Halifax: August 27, 1912 <<< >>> Victoria: October 17, 1912
| Today's Statistics: | Travelling from Lethbridge, Alberta to Frank, Alberta | |||
| Distance: 170 km | Driving Hours: 3.5 h | Fuel: 37 l | Weather: Windy | Temperature: Min. 11 Max.17 |
The day began with a newspaper interview in Lethbridge, and a quick drive around Henderson Lake and through downtown. The city's most notable sight is the High Level Bridge. This massive train crossing passes high over the Oldman River. It is the longest and highest bridge of its type.
Historically, Lethbridge dates back to the 1870's when the Northwest Mounted Police were sent out to nearby Fort Whoop-Up. It seems that the traders at Fort Whoop-Up had been trading poisonous whiskey for buffalo robes. The Mounted Police marched westward for 800 miles, only to find that the fort was not where they had been told it was. Eventually, with the help of some local men, they found Fort Whoop-Up, but did not find evidence of the whiskey trade. The mounties continued westward, eventually founding the first Northwest Mounted Police Fort at Fort McLeod. From there, these "Riders of the Plains" policed the Canadian West in the late 1800's.
After leaving Lethbridge, the Reo took a short drive to Fort McLeod, where the Alberta Reo Owners had gathered to greet the Findlays and John Nicol. The Reo owners came from as far away as Edmonton, and the travellers were thrilled to be welcomed by such fine cars. After a good lunch at Auntie Lynda's Restaurant and a look at a few more Reos, the 1997 pathfinders headed off toward the Rocky Mountains.
The Reo headed westward into strong headwinds, perhaps as high as 90 k.p.h. at times. Highway 3 follows the historic Crowsnest Trail along the Oldman river for a ways before eventually finding the Crowsnest River through the mountains. As the afternoon passed, the Rocky Mountains loomed larger and larger.
The day's drive ended at the tiny town of Frank, Alberta. On April 29, 1903 the east side of Turtle Mountain came crashing down and buried the village below, killing about 70 people. Today, the massive rocks of the slide still line the highway on both sides. An interpretive centre re-tells the story of the slide and the history of the Crowsnest area. The Findlays and John Nicol stopped to take pictures at the slide, just as Jack Haney and Thomas Wilby had done 85 years ago. (See Photo Gallery.)
Following Highway 3, the historic Crowsnest Trail
A collection of Reos
1912 "the Fifth" ... 1931 Model B ... 1929 Flying Cloud ... 1935 Royale
On this day in 1912 ...