Prince Rupert Canada’s Rainforest

What do you need for a rain forest. RAIN!! We take the ferry to Haines early in the morning of the 11th. Yesterday, we arrived in Prince Rupert actually Port Edward, staying at a campground built into a hill. Roy’s out checking to see if we should hook up early and head out due to all the rain coming down. Roy’s back we are staying will hookup after dinner.

It’s been chilly the last few days so normally with electricity we would give the propane heater a break. Normally if you had an electric heater that worked. We had to say good-bye to one we’ve had for at least 10 years. Roy plugged in the space heater the other night turned it on and pop something sparked. It’s all good though because the propane heater is an amazing warm maker. The funny thing about losing the electric heater was we have a perfectly good one at home. I had a thought that I should bring it with us just in case the space heater we were using went south. I think I should follow through with those thoughts.

Pulling in yesterday we dropped the trailer and decided to drive the area seeing I scheduled an extra day here. You never know I might want to go shopping. I am glad I did because driving here today would have been icky in the rain. The town of Prince Rupert had a few gift stores bought my first t-shirt of the trip. Not what I expected for a stop off for cruise ships.

We did eat a good dinner at a local restaurant. The town of Port Edward has a historic salmon cannery that is a national landmark.

So here are pictures from the cannery.

The Center

I’ve noticed that we are always finding parallels, meridians, and centers. Today was no different as we went through Vanderhoof BC which is the geographical center of British Columbia. I will keep you posted on what other lines we will cross this trip.

As far as animal counts we saw a very fat black bear crossing the road. I hope you can tell it from the picture.

I do not have a picture of the moose who surprised us by walking behind our trailer at a rest area in Smithers.

We’ve travelled a few of these roads before but in the opposite direction, things look similar but different. It’s like life it all depends on what direction you are going.

Speaking of going we are headed to Prince Rupert for two days then on a ferry to Haines AK.

All Aboard

Prince George found us at The Railway and Forestry museum, another Harvest Host campsite. The grounds were 8 acres of old trains, equipment, and stuff. We were able to just take the train around the perimeter.

Roy even decided to be a conductor, so cute.

This was after the train ride. The property looked like an organized mess of antiques, Roy said that if someone did not want something give it to the museum. That was what was happening until they had to take a year off of taking anything. Now they are going to be picky. Here are some photos of the museum grounds.

All in all it was a cute museum. The grounds butted up to a bunch of cottonwood trees, and guess what it did to my allergies.

On the drive up from Barkerville we got to see a lynx the dash cam caught it. I have to say though it was to far away to get a clear shot. So next on the bucket list is to see a Spirit Bear or a Kermode. We are staying an extra day in Prince Rupert to drive the area for some stalking. https://bear.org/what-is-a-spirit-bear We also saw another black bear, no babies yet but I think they are in the future.

Check out the video page I will be posting a few here and there.

Rain, Sleet, Snow

seen it covered it. I’ve been known as a snow magnet, I’ve also been worried this could follow me here. (IT DID). Tonight (June 6th) we are staying at Forest Rose campground near the historic town of Barkerville, BC, very quiet campground. The reason it’s so quiet is possibly the weather. Sane people stayed home. Driving here from Cache Creek we had some sun, some rain, then on the final leg into Barkerville it started. First it was slushy, then it was harder and in the form of hail then snow. It did not stick but OMG it got cold.

We will see if there is any on the ground in the morning we have had light rain on and off but it is going down tonight. I am glad we decided to come and spend a night here even if the rain kept me from enjoying town.

Animal wise it’s getting better we are now up to 3 deers each seperate sightings. Cows are up to 890 million, a few horses. The cherry on top was our first black bear of the trip. We have it on camera and on dash cam video.

We are nice and toasty in our trailer with the propane heater. Tomorrow is another Harvest Hosts at a train museum in Prince George BC.

Oh Canada

We made it minus six levelling blocks, I’ll expound and state a valuable lesson at the same time. Spent the morning trying to find a bank or duty free shop to exchange money with no limit. Found one not Wells Fargo because we are not customers so I had that on my mind. Next thing happened I had to check the little room in the back of the trailer inside I hear the tailgate close, I’m thinking he picked up the blocks. After I lock up I don’t look around like I always do; in the car we hear clunk jerk. I asked what we run over. Roy says it’s probably a sticky break cause I checked the brakes in reverse. I say do you want me to go look. Roy’s answer was no. Fast forward to camp setup at Cache Creek that night, guess what wasn’t there. Yes, the nothing we ran over. (should have got out) We had enough for the hitch but decided to be a tad off balance. Lesson learned don’t mess with routine.

