I embarked on a four hour drive with Prince George in my rear view mirror. My heart, heavier than expected.

My next stop: Smithers, B.C.

It’s a small town with a good reputation for recreation. Nestled between lakes and the Babine Mountains in the scenic Bulkley Valley, it is definitely the town to visit on the drive from Prince George to Prince Rupert.

So, naturally, I had opted to spend less than a day checking out the area, during a time when the mountains were snow covered and surrounded by clouds. 😓

Can’t win ’em all.

CUT TO - INT - An unusually crowded floating lodge.

It is roughly a week after STEVE has visited Prince George. We meet our hero mid-conversation with a biology/forestry professor who is from the area.

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Exif Data For The Selected Image
Camera Make	SIGMA
Camera Model	SIGMA dp0 Quattro
Focal Length	14mm
Aperture	ƒ/6.3
Exposure Time	1/320s
ISO	100

INT - STEVE is doing work inside of an Airbnb. STEVE glances at the clock.

Last time, STEVE visited a city park and met some MISSIONARIES.

This time, STEVE climbs up the worst kind of moderate, minor mountain. A taunting, teapot mountain.

Our story begins thusly:

INT - STEVE is doing work at the dining table inside of an Airbnb. STEVE glances at the weather forecast.

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Camera Make	Google
Camera Model	Pixel 5a
Lens Model	4.38 mm f/--
Focal Length	4.38mm
Aperture	ƒ/1.7
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ISO	56

Prince George is a crossroads, a place that many pass through, and a hub of industry in Northern British Columbia. It is a confluence of rivers, railroads, and highways, and it was my port of call for a few days. I was taking a rest from driving and hiking, and working remotely – (well, and also probably doing some driving and hiking on the side.)

Get some work done, I would. But, would I find the city’s hidden charm?

This is the beginning of my take and my feelings about Prince George, which I’ve split into four blog posts.

Each is an “act” in a play, a story of my experiences, and a step towards something…

Oh, and when I say I’m presenting this as a play, what I mean is:

Our sometimes-hero STEVE has left Lake Purden behind, and is passing logging trucks, driving down the highway…

Oh look, we’ve just had the final Sunday in September, which means we have another four weekly photography challenges to ramble about. This month’s challenges really did challenge me, and I did my best to rise to the occasion. I’m proud of my work.

This week’s photographs include golden light from a smokey day, a flame in the dark, stars and taillights, and a picnic in a park…

I tried to sleep in, believe me, but the morning sun just didn’t cooperate.

Take a tent with light-colored walls, add a 5 AM sunrise, and what you get are conditions where sleeping past 6 AM is a struggle. So, out of the tent I went.

This was the fourth of four consecutive nights’ camping, and of course, the only one when it rained. I packed up my tent and laid in a course for the city of Prince George. But as I drove north, between the Rocky & Cariboo mountain ranges, I still had a few special stops to make.

So read on for old growth trees, a gorgeous lakefront picnic, and some salmon-stopping falls!