Family and friends gather to say good bye to the Hofstrands when they leave Saskatchewan for British Columbia. The big wagon would be their home for the journey to the Peace River Country.
The Land Beyond the Peace
This is the diary of Olga Hofstrand written in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and thirty one. It covers the day by day events of the trip by covered wagon to "The Land Beyond the Peace".
Many weeks of preparation were necessary before it could be undertaken. Dad spent weeks building the covered wagon, repairing harnesses and getting the horses ready. Mother spent hours baking thin bread to fill the barrel and all sorts of other foods. The lions share of the work fell to my mother.
One does not take a trip of this magnitude without a lot of work, thought, heartache and tears. From now on these are the words of my mother.
May 3, 1931
Leaving Stockholm, Saskatchewan for Fort St. John, B.C. Had planned to leave May 3rd at 11:55 PM but it did not work out quite that way.
May 3rd
Our last Sunday at Stockholm. Awoke bright and happy-the sun was smiling in on us through the window. Weather warm and balmy! 11:00 AM went to say good bye to my sister Ruth and her family. Walked through the Stromgren Ravine for the last time. It is a beautiful walk. Came home after lunch and played ball in the afternoon. It was a beautiful day. Had a very busy day as a large crowd of friends and neighbors gathered to wish us luck. All had coffee, picnic style. Had supper after crowd departed. Later a new bunch came! A real thunderstorm arrived at 8 PM so the caboose was crowded as they all came in out of the rain. Retired at 11 PM
May 4th
Awoke at 5:30 AM. A drizzling rain from N.E.-cold as blazes-decided to stay over another day. Dined at 10:30-coffee at 1 PM. George went to Haglunds and Arnold went home. Quit raining. Spent a few hours at Appletons. Bob came over to ask us over in the night-Carlyle sick with a headache.
May 5th
Awoke at 6 AM-weather bright and cold with north wind. Some snow on the ground. Went to say good bye to our old home and its tenants. Packed and dressed-ready to start at 8:14 AM Due to the wet rain the wagon wheels had sunk into the ground and froze solid. Flop (horse) terribly nervous, made one big pull and double tree broke. Asle Peterson made us a present of a new one. Finally left at 8:45 AM! Leaving with mixed feelings--such as-will we make it? 1500 miles into the unknown-but our slogan was- onward, regardless-no turning back. Passed Lindwalls, nobody around. Buster our dog was riding and got seasick and wanted to go home, however with coaxing and a little love he came along. All swea? school children met us at the corner to say good bye to their classmates and friends. Gathar was pumping water! Stopped to rest at my cousins, Edmund Sgodins, had coffee and our pictures taken-likely our last coffee at Stockholm. Horses doing fine and frisky! We camped the first night the other side of the village of Stockholm, all going well!
May 6th
A nice day, got an early start, no delays. Arrived at Melville-camped outside the city, horses taken care of in a barn. Linus visited his sister, Alma, and they all came to see us at the caboose. Of course they all thought we were demented, but that gave us more determination to go onward, never to look back.
May7th
Another nice day, the air crisp and cool. Traveled northwest on Highway # 15. Drove through Goodeve at 6 PM. Drove right through main street, we caused a lot of excitement-a covered wagon?? We had to answer a lot of questions asked by young and old. Horses fine. Children having fun and so ends one of many days. All's well.
May 8th
Cold and cloudy. N.W. wind. Arose at 5:05 AM. Rained during the night-good roads, horses lively, kids sleeping. I was walking to keep warm. The people of Goodeve are German. A German gentleman offered us all the potatoes we could carry for nothing. We had camped close to an old German couple, who were proud to have such interesting neighbors. Camped for noon at 10:30 AM Windy sleet from the N.W. Have made 15.5 miles. Passed through Itrena 3:25 PM right through main street. Nice clean town. Stopped for the day at 6 PM. Got horses into barn. Kids playing ball, everything o.k. My thoughts are still mixed-NO-onward we must go!