You know how you prepare to cross the border based on past experience it’s never the same. I finished up my milk so we didn’t cross the border with it. We both went over our answers to how long you in Canada for, how much money we had. It was not important. The female Border Agent was more curious about Roy’s trucking career and what I retired from then anything else. The other thing was asking two different ways if we had any alcohol. After going through our passports she saw a stamp from our entrance into Beaver Creek Canada in 2017. We said yes, she then asked if we’d been searched then. I said no, (Roy thought she was going to say well then today’s your day). She smiled when I said we wanted a stamp because no one does that anymore. I did make sure Roy would not contaminate any more border crossings cause he would stay in the car. (If you haven’t heard about that I’ll retell it just let me know in the comments).

So border crossing done headed to Cache Creek BC

We chose this route because of all the fruit stands that were closed the year we drove through here to avoid the fires. Well, this time through the fruit isn’t ready yet so gues what that means. Another trip north just a little later in the season. Heading up 97 to Peachland we were near water, beaches and vineyards. Maybe next trip spending a few days here.

Picking up 97c it was all ups and downs. Very little traffic on the road, I think because it is mountainous and winding. Taking back roads you never know what you will find, like the Highland Valley Copper mine.

It was gigantic. These are roads I am learning to enjoy.

Sitting on the Dock of the Bay

watching the tide roll in. Sorta. We hada change of plans with Harvest Hosts again, tomorrow is another chance. Today was to be in Yakima Wa a winery and distillery (granted they were closed). The view from the driveway was amazing. I say driveway because that’s as close as we came. I guess the jeep doesn’t want to pull a trailer up a steep 24% grade in all wheel drive. (next time 4×4 before we start). Add to the steep incline and possible water in gas tank we were not going there.

So you ask how did we turn around? WE DIDN’T! Roy’s prior lifestyle choices paid off (he was an over the road truck driver). Seeing pulling the trailer we could not do a u-turn, he backed all the way down the hill using only his side mirrors. I said nothing just sorta held my breathe. I did say how impressed I was he said it could have been better. We got down in one shot so that is all I care about. Once down the hill and pointed in the right direction we said now what.

First things first gas at costco then truck on to get close to Oroville, WA because we are staying at a winery tomorrow. We head up the US 82 to US 90 climbing all the way, then 284 to 17 which is where we are now. We stopped for the night beside Blue Lake.

Amazing views and even some gulls to entertain me. It is interesting how even out in the middle of nowhere there are places you don’t feel like staying due to the disrepair of the place. We passed a few before settling down for the night.

The only thing that made me nervous was the amount the wind that was blowing. I talked Roy into putting in the slide. The way the awning over the slide out was really whipping. (Last thing needed was a sail. BTW the wind quit blowing. I prefer to be safe rather then sorry. We are camping in a huge pull out area with a camper at either end so we know we are where we are supposed to be.

I have to say the animal sightings are increasing right before we found the place to bed down a healthy doe crossed the road in front of us. At the pull out there were gulls and magpies. We have a short drive up to Oroville, WA then it’s onto Cache Creek BC

Lazy Day

We are not where we said we would be today no wine with dinner. I still have it, the ability to schedule an extra day at a place evenwhen it was not planned. Today was going to be a Harvest Host stop which we were able to cancel no problem. This was a good thing because of the warm temps (my MS is so looking forward to cool weather) we need electric most of the Harvest Hosts don’t offer. The other good thing is by stauing in Pendleton an extra day we put ourselves in places after the heat has moved through.

So today is one of those days. I have taken some time today to add a link page to the blog you can find it under the menu. This will make it easier to find a link without having to search through all the posts. I have also caught up on sleep no getting up early to head down the road.

