Ft St John
We left the site late this morning, 10 instead of our usual 9, because we planned to join a 10:30 tour at the WAC Bennett dam. Each of us had warmed to the idea of visiting the dam for different reasons. Joan and I revived old memories of the early days of construction and the hype surrounding Bennett. Bob and Helen were intrigued by the sheer magnitude of the project. Could one structure really provide 30% of all BC power?
We weren't disappointed. A sweet, young, tour guide, fresh from learning her patter, and a bus driver on his first trip who misjudged and had to reverse to make the turn out of the parking lot, escorted our lonely party of four down the long hill and through a barrier into the power centre of the dam. Size was staggering! I was reminded of the Boeing factory. The cavern holding the generators is as long as the height of the Eiffel tower.
Joan had a coughing spasm on the bus which had both guides worried. The suffering extend to everyone when the coughing takes over our bodies. A casual observer thinks we're dealing with something far worse than a cold, probably more like poison gas or choking on a bone. Bob has begun to notice a sore throat.
The Rotary RV Park, in downtown Fort St. John, suited our purposes just fine. Dinner was next door at the pub. A special monument commerating the lives of some soldiers who died constructing the highway, was located nearby on a lake side walking path. Blarney had a huge field of grass to call his own. I was beginning to feel close to normal but not so for Bob and Joan.
Ft Nelson
Today's drive between the two "Forts" was flat, straight and easy. We whisked along at a brisk 95 mph all day. Our picnic lunch stop was a huge, dirt and gravel parking area around a tiny gas stop. The truck fillup, at $1.47 a litre, was almost $90. Shock! The Toyota V6, with Barbie in tow, is burning slightly more gas than the V8 camper.
Fort Nelson has a renowned museum specializing in transportation. Walking through the glut of items, it soon becomes evident this is more a collection than a display. Everywhere you look there is something old and often more than one. Radios, bottles, dishes and on and on. I liked the hand made spruce bark canoe.
Out in the yard we soon found the collection of old autos and the man who makes them all run. All of the more than 15 vehicles still operates thanks to the geezer with the shock of white hair and bushy beard. He keeps an old "pump" engine near the front of the shed to fire up for the tourists. He used an eyedropper to fill a tube with a tiny quantity of gas and squeezed a few drops into one of the valve springs. Two jerky turns on the flywheel and the machine came to life, sputtering and putting like it had never stopped. Very impressive! A coke can jumped up a shaft with every rotation just to add more colour and noise to the wonder of it. "Where did you find this thing?" I asked, eyes wide. "Out in the back of my Dad's shed," he replied. This answer from a white-haired Jesus figure made me giggle inside. This would have been a shed to see!
Blarney and I found a squirrel near the trailer site. Game on for the rest of the stay. The single men's toilet hadn't been fastened to the floor and had a terrifying tendency to tip when I didn't want it to. The special in the restaurant was a slice of beef about two centimetres thick and the area of a small country. The bar stools were all western saddles with solid horns to help you hold your seat during the NHL games. The temperature was 27º outside and hot enough to melt bronze in the laundry.
Coal River
Very scenic drive over hills, through valleys surrounded by snow capped peaks. Stopped at Summit Lake which was glistening ice under 24º sun and watched three Stone sheep scramble on ledges where no man could possibly go.
Our lunch stop at Muncho Lake was the best! The temperature soared to the high twenties. We took the double kayak down and paddled along the shore while Blarnie chased us along the beach. The reflections of the mountains across the icy, blue-green water were bringing oohs and ahhs at every turn. Quite gorgeous!
Mid afternoon we stopped for gas at a lodge called Toad River which advertised a ceiling lined with several thousand ball caps. "We do take them down once in awhile," the lady said. "They were started two owners back." They also had a fantastic beaver dam and lodge in the stream nearby.
It was a great day for watching wildlife. We stopped for two black bears and a couple of bison. The bison were "loners", apparently big bulls biding their time. They had shaggy patches of long hair yet to be rubbed off. We watched as another bison rubbed his huge head against a tree while the tree trembled.
The bison burgers drew us in to the Coal River RV. We were the only clients. The burgers were delicious and the lady who made them quite delightful. Joan bought "stuff", including a sweat shirt and two stuffies for the grandkids. We took Blarney on a long walk down the air strip to the river. It's a land of many buffalo chips.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Big, Big BC: Nights 1 through 5
Night 1 Chilliwack
Left the house about 10 to catch the 11, with a reservation. We walked Blarney around a half empty car deck. Two young workers were throwing a football in the empty, cavernous space.