May 9th
Bright and sunny morning, wind from the west. Got free barn and hay for horses to do until tomorrow. People are good! Started at 7:35 AM. Passed through Jasmin at 8:20 AM. Awful looking place-tough and hilly land. A flier passed us at 8:40 AM -100 ft. between us, horses running parallel to railway-went through Keliker at 9:50 AM. Small, sad looking place. Has a war hero monument. Went through Laross 2:45 PM. Drove through Livestock 4:20 PM. Passed Indian mission N.E. of Touchwood, a very lovely building. Highway goes right through Indian Reserve, saw many Indians. We located a sheltered spot near a slough-spent sunday here.
May 10th
Sunday rested horses all day. Washed clothes, baked bread. Had a visit from a neighboring lady-had tea at her house. She had supper with us. Men and children played ball. I felt sick after supper. Retired early.
May 11th
Slept until men had breakfast-I was sick all night. Nice mild weather. Passed through Punnichy main street 10:30 AM. Everything fine and morning beautiful, sunny, clear with S.E. wind. Am feeling fine today. Children coughed during the night. Passed Hatfield at 7:40 AM. Drove through Nokomis-4:35 PM, rather nice, big place. Country nearby very nice with large fields and good buildings. Passing Viola a short time before camping for the night. Lucky in getting horses into a barn. A most beautiful, calm evening. Wondering how those we left behind are?
May 13th
Arose 5:30 AM. Nice calm morning, S. wind-ready to start 7:25 AM. Children all seem well. Have seen some nice plantations and wind breaks. Crossed small cement bridge a small river running through it. Drove through Watrous 4:35 PM. Got on # 2 Highway, heavily graveled, very nice scenery, deep black loam, prosperous looking farmers, mostly Scandinavian around here. A man visited us, he knows a lot of folks in Fort St. John, he says it its a beautiful land there. More hope! Been very hot all day, calm evening.
May 14th
A good warm, hazy morning. Started moving at 7:35 AM. Rested at noon right by r.r. track at Young. A terrific dust storm blew up at 4 PM. Was total darkness for 10 minutes- dust blowing all evening. Have been refused feed for horses at 4 places, just before dark we were able to get enough feed and water and stable.
May 15th
Clear, cool morning and wind from N.W. Arose at 5:30 AM. Started driving at 7:15 AM. We are now on Highway # 14. Drove through Calonsay 8:15 AM. Everybody sleeping as we went into a time change. Had dinner at 12 just west of Eston. A most lovely day, so calm, just right for traveling. Camped for night just outside of Clavil, a small town, put horses in vacant barn. All's well, no excitement, just steady moving on, each day closer to our destination. What then?
May 16th
Terrible wind during night, we were rocking and not knowing if we would blow clean over. We slept in. Started to rain 6:30 AM. Got moving by 8 AM. Quit raining at that time. Bought oat bundles from farmer for the weekend at 1 cent a piece. Traffic getting heavy as we near Saskatoon. Horses nearly ditched us as a huge yellow truck passed. Horses have been nervous all day. Poor Flop says when will we get home and out to pasture again. We had to camp early east of Saskatoon giving the horses time to settle down. The highway we are traveling runs right through the city of Saskatoon so we camped outside of the city limits, S.E. of town. Dust has blown all day, at time we couldn't see 10' ahead. 4 PM its thundering, raining and settling the dust. The men have gone into the city. Retired early. During these days of the hard time or depression, the railroad yards are crowded with men from all walks of life, trying to find a way to make a living on jobs in other parts of Canada. It makes your heart ache to see them. They lay in the grounds, waiting for the next freight west!
May 17th
Sunday, started to drive at 4:15 AM, while everything was quiet. Drove through Saskatoon, crossing bridge over the North Saskatchewan River in middle of town, drove some miles out of town, breakfasted at 7 AM. Windy and dust blowing. Raining in between dust gusts, cold and miserable. Camping for day 1/4 mile from airport landing field, saw a plane land. We are a hundred yards from a large fox ranch. Baked a few extras, played cards, slept some, all cheerful!
May 18th
Rained all night, cold with sleet and snow this morning, looks like a blizzard. Linus looked the fox ranch and equipment over. Started moving at 12 noon. Drove by airfield, saw beacon lights, etc. Very interesting. Our first look at an airfield. Met 2 steam engines moving a house, lucky we met at a crossroads. Feed scarce here, refused at 3 places, finally got the horses stabled and fed close by the grain elevators at Belany. Very cold but looks hopeful. I think its time to mention the fact that the children walked most of the time and picked beer bottles along the road which they sold for spending money.
