Random Pictures

These are some pictures of our last 15 days, OMG only 10 to go. Two cubs in Hyder following mom into the bush. Or it’s Roy and me headed home.

These are totem poles from the New Hazelton area of BC. Canada puts a ton of effort and support in allowing the native culture of the First Nations (Indians) to be shown and preserved.

On our way to Smithers BC spent the day here due to fires and the cancellation of the lava beds. You could see them catching fish are bringing it up the hill to sell roadside. This was from a pullout above the action. There is also a museum at the top of a bunch of stairs.

When we arrived in Smithers they were having a week long music festival so we were treated to a round robin of classical music. Groups of musicians from all ages would stop at designated places and play. It was called Classics on Main. http://smithersevents.com/events/spirit-of-the-north-classical-music-festival-2017 I digress. After a listen we drove around town and found the lodge for the Royal Candian Legion (VFW), this is the front and side of the hall.

Houston BC and all the A&Ws get together every year and donate to fight Multiple Sclerosis pretty cool.
This is a picture of the snow we saw on the detour from the fires.

Yes, I am a snow magnet.

I hope these pictures and our travels have brought some the trip has brought Roy and me some. I will see what other pictures I run across in the last 10 days.

Deception It Is NOT

This year has held some amazing water views, in fact I’m sitting watching the tide roll in. I have always been a water baby that’s why I live in the desert.😉 I think because of living there I enjoy my time at the water even better. I still have to dip my hand in the Pacific Ocean this trip. I also have to use my swimsuit at least once this trip.

Everyone who knows me knows heights are not a fave of mine. This trip I’ve faced it twice. The first time the glass skywalk on the Icefields Parkway in Canada, the second I walked across the bridge over Deception Pass in Seattle on Friday August 18th. Did you know it cost more to paint the bridge in 1983 than to build it in 1935. It actually goes over two passes Canoe Pass and Deception Pass. More info about the bridge. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deception_Pass_Bridge

I have to say this one was harder to do because the sidewalk was narrow, you have cars whizzing by, then you have to turn sideways to let people pass. Oh, I forgot to mention the wind. The cool thing is I did it! I even took some pictures. This was the view of the beach from the bridge.

I also think about wierd things happening to me. For example the bridge collasping while I’m standing under it. (BTW I have this thought while standing under it). I got a couple of interesting pictures

I heard creepy noises so did not stay under it long. I am glad I’ve gotten to face some fears this trip.

Still Seeing Them …

Animals that is. I went for a walk at Cliffside RV Park and I snuck up on a bunny. It’s funny how city wild animals aren’t phased by people. They are however spooked by dogs. I was out early this morning trying to figure out what camera settings work well with what type of light.

Got together with ammochief (Ken) a fellow geocacher thinking about doing the ape cache while we are here. I’m not sure I can do a 6 mile road trip foot trip. This weekend is the unarchiving of the ape cache on Saturday. There is a mega event happening at the cache on Saturday. Playing this by ear.

Took a run out to the ferry for Port Townsend which is what we will take to head to the Hoh Rainforest. I’m ok for the rain that’s ahead for us. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoh_Rainforest

After that trip we stopped at Coupeville to do a little shopping. I found a t-shirt in the last store I went in should of stopped here first. As we are pulling away from the downtown we have a raccoon cross our path strange ☺

We ran around the Seaplane Naval base for two reasons the first eclipse parking and the second hydro plane races this weekend. I think we saw parking for both. Tomorrow there’s a chevy car show and I think laundry again. We will also be checking out Deception Pass for some good pictures.

Still Seeing Snow

Monday when we drove through the northern cascades. We left Oroville Washington in the morning after a short night of sleep after the 15 hour road trip. The amount of water we have driven by this trip is amazing. Our trip through 97 and 20 were no exception. We also climbed over the nortern end of the cascades where yes at the highest points there was snow.

I also saw the George dam which provides power to Seattle Washinhton the lake it created has such an emerald color to it. The other thing was the wind that occurs up on the overlook of Diabolo Lake which is worth battling. From the overlook it only took a few minutes to get down to lake level. Please follow the two links for more information. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diablo_Lake https://www.nps.gov/noca/learn/historyculture/the-builders.htm

After we finally came off the mountain a stop at the visitor’s center was in order. Of course, I got a shirt it has on the back alot of parks that I’ve visited and a few I’ve added to the list like Craters of the Moon.

This part of the trip has been should we stay or should we head somewhere else to stay. Driving throughthe campground at the park we decided to move on into Seattle actually Whidbey Island and lucked into a site for two nights. We also added another night to Cliffside on the Naval Base.

So this coming week will be the eclipse and we already have our spot to see it. I know it’s not totality but we are going to get 98%. Also on the list is the ape cache (we did headquarters last year) and some farmers markets plus general running around.

So Many Titles For This One

Fire and Ice
15 Hour Day
3 in 1

When I’m done telling the story let me know what fits.

It all started in the morning of August 13th at Prince George. We pulled in Saturday night and the smoke was heavy and continued to increase, thank goodness for rain. By morning the rain had knocked down alot of the smoke, you could still smell it though.

