Halifax: August 27, 1912 <<< >>> Victoria: October 17, 1912
| Today's Statistics: | Travelling from Nanaimo, British Columbia to Victoria, British Columbia | |||
| Distance: 275 km | Driving Hours: 6 h | Fuel: 56 l | Weather: Sunny | Temperature: Min. 7 Max. 16 |
The day began early as the Reo was ready to go before daylight. As soon as the light was good it started off for Port Alberni. The drive from Nanaimo to Port Alberni is abot 80 kilometres, first north, then west. Along the way the Reo passed through the interesting town of Coombes, where goats graze on the roof of the General Store, and the beautiful Cathedral Grove.
Cathedral Grove, in H. R. MacMillan Park, is a stand of huge Douglas Firs that have been preserved alongside the highway. The trees are hundreds of years old and measure up to two metres in diameter. They are a magnificent sight and a reminder of the valuable forests that cover so much of British Columbia. Logging is Vancouver Island's main industry, with many sawmills and pulp mills processing the logs that are cut. Port Alberni was the site of B.C.'s first pulp mill.
Upon reaching Port Alberni, the Reo was met by Mayor Gillian Trumper and members of The Golden Oldies Auto Club who escorted it to the edge of Alberni Inlet. In 1912, this was as far west as any road in Canada. A sign had been planted that read "The Canadian Highway" and pointed east. Today Lorne Findlay erected a replica of the sign and many photos were taken at this historic site. As well, he drove the Reo's front wheels into Alberni Inlet and John Nicol poured another bottle of Atlantic water into the Pacific. The people of Port Alberni were most helpful and the Findlays would like to thank Mr. Derek MacGregor and the members of the Alberni Chamber of Commerce and the Historical Society for their assistance and hospitality on this day.
After leaving Port Alberni, the Reo headed back to Nanaimo and south along the new Island Highway toward Victoria. Along the way it stopped in Ladysmith, which is located right on the 49th parallel. When The Oregon Treaty set the Canada-United States boundary along the 49th parallel in 1846, an exception was made to include the southern tip of Vancouver Island, including Fort Victoria. The Reo also stopped in the forestry town of Duncan, where members of the Victoria Chapter of the Vintage Car Club of Canada were waiting to escort it to the capital.
The drive to Victoria led over the scenic Malahat Drive, which rises high and provides a spectacular view of southern Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and the Pacific Northwest. Upon arriving in Victoria, the Reo stopped at the B.C. Legislature on the Victoria waterfront. There, the Findlays and John Nicol were greeted by representatives of the provincial government, the city of Victoria, Speedy Auto Centres, and the British Columbia Automobile Association. After a brief ceremony, the day was concluded. The Reo had travelled 8228 kilometres on its journey from Halifax to Victoria.
At Port Alberni, the pathfinders erected a replica of the old Canadian
Highway sign.
By day's end the Reo had reached the steps of the B.C. Legislature in
Victoria, B.C.'s capital.
... The Reo overheated a little while climbing the big hill to Port Alberni
On this day in 1912 ...