May 19th
Awoke bright and early. Heavy frost during the night, ice on everything. Started at 7 AM. Camped noon in a beautiful slope east of Saskatchewan River. The valley is gradual and rather nice. Crossed the N. Saskatchewan River on a ferry, a short distance from Borden, Saskatchewan. Stopped for night a 7 PM. Got horses into a barn at a bachelor's place, not wanting anything for the trouble. All's well. Cheerio.
May 20th
Started at 7 AM. Driving through Radison at 9 AM. Everything going fine. Weather nice and warm. We are now on Highway # 5-heavily graveled in places. Rested at noon. Drove through Fielding at 2:50 PM. Our daily friends the air mail plane and yellow freight truck pass us regularly twice a day. We are getting to be known the regular highway travelers. Drove through Maymont at 5:30 PM. Drove into a farm yard for the first time since we started. Also our first time off the highway. He told us we were welcome to all we needed such as potatoes and milk and feed for the horses, free! A very gratifying day!
May 21st
A beautiful day, slept best since we stared traveling. We started driving at 7:30 AM. Bought oats for the horses, passed Ruddell at 9:15 AM. Cloudy by now and a wind. Went through Denholm 11:30 AM. Stopped for noon break-started at 2 PM. Going through Brads at 4:20 PM. Passing North Battleford at 6 PM. # 5 Highway goes to city limits then turns to Battleford. Saw the asylum in the distance. Has a nice plane landing ground coming down the valley. Was a most beautiful sight with a town on both sides of the North Saskatchewan River. Small islands scattered here and there in the river with gigantic steel bridge across it. We drove through Battleford at 6:50 PM. Its a beautiful place. A Chinese we met said he'd been in Esterhazy ( my home town). Drove out 2 miles, camped on highway, the country here is very beautiful. Saw our first natural pines. Retired late.
May 22nd
A most lovely morning. Fog rising from the river. Started at 7:30 AM. Drove through Highgate at 10:30 AM. Stopped at 11:45 to 2 PM. Drove through Dalmas at 4:12 PM. We are following the railroad all day, also a mile from the N. Saskatchewan River. All going smooth. Stopped for the day at 6:30 PM. Some French children came over and played ball. Days are getting longer and warmer.
May 23rd
A nice warm day-started driving at 7 AM. Went through Bresayton at 8 AM and Payton at 10:30 AM. Stopped at 11:15-everything done in usual schedule. Children still picking beer bottles along the road. Have gathered 77 bottles so far. Camping for Sunday at widows place-plenty of water. Children and horses fine.
May 24th
Sunday-arose at 5 AM. Washed clothes-baked bread, made a cake. Cleaned out the caboose. Homesick feeling all day that a face from Stockholm would look good. However it has been a most lovely day. Men trying to kill time looking after wagon harness and horses. A lovely summer evening, cars going by all the time. Trying to celebrate Victoria Day. We have been getting all the milk we need from that kind body.
May 25th
Another calm morning, started at 6:35 AM. We are on a rough unfinished road. Drove through Waseca at 11 AM. Stopped at 11:45. Drove through Lashburn at 3 PM. Have seen two combines in operation. Lots of fields uncut since last fall and large fields of stooks still unthreshed. Windy all day. Camped for the night at 7:15 PM, everything fine. Now have picked 100 beer bottles-the results of last night's celebration.
May 26th
N.W. wind. Started at 7:15 AM. Drove through Marshall at 7:25 AM. All quiet- as they had a sports day yesterday-saw its remains everywhere. Drove through Lloydminster at 2:30 PM. Have finally passed into Alberta after 21 days of traveling. Farewell dear Saskatchewan. "When will I see you again?" Children sold beer bottles for $2.85 here. Got on Highway # 16, rough and ungraveled. More bushy land, sloughy and less feed. Drove through Blackfoot at 5:30 PM. Camped on the Highway at 8 PM. Managed to get horses into a vacant barn. All's well.