We have been changing plans based on fire and smoke forecast, our first thought was one night in Prince George then one night in Barkerville then one night elsewhere in northern Washington then onto Whidbey Island. Barkerville seemed like a neat historic town. http://www.barkerville.ca

So head out of Prince George get down to Barkerville to smoky didn’t even attempt to drive down to see it. Another town to add to the list of need to go back to see. Did I mention it was raining and you could still smell the smoke. We grabbed lunch and headed on down the road.

We would have headed to Bella Coola https://bellacoola.ca via 20 but that was closed at Williams Lake BC so no go but we knew it. Cache Creek via BC 97 except that was closed at JCT 24 we knew that too. Driving on hwy 24 we climb a hill and see this white stuff on the ground (it was fresh). Once we realized what it was we stopped and took a picture. The highway was curvy and I think would have had good scenery if there was no smoke or snow. We hit 5 heading into Kamloops.

We had thought that Kamloops would be a good place to stop. The town was alot bigger then I expected and where we were going to stop there was no parking. It was about 6pm so we thought head on. Gorgeous scenery and rolling hills down near the water on 5a.

We catch 97c and start heading up a steep hill stopped at a brake check area by Loon Lake. It’s like 8:30pm so we decide let’s unload dig out propane coffee pot and eat sandwiches for dinner. Sitting with the lights on with no electric (didn’t want to start ginny) getting chilled. Roy looks at me and said you want to head to the border. I say sure it’s only 2 more hours.

We follow 97c down to where it ends at 97. Roy wakes me up to make sure he was going the right way. BTW I had just fallen asleep. We drive along water for quite sometime, I never realized how many lakes and rivers in BC. This will also have to be done during daylight.

About 12:30 we get to the border crossing and the gates are closed except for commercial trucks, so Roy wakes me up again. (BTW I had just fallen back to sleep). What to do it says on the website open 24 hours, so I called the number explained we were at the crossing. After a little chuckle he said pull through the commercial lane. The border agent was chatting with us and glancing in the car for about 5 minutes. Well we cleared customs and entered Oroville Wa at 1am, this means we are definately on the home stretch.

The end of our Canada tour got cut short, this is good because now we have stuff to do next time.

I Feel Like a Marshmellow

It’s not because I’m fluffy. I actually feel more like that burnt area you get when you roast them over a campfire. Seriously, the smoke in Prince George is rough air quality is 45+ which is very high. I’ve never seen smoke like this it’s freaky. The fires still have the same roads closed so this is good news. Rain is in the forecast so that should knock down some of the smoke.

It did or at least it washed away most of the soot. The smoke is still in the air this am but not as thick. We are off to Kamloops today then in the US tomorrow.

I Feel Like a Marshmellow

It did or at least it washed away most of the soot. The smoke is still in the air this am but not as thick. We are off to Kamloops today then in the US tomorrow.

Thanks Smoke

You know how the best laid plans and agendas can go astray, that was our 5 days at Ksan Campground in Hazelton BC. The plan was to make this our base camp and explore the First Nations of the Gitxsan Territory. Totem poles, lava beds, shopping, and hopefully a glimpse of a Kermode bear (Spirit Bear). https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermode_bear this links gives you a description of the bear maybe one day.

We arrived on the 8th and only saw a deer no pictures as he slipped into the trees. It seemed to be getting smoky, still holding on to some hope. The 9th we were going to head to the lava fields, http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/nisgaa/ but we decided to do that on the 10. If we ever get back here we will do this trip.

Staying around the area we decided to visit the totems in the area, along with a battlefield. Gitanyow at one time had the most totems in BC. Well worth the time to drive by these very old carved poles. The amount of skill and desire along with attention to detail impressive. http://www.stewartcassiarhighway.com/communities/kitwanga-kitwancool

The morning of the 10th woke up to a valley filled with smoke no lava beds for us, so headedto Smithers for shopping. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smithers,_British_Columbia Roy was able to go to a meat house to check on sausages. Once back to the trailer we got the bad news the only way into Bella Coola is closed due to wildfires. So we are offically winging it.

We will be checking the town of Barkerville BC, which is a historical landmark (thanks Karen), then from there we will work our way down to Seattle where we were able to get in 3 days early. I will post when I get internet or Seattle whatever happens first.

Early Mornings Are Best

for bears of course. August 7th was our last full day at Hyder so I wanted to be up early to try and avoid combat photographers. The broadwalk opened at 6am so we arrived at 6am. I was treated to two grizzlies and one black bear and only 2 other people a bear for each of us.

It is rare for a black bear to be around when grizzlies are in the area but I guess when food is plenty that doesn’t apply. He did not hang around for long when the grizzly known as Dawg Bear showed up to join a female. I think this was because the female was trying to intimadate the Dawg it worked on both bears.

I want to know if me wanting to grab my camera rather then warn a person he should duck is wrong? We are standing watching an immature golden eagle get irritated by a seagull so he started chasing it down the creek. We all lost sight of it until it tried to fly overthe boardwalk avoiding a pine tree this guy was standing under. I watched it all happened to fast because in my mind I’m thinking of saying duck but then thinking take a picture before I got the camera ready it was over. We told him we would have put it on you tube if the eagle got him. This bird’s talons were very very large.

Spent over an hour here enjoying the peacefulness before the crazies began arriving. The rest of the daywe explored the back roads of Hyder saw a black bear and a few kittens that were very skiddish.

I enjoyed spending so much time here and having both the weather and animals cooperate. We travelled to New Hazelton BC the 8th.