Donaldson followed the Peace River through Alberta and battled the wild rapids of the mighty Fraser River in British Columbia. Canoeing the swift current was "like riding with ten thousand elephants at your back," he grimaced.

On the night of July 21, 1993, his transcontinental odyssey complete, Donaldson arrived at Mackenzie's Rock, 80 km west of Bella Coola. He attended a ceremony receiving a telegram of congratulation from the Deputy Prime Minister, Jean Charest.

But, of all the messages he received the one he treasures the most came from his family
(including new triplets, Jeniffer, Greg, and Alexandra) which read:

To: John Donaldson
C/O Ray Skelly, MP,
Bella Coola, BC
July 20, 1993

Dear Grandpa,

We wish we could be with you today at Bella Coola to celebrate your monumental achievement, that of singlehandedly retracing the footsteps of that other great Inverness Scot, Sir Alexander Mackenzie, from Montreal to the Pacific by canoe. Of course, he did it the easy way as he took along some friends and relied on skilled local guides for assistance. It is also widely known that at least he had some private sector support. You, by contrast, have never been known to do things the easy way.

Your family has, we hope, performed our role as effectively as possible during your expedition. Our job was to worry. We worried when you announced you intended to embark upon your venture. We worried when you actually left. We worried when you turned up with your face burnt by the sun and your hands swollen and blistered. We worried when we discovered that you had been nearly capsized in the wake of a laker on Superior. We worried when we discovered you had been held at gunpoint by a madman near Buffalo Narrows. We worried when you were camped in a freezing blizzard at Peace River. We were worried when you had to negotiate that tricky stretch of water west of the watershed. Now we are worried about what you are going to do for an encore.

All of us simply want you to know that we are very proud of you and of what you have managed to accomplish. Your spirit and determination are an inspiration to all those you have met along the voyage and especially to us, your loving family.

The Valcovs
Anne
Bob
Christiana
Katherine
Elizabeth
Alexandra
Gregory
Jennifer


The following day precisely marked the 200th anniversary of Mackenzie's reaching the Pacific. The place is named for the large boulder where Mackenzie inscribed this simple message:

" Alexander Mackenzie from Canada by Land; July 22 one thousand seven hundred and ninety three."

As Donaldson stood proudly listening to a piper from Canada's own Seaforth Highlanders play the stiring Mackenzie lament, he commented, "my principal aim in pursuing this arduous and frequently dangerous task was to try to bring to pubic attention some understanding of an authentic Canadian hero and to revitalise the jaded image that our history has unfortunately become for most Canadians."

Donaldson, along with his canoe and his Scottish West Highland Terrier, Angus, returned from Mackenzie's Rock to Bella Coola in style, as guest of the Captain on board the Canadian warship, HMCS Mackenzie.