May 27th
First morning in sunny Alberta. Its a lovely clear warm morning. Started journey at 6:30 AM. Going through Kits Coty at 7:30 AM. Lunched at 11 AM. Started again at 1 PM. Horses must rest and eat for at least 2 hours. The land is beautiful here, with its high gradual sloping hills. Ranch land, many horses also. Cattle. Camped for night out of Vermilion.
May 28th
Clear calm morning, started at 6:15 AM. Drove through Vermilion-6:35 AM. Very nice, clean place, quite a few large brick building-fairly large town. Drove past agriculture college 1/2 mile out of town. A lovely big building with its lawns, walks well kept gardens and shrubs. Great for the kids to see. I like Alberta better every day. The landscape is very picturesque with it's gradual sloping hills and parklands. Stopped at 11:45-started again at 1:15. Drove through Manville 1:45. Was told by a body that of all covered wagons that have gone by, ours was by far the best outfit. Camped for night at 6:45, close to what we thought was a lake, to our disappointment its only a salt slough.
May 29th
Bright calm morning, started at 6:15 AM. Very hilly road. Kids picking bottles. Not so many as Alberta serves beer in glasses. Noon at usual hour. Drove through Lavoy at 6 PM. Had to have 3 new shoes put on horses, had supper and ready to leave for some farmer's place to get horses in barn for the night. Everything fine, nice, cool night.
May 30th
Slept later than usual, however still on way by 6:35, clear day and everybody happy. Drove past a 3 load outfit. 12 horses, 11 persons with 1 covered wagon and 2 open wagons with machinery and furniture, heading for Pouce Coupe, B.C. in the Peace River District. They came from Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. They only graze horses. Horses have been on the road for one month! Driving through Vegreville-8:20AM. A large place-a stream running through town. Stopped at noon! Drove through Mundare at 3 PM. A large town. Both town and country all settled by Ukrainian. Low houses, large families, but oh such lovely wheat and the nicest gardens I have seen-very good land!. Camped for night on h. w. after being refused feed for horses at 6 places-finally got them in-everything o.k.
May 31st
Sunday-day of rest for men-and labor day for me! Arose at 5-everything ready so we moved on after dinner as our hosts don't approve. Drove until 5:30-left h.w. and took a country road-played ball-lots of traffic. Several carloads stopped to talk to us.
June 1st
A perfect summer day-came to Elk Park-7:30 followed it for 4 miles, saw a mule deer-but did not see any buffalo, that the park contains. There are moose, elk, deer and buffalo in the park. Camped at 11 AM. Reached Ft. Saskatchewan at 4 PM. It's a very nice large town-saw the police barracks. Had to have a tire set on one of the wheels. Crossed the N. Saskatchewan River-1 mile out of town. The train runs above the traffic bridge. It's a very nice bridge-the river is very nice but low. Camped for the night on the west side of the river.
June 2nd
Cool, cloudy, with rain showers in between-started at 6 AM. We are on the old Athabasca Trail, with its romance. Crossed Sturgeon River at 10 AM. A narrow stream with a steel bridge. Railway bridge along side of it. A wee church and parsonage were situated on a level piece of land surrounded by spruce and poplars, south of the river, right on its banks. Camped for noon at 11 AM. Its great to be alone on this ancient trail. Some open land with large herds or cattle at range. Trying to rain. Passed the country post office. Cleared, reached Redwater River before camping time. Cool. Everything o.k.
June 3rd
Heavy frost, ice on water-everything white with frost. Clear-started 7:10 AM. Struck some ridges and jack pines, small creek running all over, with a few lakes. Heavy road- sand in some places 1 ft. deep. Rested at 11 AM. Ready to go at 1 PM. Back on highway at 3. Following the railroad which is built down in a valley with a creek or river winding alongside of it. Spruce and poplar fill the valley. Camped for the night at 6 PM. All's well.
June 4th
Clear, frost on everything. This Athabasca Valley sure is cold. Started at 7 AM. Noon hour as usual. Left h.w. afternoon, rough road. Have had lots of rain here-heavy bush with muskegs here and there. Bought rhubarb, potatoes and oats. All tired. Quit at 7:30 for the night.