My last post mentioned pulling into our spot last night to a sea of white, well it was not snow. I do wish it was though. I have a few allergies mainly pollen, some molds nothing a pill can’t control. That’s a mostly true statement, Cottonwood trees are a killer. Maybe I shouldn’t have said I’m doing ok because all this Cottonwood isn’t in bloom. (see what happens). The trees don’t brother me most times but I have to wear a mask so I can breathe when the seed pods are a blowing. I’m hoping the extra day here will get us out of sink with the bloom.

I also have to share what not to do when bringing in your slide. When we were getting ready to pull out yesterday I try and bring in the slide, it stops about halfway in, so I let it back out. Now I try it again same thing happens, back out again this time it’s off kilter damn I think. I’m getting fustrated and then I start to think what am I missing. So usually I have a routine, take care of water then pull in slide. Taking care of water includes cover the sink with the boards that came with the unit, then I would bring in the slide. I keep the boards on the shelf under the tv, when there they overhang into the path of the slide. So upon closer inspection guess what step I missed. The cover for the sink. Needless to say these covers now have a new home so if I miss a step no major damage should occur. I was able then to bring the slide in a little take it back out so it was back in line then pull in the slide. Lesson learned follow your steps, don’t rush, and we will get there when we get there.

So the coming week will see us in Canada and then onto Haines Alaska for a few days of exploring and photos.

Over the Hill and to Dale

Yes my family is following me and not just from my blog. June 1st found us heading out of Burns on US 395 North.

If you haven’t taken this drive traffic wise it equates to Hwy 50 in Nevada, scenery wise just breathtaking. Plus we actually saw a few animals that were not cows. My signature bird (the Magpie) has made an appearance. We saw a squirrel, some wild horse and a couple of antelopes hanging outside of Seneca Oregon. Also you come across the 45th parallel which is one more reason to take this road.

Now on to the scenery which was a journey through hills, valleys, canyons, next to high and fast flowing rivers. Just trying to see what was around the next curve was fun, I even stayed awake for most of the drive. This drive will take you through the Blue Mountains and both the Malheur and Umatilla National Forests, included is the Oregon scenic district of Ukiah – Dale. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/malheur_national_forest ) (if I have more info on things I blog they will be posted on my links page under menu). After leaving the anyons and climbing the last climb before heading into Pendleton there was just miles of rolling green expanse I was in awe. On a side note it is amazing to see how the earth heals, we drove through a freshly burned area (within the last year or two,) and seeing the new green ground cover first steps to rebuilding the forest. Like any back road you have small towns where you have to do the speed limit but I think that adds to the easy laid back drive.

Speaking of small towns I think we saw every car in a fifty mile radius in one place on Saturday, the area high school in Canyon City Oregon. The cool thing was seeing the area businesses closed for the graduation. Made me think about home. Speaking of home another town that stood out was Dale. It seemed to be a small open spot in the forest. Funny what you find on the highway.

I did text this picture to him also, I think I’ve run in to every name in my family including me somewhere on these road trips.

After a long day drive through the mountains we pulled into our stop for the night and encountered a field of white. More on that later.

It’s Raining It’s Pouring

that’s what happened on our drive to Burns, OR today. The most intriguing thing about the rain today is the view was so flat and wide that you could actually see the squall line. There were spots where two feet off the road it was dry and we were getting wet. We did get a bath for lancelot and the car.

Pulling out of Fallon NV I found my sign. ‘I don’t have a dirty mind …. I have a sexy imagination’. Just saying those who know me know that’s partly true. We also had some rain when we pulled into Lattin Farms so it was a tad muddy. We all know it’s not camping until you get dirty. The cool thing about the Harvest Host membership is all they ask is you buy something from their establishment so fresh garlic and zucchini bread made it into the trailer. We are also going to be stopping at three wineries this coming week. (guess what we will get there).

The drives have been lacking in animals except for cows, cows, and more cows. The sad thing was we did see a dead cow on the side of the road and what must of been his mate standing by the side of the road. I’m thinking the animals are saving themselves until we stay in one place for a few days.

After dodging rain drops we get to Burns and decide to stay for the night. We pull around a curve and see the RV park and realize we’ve been here before. Still a good place to stay, especially since they had space. Flying by the seat of the pants off the beating path isn’t that bad. Well, we needed to head back into town to get gas, Roy forgot that Oregon is a full service gas pump state. He hopped out started to pump and then saw eight sets of eyes on him oops his bad. Tomorrow I’ll make sure he stays in the car.