Both of us are "hacking" at intervals. I had a spell while we waited in the food line. Wetted my jersey from coughing into my elbow. Felt sorry for the folks near us.
We have arranged a rendezvous with Bob and Helen at the Cottonwood RV south of Chilliwack. They arrived 7ish, late, after a frustrating wait for there Pleasure Way van. Joan gave them a great dinner and they took off shopping.
Blarney is happy as a clam. "He just likes having the complete and undivided attention of his mom and dad," said Joan.
Night 2 Cache Creek
Long time since I've been in Cache Creek, probably 20 years. There's still not much! We found a Safeway and other shops along the highway strip so typical of BC small towns. Pretty near impossible to shop without a car.
The Brookside RV park was about 2 K out of town, along a small, very swollen creek. We found a nice size field bordering the park where Blarney could run after the ball.
Gaye and Terry visited during the afternoon and we had a few minutes chatting in the sun before the rain hit. Joan and I tried to take naps but as usual the cough won. It seems only moments after we go horizontal that the persistent tickle sets us coughing.
Bob and Helen took us to dinner at a local restaurant. The menu included Liver and Onions and Salisbury Steak, so old fashioned, we loved it.
Joan and I kept the trailer vibrating through the night with our coughing, blowing and getting up and down for the toilet. Neither of us was able to get a proper night's rest. It's a vicious bug with no forgiveness.
Night 3 Quesnel
Very rough morning. Both of us survived on mimimal sleep and much coughing. Drove over a fireplace and dragged it a few yards. Found out in Quesnel that I'd left the base for the trailer jack behind. Also turned the wrong way leaving the campsite.
Had a very fussy, but helpful fellow look afer us at the Airport Motel and RV park in North Quesnel. We were the only customers except for one fellow who arrived with an ancient RV, probably 70s, towing a jeep. He left early morning in the RV and not the jeep. I went back south to CHEMO, an RV supply to find a new jack. Bought one for 20 but the diameter is wrong so will continue to use blocks.
Some confusion over which way to turn this morning. Are we in North or South Quesnel? It's big enough to make navigating a challenge.
The Quesnel Museum, attached to the information centre, was a small jewel. Their display of local native works was stunning. I was shocked to find a old-fashioned dentist office including the drill I remember so well from my childhood. We missed the 1000 year old prophylactic but still talk about it.
Night 4 Mackenzie
Arrived about 4 and went straight to the "mall" and drug store to get prescription. Short tour with pictures of the high school and Mary's old apartment.
Spent most of the morning getting in to see a doctor, young girl from South Africa. After a one hour plus wait, came away with prescription for antibiotics and cortizone nose spray. I'm looking forward to having a dry nose after two weeks.
The campground sits adjacent to the municipal yard, gravel, dirt and rough grass. The washrooms are spacious and clean so no complaints. No one around so Blarney has the run of the place. A large space has been set aside for stacking snow and large, glacial like hunks still remain unmelted.
A howling wind kept us inside most of the time. We ate in Bob and Helen's van. The trailer shook a few times when gusts hit us broadside.
Night 5 Hudson's Hope
Began the morning with a tour of the local beach, actually called First Beach, created when the Bennett dam created a huge lake. Blarney had a ball game on the sand. The wind stirred spray and whitecaps. We checked the water temperature because we'd been told the ice had just gone off a few days earlier. A few minutes later, on the drive north, we passed lakes still solid with ice! Should be fun in Alaska!
Lunch in Chetwyn was an event. The lady at the Visitor Centre told Joan, "They use real cooked turkey at the cafe in the Rec Centre," so we checked it out. It was the first Rec Centre Bob and Helen had visited so turned out very positive. Homey, local ladies running the restuarant, very impressive building. Lasagna was excellent, turkey sandwich fine, fish good but French fries lacking.
Joan and I are still the world's best hackers. We do it everywhere. YIkes! Will it ever end?
Left the house about 10 to catch the 11, with a reservation. We walked Blarney around a half empty car deck. Two young workers were throwing a football in the empty, cavernous space.
Both of us are "hacking" at intervals. I had a spell while we waited in the food line. Wetted my jersey from coughing into my elbow. Felt sorry for the folks near us.
We have arranged a rendezvous with Bob and Helen at the Cottonwood RV south of Chilliwack. They arrived 7ish, late, after a frustrating wait for there Pleasure Way van. Joan gave them a great dinner and they took off shopping.
Blarney is happy as a clam. "He just likes having the complete and undivided attention of his mom and dad," said Joan.
