Thursday, July 28, 2011

Vanderhoof Eateries

So far one of the highlights of the 2010 summer was the discovery of a couple of really good places to eat in Vanderhoof.

The first place to visit, on the advice of the owner of Siesta Inn, was to try the dinner at the Reid Hotel, located at 2508 Burrard Avenue, considered “the best place in Vanderhoof.” As it turned out where you ate was in the pub called The Reid Bar & Grill. Not too loud, open fairly late and plenty of comfortable seats available with big screen TV’s. The bacon burger and fries were very good and looking at items on other people’s plates everything on the menu was appetizing.

Vanderhoof’s other standout was a coffee shop that was also on Burrard Avenue at 2608 is called ‘The Bean Coffee House’. Situated across the street from the North Country Inn ‘The Bean House’ is an inviting place complete with Wi-Fi and country garden. The facility serves up fair trade and certified organic coffee from the Shuswap Coffee Company, has smoothies and some fresh baked goods including a selection of very tasty muffins and scones.

Both places are both worth the stop while you are travelling on Hwy 37 through Vanderhoof. Only a short walk on the main street of Vanderhoof, Burrard Avenue is close to most of the accommodation along Hwy 37 and the public campground near the Nechako River. Unfortunately the only negative part was if you had kids under the legal limit, The Reid Bar & Grill would be off limits. The next best alternative is the North Country Inn another local favourite located at 2645 Burrard Avenue.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Cunningham Pass Closed

After the BC Big Trailie 6 motorcycle ride an opportunity came up to do the backroad from Barkerville to Likely via the Cunningham Pass FSR.

To do the road was definitely on the bucket list as it followed the paths of the prospectors in the late 1800’s along the historic Cariboo Gold Rush Trail. From Likely the fortune seekers went north along side Cariboo Lake, Ghost Lake located on the west side of Cariboo Mountains Provincial Park and past Cariboo River Provincial Park eventually to Barkerville.

An earlier attempt was made in early October, 2010 to do the trip by going north from Likely on the 8400 Road. Unfortunately bridge construction was occurring between October 4th and the 8th on the 3100 Road at 4.5 km and 14 km and you could not get through.


This year the trip from Quesnel first started out with sunny weather but was then met with time delays with road paving for 18 km on Hwy 26 between Hwy 97 junction point and Cottonwood House. After that road conditions improved, the weather continued to be good and the mountains in the east looked clear, things looked fantastic.


Inquiring about the conditions of the road at the Jack of Clubs Lake Visitor Centre by Wells the news was not good, apparently since June 10 the Barkerville-Likely Circle had been closed because of a slide that took place at the 26 km mark of the Cunningham Pass FSR, making the road impassable.


Sadly the story on the Barkerville-Likely Circle route goes from bad to worse especially after talking to the local park official at Bowron Lakes Provincial Park and a RCMP officer at a construction stoppage on Hwy 26 (who doubted the road would have been open due to low snow levels). It turns out that the forest companies don't really have any more merchantable timber left in the area and it doubtful that the road will fixed and opened again.

Please see comment below: It appears that the road could be open again. Hopefully we will investigate this in the summer of 2012 and fulfill a dream.