June 5th
Cloudy, rain threatening. Started at 7 AM. Made short cut yesterday. Struck terrible roads-newly graded. Driving through newly settled land. Solid bush but homesteaders doing good. Stopped at 13. Back on highway passing many small lakes and creeks. Finally hit a lake lousy with fish, so stopped to fish. Contractors working on road-making a swell job. Very rough now. Some 200 men working in the outfit. Stopped at Bear Lake for the night-a four load outfit of homesteaders caught up to us at 9:30 last night. All's well!
June 6th
We are in Beaver District. Men went fishing at 4 AM. Rested at 12. Finally got on finished highway- a fine piece of work-the best highway yet. It winds northwest through a forest-saw the damages of a forest fire had done 3 weeks ago. Crossed on a brand new ferry at 6 PM over the Slave River by Smith. Have finally reached the great Peace River area of Alberta. Stopped for night on the edge of Slave River. Warm night. All O.K.
June 7th
Sunday-same as usual, men fishing and grazing horses. Nice and warm all day. People passing all the time. Had a swim in the river.
June 8th
Started raining at 4:30 AM. However it quit before we started. We are following the Slave River all day. Its a very beautiful river with poplar, spruce and elm trees on one side and the highway on the other. This is the best road so far, also the nicest scenery. An abundance of grass here. Fishing during noon hour break. Came to great meadows of hay. Driving between 2 rivers with smooth banks. Drove through the town of Slave Lake situated right at the edge of Lesser Slave Lake. Is 55 miles by 30 miles. The town is mostly Indians. Camping west of town-men and kids fishing. Shec sure full of fish-biting all the time, landed 20.
June 9th
Men out fishing at 4:30 AM. Cloudy and cool-Arnold got a 40 pounder that broke his line and all-however he did land a 20 pounder (jackfish) We are following the lake all day. The railroad between us. It's very nice with mountains on the north side of the lake. Fisherman's hut along the shore here and there. They fish white fish here all summer. Mostly the Indians. We are in the company with the German family-12 in all. The lakes rough today, great big waves, too cold to bathe. Started to rain before we retired.
June 10th
Quit raining, but started again, kept going until 9:30 AM. Quit and rested until 11 AM. Sun shining again. Roads are slippery, had to rest again at 1 PM as there was more rain farther west-heavy gumbo soil. The lake curves north so we left her yesterday, didn't see it again until we go to Kinuso. They mostly fish here and there is one summer resort name Fair Isle. At Kinuso they have a large blue fox ranch, also mink and marten. The lake very beautiful here. Don't see either shore now as we are driving through forests, towards evening we see some opening. Left Germans behind but they have caught up, also another 3 load outfit.(the pages for the next 3 days are missing so I cannot give an accurate account of those days, but we did pass through Faust, Driftpile, Joussard to get to the end of the lake.) It rained almost all the time and the roads were a sea of mud-we pulled many cars out of the ditch with our faithful horses. The train passed us everyday on its way to Dawson Creek and we were a familiar sight so they always waved when they went by. Went through High Prairie, McLennan, Donnelly, heading for Peace River Town and the mighty Peace.
June 14th
Sunday-baking bread and pies. Had dinner and started off again, likely our last Sunday on the road-we hoped! Everybody happy-drove some 15 miles, camped the night on the h.way right in the heavy bush country. A truck load of picnickers, stopped and talked to us for awhile. Everybody seems to think Peace River the only place to be! They sure have enough rain here. Our clock fell off and broke. Horses loose and grazing and a large truck came and scared them and they got away and ran away. Thank goodness they helped us catch them. They had gone 4 miles. We retired late.
June 15th
Slept poorly on account of mosquitoes and fear of horses getting away. No clock so must of risen at 3 AM. Drove until we reached a river, can't name it probably the Little Smokey. Grazed horses for 1 1/2 hours. Drove 4 more hours-fed horses for 1 1/2 hours. Came to our long looked for Peace River at 5:30 PM. Peace River valley sure is beautiful has a 700 foot drop-the road winds down the hills. The town itself is situated on the banks of the Peace amid trees-with hills all around. A nice place. Police barracks have 4 mounties at all times. using some bridge for train and traffic. Some monster of a river with steep banks. Saw a burning oil well. Climbed hills on west side-stopped for night 3 miles from town. Its not uncommon to see covered wagons go through but up till now we had come the farthest. Men removing shoe of Flop. Lots of grass for horses. All's well.
