"Dad and Leonard ["Mickey" McRae] ... were to leave Eganville in early 1913. Arriving at Entwhistle, Alberta, they stopped to get their bearings. Across the river from Entwhistle a coal mine was being prepared for production by English capital. Problems had developed in wiring it for electricity for they apparently had no electricians. Mickey, having only his studies in high school plus possibly some basic experience in Eganville, helped the mine out and earned a few dollars with the effort. Hearing of the Peace River country, they decided to make an inspection trip to Peace River Crossing to see what business opportunities there might be. Going by way of Edmonton and the ED & BC Ry to Mirror Landing, then by boat to Sawridge (Slave Lake) and Grouard, then with the final leg by horse and waggon overland on the Grouard Trail into Peace River. They must have felt there were possibilities for Mickey was to stay and see to the construction of a building and Dad to return to Edmonton to purchase stock to start a store business in West Peace River. ...it was to take months of time and hardship. They slept in a tent that fall and winter of '13/14 and I recall Dad saying he was thankful for a coonskin coat he had with him, even sleeping in it." "Mother and I were to leave Eganville that fall of '13, and excepting Aunt Ethel who was to come to Peace River a bit later, the association with the Ottawa Valley had ended and a new start had been made, for better or for worse." - Howard McRae, A Forest of Years, pp. 3-4