Diary: Northwest, Brit[ish] Col[umbia] and Alaska

July 1905. July 6th: CR, Christo, &SSR began their trip to Brit Columbia. We left Toronto at 1:30 CPR. leaving Charlie behind at B.H he. CS MacI. A.Macmurchy, Nora Casey, &Carl d Fallol saw us off. CCR & Carl came as far as Parkdale with us. We [unclear] luggage down at 12. & had it checked. Our seats were reserved in Chair car to Owen Sound. Day very hot, & at times the car was unbearable To Owen Sound is 122 miles thro' pretty country, [?is?iy] all the way to Dundalk, a [Flesher town?] 1700 [ft?]_ At Owen Sound train stops at Steamer pier _ we went onboard at over, the Athabasca, [?] five large boat. Very clean & nice, with beautiful upper deck. Left at about 6. Had dinner 6.30 - [There?] out on deck & enjoy delicious [coolness?] & a glorious sunset_

Friday, July 7th. Had a good sleep. & breakfast 9.15. Weather very disappointing, rain & fog. we were in a very pretty part of the N shore of Lake Huron among many wooded islands and as we got nearer the Sault there were little summer cottages & camps, mostly at the edge of small clearings running back a short distance from the water. Otherwise the islands are masses of unbroken wood. The north shore lies behind Manitoulin Island these large boats do not go on the n side. A smaller

steamer plies between the ports in [Alpowa?] & the Sault daily We reached the Sault at 1.15 The [am.?] side has [luorueous?] factories & looks like a big place. both towns extend a long way straggling out along the waterfront. & have electric cars. Our steamer tied up at the wharf. Where no less than 6 omnibuses were waiting to convey us passengers to the various hotels. Mrs Percy Dawson (our nice little nurse who was Miss Northcott) came down to see us. She was nearing

in May turned up here. Her Husband is Cashier for the Clergue companies & She says they are quite or their feel [apair] & that business is booming. We walked about a little but had only 3/4 hr. For some unknown reason we went through the Am. Canal. on the 3. side of the rapids. The rapids are about a mile wide & 1/2 mile long. & did not look very fierce. The canal has only one lock. It filled very fast when we were once inside

[the] [?] [?] [stuck] behind us, up one were lifted & then floated out. [On the] upper level passing several freight boats waiting to go down. Once out into Lake Superior the fog settled down again. I went to lie down for the next 3 hours. The evening was very cold & foggy.

Saturday. July 8. After a good sleep got up 8. Had a good bath only one bathroom. Our boat [?] The night was very cold. I have been glad of what warm things I brought. & shd have had a thick [coat], or Spencer —