Day 1 - New York - Pennsylvania
1 mei 1974, Verenigde Staten
(Ursula) Today begins an exciting part of our lives.
Our car is a 1972 WV Westfalia Camper. The crew is my husband Heinz (29), me-Ursula (25), and my twin brother Wally.
We are starting a journeyMeer informatie
Day 2 - Indiana - Illinois
2 mei 1974, Verenigde Staten
Our goal is to reach the Northern regions of Canada swiftly and commence our journey southward. Allotting about an hour each morning for road preparations, Wally and I have opted to forego shaving,Meer informatie
Day 3 - Chicago
3 mei 1974, Verenigde Staten
(Ursula). Navigating through seemingly boundless industrial zones, we reached Chicago in the early afternoon. To my surprise, the city appeared remarkably clean, defying my preconceived notion of itMeer informatie
Day 4 - Wisconsin - Minnesota
4 mei 1974, Verenigde Staten
The campsites in the US are excellent. It's lovely to shower warm in the morning when it's cold outside. Ursula blow-dried her long hair using the wall-mounted hand dryer.
The camper needed a washMeer informatie
Day 5 - Crossing into Manitoba, Canada
5 mei 1974, Canada
The first border crossing couldn't handle our Swiss passports and directed us to a more prevalent one four miles East. Everything went smoothly there - Welcome to Canada!
The road was a single laneMeer informatie
Day 6 - Saskatchewan
6 mei 1974, Canada
Ursula didn't have a driver's license yet and was riding along in the back seat. So, when the landscape looked boring, she kept busy tidying things up in the camper and even cleaned windows! She triedMeer informatie
Day 8 Edmonton & North
8 mei 1974, Canada
Edmonton provided the opportunity for food shopping, personal hygiene, and washing clothes. We are now in the Province of Alberta.
Soon, we headed North-West on Route 43. And with that, the sceneryMeer informatie
Day 9 - Northwest Territories
10 mei 1974, Canada
Today, we crossed the Peace River and refueled at a gas station where Wally was promptly offered a job as a car mechanic. That was flattering. We aimed to reach Yellowknife in the NorthwestMeer informatie
Day 10 - North to the Arctic Circle
11 mei 1974, Canada
(Ursula) I was allowed to lie down in Wally's hammock for a while. It was so warm and cuddly. Then we took a "luxury" shower behind the cabin, which required teamwork. Person #1, taking the shower,Meer informatie
Day 11 - Fort Smith
12 mei 1974, Canada
After a few miles of driving, Wally felt something wasn’t right with the engine. It was running OK but with diminished power. He found an exhaust valve with almost zero clearance that hadMeer informatie
Day 12 - Wood Buffalo NP
12 mei 1974, Canada
(Ursula) Today we explored Wood Buffalo Park. Before leaving, we got invited for tea by a group of people we met. Some were Indians or had at least Indian blood and beautiful brown skin.
On the wayMeer informatie
Day 13 - Deciding on Plan B
13 mei 1974, Canada
Our original plan was to drive to Alaska to start the trip to South America. But based on the information received from Igor & Carol, Alaska wasn't doable at this time of the year without a 4x4 driveMeer informatie
Day 14 - Jasper NP, Alberta
14 mei 1974, Canada
We arrived in Jasper, Alberta. On the way here, we got stopped by a State Trooper because of speeding (which we were unaware of - the truth!). He could have fined us but let us go with a warning andMeer informatie
Day 16 - Jasper
16 mei 1974, Canada
We declared today a rest day we want to spend with Wally’s friends. Ruth is from Tramelan in the Jura and works at the local hospital as a nurse. Chrigel is from Adelboden. He works odd jobs in theMeer informatie
Day 17 - Jasper
17 mei 1974, Canada
Ruth & Chrigel had to return to work today.
After breakfast, we went on a short hike in the area and later joined their neighbors, the Klopfstein family, for coffee and continued our journey.Meer informatie
Day 18 - Banff National Park
18 mei 1974, Canada
We took our time and enjoyed our leisurely drive through Banff National Park with its magnificent views. In contrast to Switzerland, nature here is primarily untouched wilderness.
Wally and IMeer informatie
Day 19 - Golden
19 mei 1974, Canada
Lake Louise was so picture-perfect. Part of the lake was still frozen.
We are again heading for Vancouver, BC, on the Trans-Canada Highway #1. We were rushing a bit and skipped so many places thatMeer informatie
Day 20 - Vancouver
20 mei 1974, Canada
The landscape became much more lush and exciting. Everything was now green. The single-family homes with manicured gardens looked like in a picture book. The city of Vancouver is almost surrounded byMeer informatie
Day 21-23 Vancouver
23 mei 1974, Canada
(Ursula) Today, we got to meet Wally's friend Ernst Bähler. He accompanied us to the VW dealer. Our first significant service after 5,592 miles is now done! A section of the heating element wasMeer informatie
Day 24-25 Vancouver Island
25 mei 1974, Canada
Does the rain never stop in Vancouver? We had the brilliant idea to rent a room at a Motel. Ernst was in trouble with the landlady, but she did have a heart and allowed Ursula to use her washer/dryer.Meer informatie
Day 26 - Long Beach Campground
26 mei 1974, Canada
What a glorious morning!
Blue sky, nice and warm. Just after Nanaimo, on the way to Port Alberni, we visited MacMillan Provincial Park and wandered through a utopian-looking forest in our yellowMeer informatie
Day 27 - Tofino & Ucluelet
27 mei 1974, Canada
Tofino and Ucluelet were both fishing villages that we visited. We badly wanted to buy fresh Salmon. Naturally, I checked all the fishing boats at the dock, but there was no luck. Then I found aMeer informatie
Day 28 - Shawinigan Lake
28 mei 1974, Canada
Over a dirt logging road and a few fantastic wooden bridges, we drove to Shawinigan Lake to visit a camp Wally recommended.
On the way there, we stopped at the Silver Mine Ranch and decided to goMeer informatie
Day 29 - Sailing
29 mei 1974, Coastal Waters Of Southeast Alaska And British Columbia
We were ready at 7 AM. Fred took us to Victoria Harbor, where his sailboat was docked. It was nice, over 30 feet long - much more comfortable than the nutshell we remembered from our Club Med vacationMeer informatie
Day 30 - Port Renfrew - Victoria
30 mei 1974, Canada
We are 30 days into our journey to South America. What an experience it has been so far!
Today, we took an unpaved road with lots of potholes back to Victoria. Heavily loaded Logging Trucks cameMeer informatie


























































ReizigerGreat beginning. I look forward to reading the full story.
ReizigerThank you Aubra