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Mile zero and back

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zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1297 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/07/2021 : 11:00:52

Looking for an asymmetrical spinnaker we came across a 2000 C250 WK for sale
who featured the sail we wanted in, of all places, Dawson Creek, British Columbia, located at mile zero of the Alaskan Highway...

Wow... after contacting the seller and a long exchange of details, photos, questions and answers we bought the sail and boat to boot.

Ah... we said, our next trip coming up. This time instead of going east we're going straight north by north-west and just inside the
BC border at mile zero of the Alaska Highway.
Pretty exiting to look forward to a trip of 2300km (1400 miles) round trip.

With the truck serviced and ready for hauling the boat back to Langley we set out for the north through one of the most scenic routes of BC.

The South Fraser Canyon BC

Boston Bar/North Bend BC on the the 7 tunnels following in rapid succession

Approaching Lytton the village that burned to the ground just last week just
after a unprecedented heat-wave with recorded temps of 49.6C (121F)

Lunchtime with a smile... followed by a refreshing nap

Crooked River... one of the many waterfalls along the way

We reach Mile Zero of the Alaska Highway which is located in the centre of Dawson Creek, a city of about 12.000 people

Finally meet the owners for the first time and enjoy time for dinner

Ah... there it is, nicely tucked away and waiting for the new owners

All paperwork completed, inventory checked, boat made travel ready and finally the exchange of keys

First thing we do is have the wheels, bearings, hubs, lights and breaks checked at
a heavy duty spring and break shop in town where all the local truckers have their
work done. Ours involved new breaks from surge to electric and updating the break-away cables.

First stop just outside of town to check and make sure all is in order. The boat
rides higher and is heavier than our C250WB but... not a problem, the diesel
pulls and growls a little deeper. I'm able to average 12 liters per 100km over
the entire trip

We stop and check frequently on the way back but everything is fine. We drive conservatively and keep sufficient break distances

[https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/001015481606/media/1703299404923422/medium/1624392965/enhance/img]
The country side is beautiful and we're just staying west of the rocky mountains

Williams Lake with our favorite Tim Horton... time for a coffee and something to
eat. We're about halfway now...

The road through the Fraser Canyon is good but pulling the boat takes care and alertness

One of the many tourist stops

The town of Chetwynd about 100 km from Dawson Creek has many, many woodcarvings on
display along the road.

A local woodcarver at work in Chetwynd, BC

Henk & Johanna
"Floating", a few off your "barnacles".
"Someday Lady" '95 C250WB #151 ('03 - 2016)
"Sea ya" 30ft Bayliner (04-2018 - 09-2018)
"Mariah" '96 C250WB #191 (05-2019 - 15-05-2023)
"Lady J" '00 C250WK #499 (05-2021 - 09-2022)

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1762 Posts

Response Posted - 07/07/2021 : 19:49:51

Wow, Henk ... what a nice travelog, and your new boat looks like a great find.

You always do the best story-telling ... and thanks for the beautiful photos, too!

Buzz Maring

~~Freya~~
C-25 SK/SR #68
Lake Dallas, TX

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3312 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2021 : 07:51:10

Back in 1960-61 I lived on the old Alaska Highway in a small town in far Northern Alberta about 80 miles from its end at Dawson Creek. Beautiful country but definitely on the fringe of civilization.

Derek Crawford
Chief Measurer C25-250 2008
Previous owner of "This Side UP"
1981 C-25 TR/FK #2262 Used to have an '89 C22 #9483, "Downsized"
San Antonio, Texas

zeil
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
1297 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2021 : 09:07:24

Oh... thank you guys for your comments. Driving to Dawson Creek you sure get the feeling of getting into the far north and away from civilization.

We so enjoyed the trip, the previous owners, the mechanics in the shop, the hotel people and any one we met along the way and now the "other", boat which we safely brought home.

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9013 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2021 : 16:08:38

Ummmmm... That makes how many C-250s in your fleet? I think I've lost count! Or were you starting this thread with a flash-back?

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 07/08/2021 16:11:47

zeil
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
1297 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2021 : 22:33:44

I know... I know Dave... we should've kept our beloved '95 C250 WB "Someday lady". Nothing like this would've happened. We would have been content and looked no further.

As mentioned we deep-cleaned, replaced and added stuff to "Mariah", our '96 C250 WB that have placed her up to the same level, standard and shape "Someday Lady was in before the kids thought we were getting a little too mature and should get a motor boat

Now with two of them sitting side by side in storage until September, we have plans first to visit our kids for the next two months, after which time we look forward to towing the Wing Keel to our driveway and working on her for a couple of months. Hope to outfit her much the same as the other two. Some ordered parts have already arrived and are waiting installation. Besides I've still have a stack of teak left for some interior carpentry work

In addition to all this, we had a glorious 4 months across the country trip out of "Mariah", and just a couple of weeks ago a fantastic trip getting the second keel boat all the way from Dawson Creek, BC

It'll be interesting to see which of the two we will favor and for what reasons

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9013 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2021 : 19:59:08

Some folks here are reporting as "boatless", and here you have three of the same thing! (?) Okay, different models... different other things...

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4275 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2021 : 18:00:36

Might as well open up as a Catalina dealership. :)

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Edited by - GaryB on 07/12/2021 18:00:51

glivs
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
822 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2021 : 19:04:00

What an adventure. Thanks for sharing.

Gerry & Leslie; Malletts Bay, VT
"Great Escape" 1989 C-25 SR/WK #5972

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