Night 2 Cache Creek
Long time since I've been in Cache Creek, probably 20 years. There's still not much! We found a Safeway and other shops along the highway strip so typical of BC small towns. Pretty near impossible to shop without a car.
The Brookside RV park was about 2 K out of town, along a small, very swollen creek. We found a nice size field bordering the park where Blarney could run after the ball.
Gaye and Terry visited during the afternoon and we had a few minutes chatting in the sun before the rain hit. Joan and I tried to take naps but as usual the cough won. It seems only moments after we go horizontal that the persistent tickle sets us coughing.
Bob and Helen took us to dinner at a local restaurant. The menu included Liver and Onions and Salisbury Steak, so old fashioned, we loved it.
Joan and I kept the trailer vibrating through the night with our coughing, blowing and getting up and down for the toilet. Neither of us was able to get a proper night's rest. It's a vicious bug with no forgiveness.
Night 3 Quesnel
Very rough morning. Both of us survived on mimimal sleep and much coughing. Drove over a fireplace and dragged it a few yards. Found out in Quesnel that I'd left the base for the trailer jack behind. Also turned the wrong way leaving the campsite.
Had a very fussy, but helpful fellow look afer us at the Airport Motel and RV park in North Quesnel. We were the only customers except for one fellow who arrived with an ancient RV, probably 70s, towing a jeep. He left early morning in the RV and not the jeep. I went back south to CHEMO, an RV supply to find a new jack. Bought one for 20 but the diameter is wrong so will continue to use blocks.
Some confusion over which way to turn this morning. Are we in North or South Quesnel? It's big enough to make navigating a challenge.
The Quesnel Museum, attached to the information centre, was a small jewel. Their display of local native works was stunning. I was shocked to find a old-fashioned dentist office including the drill I remember so well from my childhood. We missed the 1000 year old prophylactic but still talk about it.
Night 4 Mackenzie
Arrived about 4 and went straight to the "mall" and drug store to get prescription. Short tour with pictures of the high school and Mary's old apartment.
Spent most of the morning getting in to see a doctor, young girl from South Africa. After a one hour plus wait, came away with prescription for antibiotics and cortizone nose spray. I'm looking forward to having a dry nose after two weeks.
The campground sits adjacent to the municipal yard, gravel, dirt and rough grass. The washrooms are spacious and clean so no complaints. No one around so Blarney has the run of the place. A large space has been set aside for stacking snow and large, glacial like hunks still remain unmelted.
A howling wind kept us inside most of the time. We ate in Bob and Helen's van. The trailer shook a few times when gusts hit us broadside.
Night 5 Hudson's Hope
Began the morning with a tour of the local beach, actually called First Beach, created when the Bennett dam created a huge lake. Blarney had a ball game on the sand. The wind stirred spray and whitecaps. We checked the water temperature because we'd been told the ice had just gone off a few days earlier. A few minutes later, on the drive north, we passed lakes still solid with ice! Should be fun in Alaska!
Lunch in Chetwyn was an event. The lady at the Visitor Centre told Joan, "They use real cooked turkey at the cafe in the Rec Centre," so we checked it out. It was the first Rec Centre Bob and Helen had visited so turned out very positive. Homey, local ladies running the restuarant, very impressive building. Lasagna was excellent, turkey sandwich fine, fish good but French fries lacking.
Joan and I are still the world's best hackers. We do it everywhere. YIkes! Will it ever end?
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Chilliwack in Rain
Left the house about 10 to catch the 11, with a reservation. We walked Blarney on a half empty car deck. Two young workers were throwing a football around in the cavernous space.
Both of us are "hacking" at intervals. I had a spell while we waited in the food line. Wetted my jersey from coughing into my elbow. Felt sorry for the folks near us.
We have arranged a rendezvous with Bob and Helen at the Cottonwood RV south of Chilliwack. The arrived 7ish, late, after a frustrating wait for there Pleasure Way van. Joan gave them a great dinner and they took off shopping.
Blarney is happy as a clam. "He just likes having the complete and undivided attention of his mom and dad," said Joan.
Both of us are "hacking" at intervals. I had a spell while we waited in the food line. Wetted my jersey from coughing into my elbow. Felt sorry for the folks near us.
We have arranged a rendezvous with Bob and Helen at the Cottonwood RV south of Chilliwack. The arrived 7ish, late, after a frustrating wait for there Pleasure Way van. Joan gave them a great dinner and they took off shopping.
Blarney is happy as a clam. "He just likes having the complete and undivided attention of his mom and dad," said Joan.
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