|
Post by riffraff on Oct 26, 2008 19:47:47 GMT -5
My boy and I went to the Red Deer swap meet yesterday to see if anyone had some VW stuff mixed in with their American Iron. No luck, but I did come away with a pre 1955 Western Canada Road Map from Union 76. Interesting to look at a map of that vintage. The highway between Whitecourt and Valleyveiw does not exist, the Salmo Creston highway is yet to be constructed. There is still a ferry to cross Lake Okanagan at Kelowna and the railway is the only transportation route that traverses the Rogers Pass. $5 for it and it has already paid for itself in cool history research. Anyhow, this got me thinking about driving in the early 50's. I got to thinking that I think I will take my boy and my dog and the Mango and take the back roads through the southern interior next summer. There are still a couple of ferrys that go across obscure lakes and little two lane roads that lend themselves better to the speed of the split. Probably have a function to attend around July 19, but after that, I'm thinking of doing some time travel. I'll definitely make it up to visit the BC interior NUTS, but all you guys, give it a think and maybe we can caravan. I'm talking driving three or four hours a day at most and slowly doing the Blairmore, Creston, Nelson, Slocan, Okanagan, Salmon Arm kinda route. Lots of time to plan and think, just throwing that out there.
|
|
|
Post by Mowser on Oct 26, 2008 21:56:55 GMT -5
Provided I'm driving a bus I'm in. One place that is a MUST stop on the trip is Trout Lake. This hillbilly of a town has one of 2 still functioning hand pumped gas stations. It's on a backroad between the Galena bay ferry and Kaslo. I'm driving out there on Tuesday to do some work on a CMH (Canadian Mountain Helicopters) Heliskiing lodge in that area before the place is helicopter access only. I'll take pictures of it. It's truly a must picture with a Bus that I've been dying to get since I first saw it a month ago.
In case you are wondering the other hand pump station in in Vanderhoof (West of Prince George)
|
|
|
Post by riffraff on Oct 28, 2008 7:27:36 GMT -5
Excellent! That is exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for. :-/I think I might make this a ferry crossing themed trundle across the rocks.
When we went to Sask a couple years ago for a wedding, we took a route so that we could take a ferry across the North Saskatchewan. It is actually kinda eerie to play Chris de Burg's "Don't pay the Ferryman" on the stereo when out on the water.
|
|
|
Post by Mowser on Oct 29, 2008 18:11:27 GMT -5
I remembered to bring my camera. Here's a couple shots I took on my day trip yesterday. The view on the Shelter Bay/ Galena Bay ferry at sunrise. THE gas station in Trout Lake. take note of the hand pump on the side of the pump as well as the Visa/ Interact stickers on the door. THEY JUST GOT THOSE.... until then it was cash only.
|
|
|
Post by rareair on Oct 29, 2008 20:17:58 GMT -5
Working Clearvisions at a operational gas station...that's awesome
|
|
|
Post by ericvw1 on Nov 4, 2008 10:24:37 GMT -5
Is this open to anyone?? I'd love to come with my westy. let me know.
|
|
|
Post by Mowser on Nov 4, 2008 20:43:10 GMT -5
How long of a trip are you thinking? I spent a bit of time on Google Map plotting out travel paths with ferries and back roads in mind and came up with this. maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Calgary&daddr=49.930008,-114.268799+to:Sparwood+to:Kimberley+to:Kaslo+to:Trout+Lake+to:Revelstoke+to:Salmon+Arm+to:Vernon+to:Nakusp+to:Nelson+to:Creston+to:Invermere+to:Banff+to:Calgary&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=8&via=1&sll=50.099441,-115.856323&sspn=2.663967,7.141113&ie=UTF8&ll=50.099441,-115.900269&spn=2.663967,7.141113&z=8 1887 kms in total (a full 6 days by your 300 km travel/ day formula) 3 ferry crossings, the old fill up station and breathtaking views galore. It looks awesome from my end as I'm familiar with most of the roads. Just thinking out loud here....
|
|
|
Post by ericvw1 on Nov 4, 2008 22:22:32 GMT -5
Just curious what speed do you folks cruise at on this journey?
|
|
|
Post by Mowser on Nov 4, 2008 23:00:12 GMT -5
On those roads I'd be guessing some where in the neighborhood of 55 Mph tops and around 40 Mph a lot of the time with hills and back roads.... There are areas where you could just cruise at 70mph if you so wanted but it's all dependent on the vehicle/ motor.
|
|
|
Post by riffraff on Nov 5, 2008 15:45:08 GMT -5
Great route! I think that's exactly what we'll plan for. Always nice to spend a couple days somewhere if you really dig it. As far as anyone else coming along, that's cool, but it will be a slow, laid back, family affair for me. There will be my wife and I, two dogs and two kid in the Mango (my wife might want to bring her Honda), so we'll stop for waterfalls and ice cream and lots of pee breaks. I like to have a fire every night while camping and I'll bring my guitar. In short, I want this to be as 1950's a mom and dad camping trip as you can imagine. No 140 KPH screaming around mountain roads, no subwoofer powered bass rap for entertainment at night. If you're cool with that, it would be cool to have a spilit bus convoy . We'll pick up the Mowser crew somewhere around Salmon Arm I presume and spend the last half with you ?
Now I gotta get some welding and wiring done on the Mango!!
|
|
|
Post by karmann57 on Nov 5, 2008 20:59:50 GMT -5
I'm keeping my eye on this one, definitely sounds like something I would like to do with the family. Guess I better get going on finding a split. ;D
|
|
|
Post by riffraff on Nov 5, 2008 22:11:20 GMT -5
Brother, you can bring a bay if that's what the flavour of 2009 turns out to be! A couple or three splits and a bay would be a tourist attraction at the tourist attraction! I'm thinking the week of July 20th to 27th or so.
|
|
|
Post by Mowser on Nov 5, 2008 22:27:46 GMT -5
Sounds good from this end. Who knows I may still be driving my Riviera. If it sells then I'll be walking until I find a 15 window. If forgot to mention that there are a few hot springs along that route as well. Plenty of places to stop for a looky loo.
|
|
|
Post by ericvw1 on Nov 6, 2008 2:58:58 GMT -5
On those roads I'd be guessing some where in the neighborhood of 55 Mph tops and around 40 Mph a lot of the time with hills and back roads.... There are areas where you could just cruise at 70mph if you so wanted but it's all dependent on the vehicle/ motor. Sweet!! I have rgb's and I'm limited to 90 km/h which is 55mph right??
|
|
|
Post by riffraff on Nov 6, 2008 10:02:37 GMT -5
eric, your westy is a 67, isit? If so, you have big nut RGB's, likely with a 0.82 fourth gear and 1.26:1 RGB. Depending on your tire height, you should be able to do about 100kph at about 3500 RPM. You should be able to cruise that animal at 100 -105 with no trouble. The Mango has a big nut transaxle as well, so my gearing will likely be the same as yours. I plan to drive about 100 on the flats and significantly less on the hills ;D
|
|