Find My Country

I will discuss the trip here later (as it is a more positive story), but Prince Rupert really needs to be wiped off the face of the Earth.

Originally, Prince Rupert was named after an English nobleman who should have been reknown for how many times he was defeated in battle. With assistance from the Canadian Pacific Railroad, Charles Hayes wanted to create a sea port that would rival Vancouver. Unfortunately this enterprising millionare died in the sinking of the Titanic. (Yes, THAT Titanic). Prince Rupert did become a somewhat important shipping port, but it does not rival Vancouver in any way, shape or form.

Prince Rupert’s first problem starts in its isolation. The city is only accessible through the Yellowhead Trail, Transcanada Highway 16. The highway is, without a doubt, the most beautiful ride in Canada that I’ve experienced – I will definitely share some pictures of it later on. However, this isolated highway has been used to dispose of murdered bodies more than a dozen times in the past 15 years. As well, criminals try to escape to Prince Rupert in order to evade justice. It is right next to the Alaska Highway, and it is trivially easy to avoid patrols. As a result, hotels lock their doors after 11 PM, making it impossible to check in if you get in late at some places. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I do not feel entirely safe in this city’s confines.

The smell of seawater takes a while to get used to, but it isn’t so bad. The smell of stale fish, however, is horrible and you experience it in abundance if one is not careful. This is, of course, forgivable. After all, one can’t expect a wharf to have the sterile corporate smell that prevades so many of our cities. However, the smell of rotting garbage that is thrown into parks and creeks is unforgivable, and utterly disgusting.  I saw people unloading garbage and throwing cans into fish spawning areas, something so incredibly stupid that it defied any attempt of mine to understand it – after all, these people make their livings off fishing.

People here love their dogs, and by love, I mean love keeping them off their leash.  I was chased twice while walking in public places by dogs whose masters appeared to enjoy watching the brown fellow back away slowly, and then run.

I was told there was a beach on a nearby island.  I went there and all I saw was a giant grain elevator and “No Trespassing” signs.  I think that the tourism people here need to visit pacific rim national park so they can understand what a “beach” is.

I went to the Hostel in town, where I was given the third degree by the lady there.  She demanded some ID when I paid by credit card, told me I was not to bring in any bags because they might have bed bugs (!!!) and given a shared accomodation – with a guy who was snoring so loud that everyone was complaining.  Instead of complain, I drove to the Moby Dick Inn and negotiated until they gave me a room for 50 dollars a night.  By the way, the Moby Dick Inn is a great place to stay and I highly recommend it if you plan to stay in Prince Rupert.

If you like fishing, Prince Rupert is a great place to go.  If you like hunting, you can leave from here and connect onto the alaska highway to go deeper into the wild.  There is no other purpose to come to Prince Rupert – except as the end point of the fabulous fantastic journey through Highway 16.  (Most beautiful vista ever)