stretched their legs.








After paddling 81km we arrived at Quesnel, at the confluence of the Quesnel and Fraser Rivers. There was another large crowd to meet the three voyageur canoes for the reenactment arrival.




After the ceremonies, we loaded the boats on trailers and headed to Lazy Daze campground. The local canoe club prepared us a great BBQ that night and did a historical skit about Simon Fraser. Very entertaining.

July 25 to White's landing

We drove 35km from Prince George to Stoner, bypassing some of the worst of the rapids. This decision was made as we are inexperienced with white water and did not have any locals to help us through this section. The Quesnel paddlers met us in Stoner with their canoe.

After unloading and getting everyone organized, and meeting our new paddling companions, we were on the river again.

We had some fast moving water and did face some rapids again today - Chinamen Rapids, but with the help of the local paddlers who had done this section of the river many times, we had no troubles.






Where we stopped for lunch we saw bear and wolf tracks in the sand.








We paddled a total of 35 km today to camp at White's landing with the permission of the owner. We set up camp and some braved the fast and cold water for a swim.