Our route today took us on the Trans-Canada Yellowhead Highway for 298 miles of picturesque countryside. What was originally a fur traders' route for the Hudson's Bay Company in the early 1800s has become the perfect road to continue our amazing journey home.

Sadly, while driving this beautiful route, we saw many signs warning about the dangers hitchhiking "It ain't worth the risk Sister!" This road has the nickname of Highway of Tears. From 1969 to 2011, there have been a series of murders and disappearances. The region is plagued with poverty and lack of public transportation, forcing its occupants to turn to hitchhiking as a form of transit. After we saw the first warning sign, we saw two people actually hitchhiking. What a sad history for such a spectacular roadway.
Moving beyond the sad history, we made a left tour to examine this spectacular church.
What a treasure the village of Gitwangak (Kitwanga) has- the wonderful St. Paul’s Anglican Church (1893) with its tall steeple and Gothic stain-glass windows (some of which were imported from England and are more than 400 years old). Treasures really are found in the most surprising places.
We took another detour to cross the Hagwilget Canyon on one of the highest suspension bridges in Canada (a 1-lane bridge). So breathtaking.
Crossing the canyon allowed us to visit Hazelton, one of the oldest settlements in Northern British Columbia, with its European settlement dating back to 1866.
Its First Nations history was expressed in Gitemakaldo's Nose Like Coho totem, crafted in the late 1800s, it is one of the oldest to survive.
Hazelton's history was diverse. Being strategically located on the Skeena River, it became the head of navigation and played host to more than a dozen sternwheelers throughout the next twenty-two years.

In Houston, we stopped at the World's Largest Fly Fishing Rod (60 feet). It's hard to tell but Steve is 'fishing' with it.
Okay, so this might be the weirdest stop we made today. This monument was located in Tintagel (pop 209), a railway and logging settlement (1915), named after the castle in Cornwall where King Arthur was supposedly born. So what are we looking at? Well, in 1967, Britain's Ministry of Works sent a 45-kg stone from the castle, as a Canadian centennial gift to BC. It was installed here in a roadside cairn. Yes, I touched a rock that once formed part of the Norman walls of King Arthur's castle. Weird right?
Dinner was at the Costco in Prince George. If you recall, the last Canadian Costco also served poutine (a dish originating from Quebec, made with French fries and cheese curds topped with a light brown gravy) but I merely photographed it. This time we devoured it and it was as great as we had hoped.
The large plate of YUM was only $3.75 USD.

One of the big reasons we stopped here was because I had a strong feeling they would have pumpkin pie since Canada's Thanksgiving is on Oct. 9th. Look! I was so dang right. For those who know us, it is a Red Letter Day when the Costco pumpkin pies are in. Woo hoo!
We knew these pies were large, but we had no idea that one would not fit comfortably in our camper's fridge. We had to take out a shelf from the door to make it fit. "Where there's a will, there's a way!" Pumpkin pie for breakfast!