June 16th
Arose at 4:30 AM. Had a shower of rain. Seeing the nicest wheat fields I've ever seen. Level as a floor and no stones-thick and healthy. Saw a flax field and I never knew it could be so heavy. Can see whole sections of land in fields. Drove through Grimshaw at 10 AM. Small place with 5 grain elevators. I like the north side of the river better than the south. Got water for ourselves and horses from a farmer. Also gave us eggs, radishes and onions. The came in a covered wagon 17 years ago from Saskatoon. Now they are well fixed. They took a picture of our schooner. We meet and pass one another in wagons. Must be some 20 wagons within a few miles. IT sure is great fun, got horses in barn-lots of feed here!
June 17th
Thundered and rained lots during the night-started at 7:30 AM. Wet and slippery. Started to drizzle at 8 AM and settled down to rain steady by 10. Had dinner and started again. Roads flooded but pulls easy. Made some 20 miles stopped into barn close by a German- very nice, can stay as long as we like-gratis! Lots of feed. Raining steady from N.E.-leaks a little in our schooner, however we are hopeful. They have a flour mill here. Can get good flour for $2.00 a 100 lb.-retiring early.
June 18th
Clear-quit raining during night-stayed over until after dinner. Got 2 bags of oats-also as many bundles as we can carry free! People are good. Roads drying nicely. Caught up to 7 wagons, 4 covered wagons-16 men altogether-most from Shanauvon, Saskatchewan going to Fort St. John. Its great fun to meet traveling fellowmen. They stayed over. Reached Dunvegan-had supper. Crossed the Peace River on a ferry. The same one broke loose 2 weeks ago and drifted miles down the river. The did not want to take us across but said we did so at our risk. The river was rising from mountain run off and logs were coming down the river at a terrific speed. The water was really riley and gray! It was very thrilling to see it all. We had a few tense moments when huge trees came at us and the men used huge pikes to drive them away-so they would not hit us and snap the cable! We made it and made camp on the other side of by the river, on a beautiful spot. The hills are high and mighty here, very pretty indeed. It was as well for us we crossed when we did as those that did not had to wait at least a week or more until the river subsided again!
June 19th
Slept poorly, was bothered by campers nearby and nervous tension. Arose at 4:30 AM. The hills out of the river very steep! Took us 2 hours to climb them. A hard trip for the horses! Took the highway to Sexsmith camped by a river-can't name it! Probably a fork of the Smokey. A nice place, surrounded by hills, large shady trees, swift flowing river. All's well.
June 20th
Clear, warm-started at 7:20, going through mostly heavy timber. Forest fires having done great damage, what a pity to ruin such lovely forests. The road is rugged lots of hills to climb. Railroad running at bottom of the valley. Saw a large saw mill outfit. Coming to open country-well kept farms as we near Valhalla, a Scandinavian district. Had a shower of rain-roads terribly wet. Stopped by a creek at 7:20. Several Swedes stopped and talked. Men gone for feed. Cool and damp.
June 21st
Sunday-Fog, washed clothes and had dinner. Started off at 2. We are on road from Sexsmith to Pouce Couple. Swedish and Norwegian settlement. Drove past country store, La Glace-P.O. Stopped 1 mile west of it. Car full of Norwegians came and visited, they had met John Hoglund (old friend from Stockholm) They gave us some good information.
June 22nd
Started to rain before we started off, so waited awhile-stayed until noon. Drove through Valhalla Centre at 2:30 PM passing 2 Lutheran Churches and 1 Mission Church, some miles south. Roads drying nicely. Picked a few wild strawberries. Got horses into a barn- cool and windy!
June 23rd
Cool night-slept in, started at 7:30. Road rough-though dry. Stopped and picked strawberries, enough for dinner. First windy day in the Peace. Passed Demmit P.O. 2:30 PM. Finally passed into long, longed for British Columbia at 4:12 PM leaving Alberta behind us! But we will always be good neighbors!! Stopped by Swan Lake at 5:30-nice summer resort. Men fishing. Had nice camping neighbors, 2 trucks and a tent nearby. Played ball, lots of fun. Our first night in B.C.
