WONDERFUL HIGH-WAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20244, 2 May 1929, Page 17

WONDERFUL HIGH-WAY.

OVER 1700 MILES.

ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST.

ROUTE OF MANY BEAUTIES.

, [FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] VANCOUVER. March 23. A ribbon of silver, running for 1772 miles through an evergreen playground, from Vancouver to Tia Juana, Mexico, crossing two international lines—such is the wonderful Pacific highway, longest and most beautiful concreted strip of continuous motor travel in the world. It passes a unique succession of scenic beauties, skirting the base of great mountains, " through famous forests, along the shores of the Pacific Ocean for hundreds of miles.

The streams of the mountain regions bordering thei road from end to end teem with fish. The ranges are full of deer, which may Ibe sliot in the open season. Bear, cougar and other predatory animals may be shot at all times. Wild goat and mountain sheep roam the extreme higher altitudes. Quail, • pheasant, ducks and geese constitute the principal game.

To the student as well as the tourist the highway offers a theme of arresting interest. At San Diego, the base of tho 'United States Pacific fleet, near the Mexican border, he may study the development of the birthplace of civilisation in the West in the ruins of the mission established there in 1869 by Father Junipero Serra, from which the missionary movement spread to San Francisco. Ha may diverge a Little to the mouth of the Columbia River, named by Captain Robert Grey, of the British trading vessel Columbia in 1793. He will drive for 200 miles along the shores of Puget Sound, explored about the same time by Captain Vancouver, of the British Navy. Many Other Historic Spots. The traveller will follow the last stages of the journey of Simon Fraser, the hardy representative of the North-west Fur Company, who crossed Canada from cast to west in 1809, and after whom is named the mighty Fraser Iliver, a household name in most countries for its salmon. He may linger at the foot of the monument in Portland, the Rose City, to Secagawea, Indian woman who guided Lewis and Clark over the Rockies by the route since become famous as the Oregon Trail. He may bathe in a little stream in the mountains of Northern California, where gold was discovered in 1849, ushering in that romantic Argonaut age, and ponder its curious link with the discovery, by au Australian digger on this goldfield, of the precious metal in New South Wales two years later. One may stay overnight in many of the 22 missions established by the Spanish padres along the route in the latter part of the eighteenth century, or he may diverge again in the south and follow EI Camino Real, "The Royal Highway," tha trail named by the padres as they toiled along on foot or on pack animals. Some of the missions are decayed and practically demolished. Others, though dilapidated, are still in use, while still others are kept in good repair and havo continuously since their founding performed their functions as places of worship. . Comforts and Luxuries. From a virgin forest 4000 years old, ten minutes' walk from the heart of Vancouver, to the "champagne and loamy lace" of the breakers in San Diego beaches, there is a variety and grandeur of scenery and natural wonders unmatched along any other highway in the world. It is a land of sea and mountains, forest and snow peaks, valleys and lakes. Everything the motorist needs to give him comfort, even luxury, is to be found all along the way. The highest class of tourist and resort hotels abound, as well as good hotels of lower cost.

Motor camps are every few miles, many of them equipped with cabins for rent, and with cooking, bathing and laundry facilities, as well as radio and dancing. Garages with skilleid mechanics are in every city, town, village and auto camp. Gas service stations, even in the mountains, are every few miles. Public telephones are everywhere on the roadside, and a service car may be summoned within a, few minutes. Towage to repair stations is provided by the automobile clubs throughout. One can travel from end to end of the Pacific Highway without getting far from help. Connection with Great Routes. All the great transcontinental routes, by which no fewer than 500.000 automobiles crossed the continent to the Pacific Coast in 1928, connect directly with the Pacific Highway at some point. More than one route crosses Colorado River via the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. The Lincoln and Victoiv Highways join the Pacific Highway at Sacramento, thence the three run together to San Francisco. The Oregon Trail and others, by way of Yellowstone Park, join the Pacific Highway afe Portland. The Transcanada Highway, threading the awe-inspiring Fraser Canyon, joins it 50 miles outside Vancouver. There are fine golf courses and tennis courts near every city and town on the highway. Bathing beaches are so numerous that to name them would be impossible. Practically the whole ocean shore from San Diego to San Francisco, a distance of 7CO miles, is a bathing beach, and again, at the mouth of the Columbia, along Puget Sound and the mainland of British Columbia. To the traveller in search of health, sport or pleasure, the Pacific Highway offers facilities that may only bo seen to be appreciated.