The First Trans-Canada Auto Trip

Halifax: August 27, 1912 <<<    >>> Victoria: October 17, 1912

Daily News: October 9, 1997

Heading for Princeton

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Today's Statistics: Travelling from Penticton, British Columbia to Princeton, British Columbia
Distance: 144 km Driving Hours: 3 h Fuel: 30 l Weather: Cloudy Temperature: Min. 4 Max. 11

Day 44 of the 1997 cross-Canada auto tour had a little of everything in it for the pathfindes and their Reo. The morning was spent visiting in Penticton and Kaleden before the afternoon's drive to Princeton.

At 9:00 AM, the Reo made a visit to Kaleden Elementary School in the small town of Kaleden, south of Penticton. It was here that Lorne Findlay and his 6 siblings grew up and attended school. It was a special moment for Lorne to visit his old school and share his cross-Canada experiences with the grade 6 and 7 students.

By 10:45 the Reo had made its way back into Penticton to visit the seniors at Trinity Care Centre. The centre's oldest resident is Lorne's mother, 101 year old Iva Findlay. All the seniors were thrilled to see the old Reo and share their own driving experiences.

During the lunch hour, Peter Findlay visited The Computer Source in Penticton to try to remedy a problem with his laptop computer. The staff at the store were extremely helpful and before long the problem was solved. Many thanks to the staff of The Computer Source for their help.

After lunch the Reo made its way along the old Green Lake Road out of Penticton, led by members of the Vintage Car Club of Canada. This is the old road out of town which travels through the Penticton Band Reserve toward Apex Ski Resort. The Reo followed the road along until it reached the tiny orchard town of Keremeos. At Keremeos the group was joined by members of the Marauders Car Club of Princeton as well as local Keremeos representatives and their cars. For a ways the procession was led by a high wheeled penny-farthing bicycle. Keremeos is known for its orchards and for the many fruit and vegetable stands which are located right along the highway.

Eventually the group made its way along the Similkameen River, past the old gold mining town of Hedley, and on into Princeton. There they were received at the Princeton Hotel by representatives of the city, the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions, and the Marauders Car Club.

Princeton was originally called Vermillion Forks and is located at the forks of the Similkameen and the Tulameen rivers. For centuries, first nations people would come here from as far away as the prairies to get the ochre that is present in the soil. The ochre was known as an excellent dye. Today, Princeton's economy is based on mining, logging, and cattle ranching.

Kaleden School



The Reo visited Kaleden Elementary School in the morning.













The Findlays





Iva Findlay (101 years old) with sons Lorne and Ray and daughter Shirley














Harvest



The fall harvest was abundant at the Keremeos fruit stands.













Model T Fords





At Keremeos, the Reo was met by two fine old Model T Fords.














Picture of the Day ... Thanks to the staff at The Computer Source in Penticton for helping keep Peter's laptop working.


On this day in 1912 ...

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