June 24th
Midsummer's day, cool and windy! Men went fishing at 4 AM. Started journey at 7 AM. Good road. Climbing many hills, going down as many. Reached Pouce Coupe at 12 noon on top of banks of a creek. Bought 10 bags of flour from miller at $2.25 per 100 lb. West of Pouce Coupe is lovely land, a sort of wide valley with sloping hills around and a creek running through-very nice wheat. All homesteads taken up! Stopped for night west of Dawson Creek, the end of the steel! The town of Dawson Creek has fine grain elevators. Very good farm land here. Were able to get some potatoes at this place. Cool night!
June 25th
Warm and calm. Started 7:30 AM. Therland here is long gradual hills, with little or no bush. Very good wheat, ready to head. Some fields are 160 acres, level-no stones-indeed a lovely piece of country, this is Dawson Creek locality. Got into heavy bush by noon, lots of bear and moose. A homestead lady passed and talked for awhile. Getting into deep canyons. Moose crossed road ahead but men away so we missed him.. Saw lots of bear tracks.
June 26th
Nice and warm, reached Peace River valley by 10:30. The road winds down the steep hill for some 3 miles. Crossed the Peace River on a ferry drawn by a gasoline launch-rather than a cable! The river is quite wide, the nicest yet. The valley is very beautiful-large wheat fields heading out at the bottom of the hills. It was worth our journey just to look on the valley from one of the high hills. Taylor Flats as it was commonly called! Had to have a team that passed us help make the last hill on the north side. It was a long steep hill. Arrived safe and sound in Fort St. John at 7:30 PM. Fort St. John is a nice place with some nice land adjoining it-thus ended our journey of over 1500 miles. All in good health, horses are lively, though somewhat thinner. I am glad we have made it so well, yet I am sorry that the one great adventure of my life-belongs to the past. With its suspense and worry, there have been moments of intense joy! It has been food for my soul, to see and feel many things that I would otherwise have missed. Its a memory I will cherish as long as I live-Farewell. What happens after this is another story but I will always have my long wonderful trip-all my own. June 26th 1931.
June 21, 1981
Fifty years have passed almost to the day, that these words were written by my mother. I had not read them for almost fifty years. It was a nostalgic trip back into time when life was not so complicated. When it was a joy to behold the simple things in life!
Coming from a farming community in Saskatchewan, where life was built around the church, your home and your school. It was a big adventure for all of us children as well! In my mind I can see the places we stopped at, the places we saw and the things we did, as if it were yesterday!
It was a time when even seeing a truck and a lot of cars was a thrill! A plane landing almost more than we could bear: a far cry from the jets that sweep the world today. Iron bridges over rivers, a wonder to behold. Well cities were far beyond our imaginations. Everything was new and exciting to a young mind.
I know now the worry it must have been for my parents. The heartache of leaving loved ones behind, old friends, maybe never to see them again! Still they kept on, as such was the spirit of pioneers of our great country who journeyed to the far reaches of our land to carve out a civilization for future generations. They had the courage and stout heart. I salute our forefather of our land!
(by Olga's daugher Marjorie)
I too, would like to salute the pioneers of our great country, always thankful that they came West. I think we would have missed a lot by not having the opportunity to travel even by covered wagon and last but not least a tribute to our faithful team of horses.
Topsy was the older of the two, very tough, somewhat lazy, of course, slow. She could care less if she started at all-moaned and groaned as she tightened the tugs. Goodness only knows what she said. Her mate Flop was entirely the opposite, willing and fast and a joy to look at. Topsy was slightly sway back so they were an odd couple never the less. They took us from our old home to the site of our new home. Topsy started one step behind and arrrived one step behind. No doubt Flop had his moments when he pulled her and the covered wagon as well.
In a new land they were also very popular, as not every one had horses. They turned over the very first furrows on our land. The first summer we broke several acres for garden and hay for the horses. Grass was abundant, so they were well fed. They lived to a ripe old age, so thanks again, Topsy and Flop.
(Olga's daughter Hazel)
