Monday 5 August 2013

Prince Rupert

We have picked a holiday weekend to stay here which wasn't that clever, its a small place and mostly shut for the weekend! We spent Friday night in the company of Ed & Peter, they are ships Captains working as pilots taking ships through the inner sound and Vancouver, they were waiting to join a cruise ship to steer it down to  Vancouver, Ed is also a motorcyclist so we told bike stories whilst I quizzed him on the intracacies of being a ships pilot! All in all an interesting night. Saturdays main event was my second haircut of the trip so I no longer look like a troll (Honest Mark!) and today we rode to Port Edward to the North Pacific Canning factory, luckily they have got rid of the fish and its just the machinery left so no smell ! Really interesting to see how muck hard graft went into supplying tinned salmon for the UK market. An interesting aside, the workers here were a mix of Europeans, First Nation, Japanese and Chinese, its no different from any other place the Europeans exploited, find a natural resource, take over the land, use the locals as cheap labour and any others looking for a better way of life, get rich, leave!  The other side is of course would the locals be any better or worse if that sequence of events hadn't happened? Not a political rant, just an observation and trying to fill the blog when there's not much happening! Anyway ferry Tuesday to Haines and hopefully we will get some whale photos for you! Alaska here we come!
Signs of the old country everywhere

Enjoying a Friday night with Ed & Peter

They had a replica of me on the wall!

Never expected to see this, interesting fact, the Chinese in Canada didn't get to vote until 1949!

The North Pacific Cannery complete with Scottish like weather

This is where it all happened

You get the idea


This machine was so called because it did away with 30 Chinese workers who killed, and gutted the fish, imagine the uproar nowadays!

The mist did lift for the run back to our digs!

4 comments:

  1. Fascinating stuff you two! One problem; my mom doesn't know I ride motorcycles - hope she doesn't get wind of it through your blog....

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    1. Thanks Ed, sorry about that, I'm sure your secret will be safe!
      Gino & Fiona

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  2. Brilliant stuff! Looking forward to hearing how you get on when it gets cold up north,

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    1. Hi Merv, Not too happy with the sudden change in temp, bring back the sun! Ushuaia for Xmas again?
      Regards
      Gino & Fiona

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