It is a scene that harkens back to the early decades of the Royal City. A sternwheeler heads off on the Fraser River, its large paddlewheel churning up the water, making its way either up or downstream, carrying passengers out for a day of fun, food and scenery.
Today we watch the MV Native but many years ago it might have been the Onward, the Paystreak, the Skeena, or any one of the hundreds of riverboats that plied the Fraser.
Going on a riverboat excursion was something that occurred regularly in the early years of this city.
The river was at the town’s doorstep. There were lots of vessels available. Many of the captains and owners of these boats were offering their services, often for free.
And remember that this was a much simpler time without the vast, ever-expanding array of activities we have today.
A boat trip for a few hours or a day was a wonderful diversion and an organized excursion that included extra activities was even better. But where to go and what to do?
Some voyages headed upstream to the Pitt River after picking up passengers at landings along the way. The cruise would stop at a few places, visit a farm or two, perhaps enjoy a picnic, and then on the return trip a band, often a part of the organizing group, would perform while the travellers sat back, relaxed and sometimes danced.
Other trips went further upstream to Derby, near Fort Langley, where there would be the requisite food and music.
But up here games, races, sports and other similar fun usually took place in a large open area that was a fantastic feature of this location. Stories are told of the return from Derby being quite quiet as everyone, especially the young, were totally worn out after an active outing.
We have also noted excursions on the Fraser that went down to Ladner or Steveston.
Activities might have been much the same as other trips, but on occasion something very special and different was added to the day.
Steveston had an opera house, and a performance was arranged for those arriving via the steamboat excursion. People were picked up along the way down, enjoyed the concert, and then sailed home.
Other cruises and excursions went to Burrard Inlet sites, across the Gulf to Nanaimo, Ladysmith or locations on the Gulf Islands, and sometimes ventured all the way to Victoria.
There are also stories of trips into Puget Sound to Port Townsend, Port Gamble and Bellingham Bay.
July 1st and July 4th were highlight dates for such early excursions as American and Canadian communities celebrated in fine form, often with reciprocal events.
So next time you see the MV Native sailing by, pause for a moment and think of the history it is re-enacting and all the people who sailed on the paddlewheelers of the Fraser.
