This picture was taken along the road between Hope, Bc and Lake McLeese, BC (Just Awsome)
July 10, 2006 (Day 47)

It was nice to sleep in this morning. We awoke to rain falling gently on the trailer roof. After our showers, we studied the travel books given to us at the caravan meeting. After lunch, we attended the mandatory “driver’s meeting”. This was an informational meeting that lasted most of the afternoon. The caravan leaders went through our books with us and explained a lot of things.

Before breaking up, we (each unit) were given an envelope. Inside was a piece of a postcard, cut up like a puzzle piece. We had to find the other couple who had the matching piece. They would be our dinner partners tonight and our travel partners on Wednesday when we leave for Dawson Creek. Their names are Ed and Joyce Hawkins from Calgary, Alberta.

There was a “welcoming” dinner at a nearby restaurant called the Log House Restaurant. Our table partners were Ed and Joyce. We had a delightful meal and conversation with them. My meal was Salmon Wellington (fresh peaches, seasoned spinach and sockeye salmon fillet wrapped in puff pastry) with oven-roasted potatoes, steamed cauliflower and fresh green beans. We had French onion soup and a delicious salad prior to the meal with a wonderful pound cake drizzled with caramel sauce and served with fresh pear slices. Dan had Ancho Chili Honey-glazed breast of chicken with potatoes and fresh green beans. Following some computer time once back at the trailer, we turned in for the night. Even after the heavy rain late this afternoon, I can say we’re hoping that tomorrow brings another beautiful day here in British Columbia, Canada. The high temperature today was 75.



July 9, 2006 (Day 46)

We left McNeese Lake Campground at 8 a.m. We knew we wanted to stop at Barkerville, as recommended, and it would be about 45 miles off the main road. So, we decided to leave earlier than normal.

The skies were cloudy and clouds hung over the tops of the mountains. It looked as though it could rain. Temp was 62 degrees.

We stopped with the group a short distance up Canada 1 to re-group and make refrigerator checks. (That is a term for bathroom stop---we need to check the refrigerator. J) Then drove on to Quesnel (pronounced kwe-nel) where the junction to Hwy. 26 to Barkerville was located. We and another couple unhooked our trailers and left them in a Wal-Mart (yes, Canada has Wal-Marts!) parking lot (with the manager’s permission) and we all rode together to Barkerville in cars to save gas. It was a 45-minute ride.

Barkerville is a historic town in the B.C. province and was named for miner Billy Barker, who struck gold there. This resulted in the gold rush of 1862. When the gold mines were empty, Barkerville became a ghost town. The government began restorations on this historic site in 1958. The buildings are boardwalks are faithful restorations from the town’s heyday. Actors in period dress worked in the shops and recreated scenes in the streets. Visitors could pan for gold, watch videos about the town, visit the general store, blacksmith shop, eat at the restaurant or walk the dirt streets and wooden boardwalks. A stagecoach gave rides for extra $. We spent two hours there.

We returned to Quesnel and our trailers, hooked up and continued on our trip, after a short stop at Tim Horton’s, a chain of restaurants up here similar to Panera’s, for a sandwich. Temperature by then was 81 degrees.

On the road back we saw three deer, a moose and calf and a herd of wild bison. We arrived at our campground at 4:45 p.m. The temp was different in Prince George. It was only 70 degrees. The campground (South Park RV Park) is nice and full of Airstreamers. This is the rendevous point for the Alaska caravan. All going (36) are to be here by tomorrow.

As soon as we were hooked up, a social hour was starting. All were asked to bring a snack and drink and lawn chairs. That lasted about 2 hours, a little long, but it was the first night. We went into Prince George for dinner with JoAnn and Ray and Ed.

Prince George offers a variety of services. With its location in the geographical center of British Columbia, it has become a focal point for financial and professional services, equipment and wholesale firms, machine shops and many services for the timber industry. Agriculture in central B.C. is basically a forage-livestock business, for which the climate and soils are well suited. Dairying and beef are the major livestock enterprises, with minors in sheep and poultry. The major industry of Prince George is timber with three pulp mills, sawmills, planers, dry kilns, a plywood plant and two chemical plants to serve the pulp mills. We have seen many log home builders and lots of timber mills, with piles and piles of logs for miles.

Until tomorrow…..





July 8, 2006 (Day 45)

We left Hope, B.C. this morning and it was another beautiful day. We had 62 degrees with blue skies and a few white, puffy clouds. Driving through the mountains was awesome. Many were straight up, and across the road was straight down, all covered with tall evergreen trees. Most of the time, a river flowed beside us with rapids. There were also waterfalls coming out of the mountains in many places. The range we came through was the Cascade Mountains.

We stopped for gas at Cache Creek. It was $3.85/gal. U.S. dollars. In Canadian it was $1.13/liter. That is deceiving, as we are still fuzzy about conversion to the metric system.

We ate lunch in our trailers after stopping at Trader Joe’s, an old Indian Trading Post. There was not much there to buy except all kinds of hats, mostly cowboy hats in all colors.

About 30 minutes before arriving at our campground, it started to rain.
This was north of Williams Lake to McNeese Lake for our campground for the night. It is not as nice a campground as we had hoped. Our space is very short and unlevel. Good thing we are leaving early in the morning.

After getting here and setting up, we all went across the lake to “The Pub” , right on the water, and had a wonderful dinner. The owner, “Gigi”, a French Canadian, had made honey garlic pork ribs. They had roasted all day and were delicious. She sat at our table and talked with us all through our dinner.

After watermelon at Ed’s motor home (one of the five of us), we all retired for the night, as we plan to leave early in the morning for our last leg of the trip to Prince George and a stop at an historic village called Barkerville. More on that tomorrow.

All for now…….




July 7, 2006 (Day 44)

We traveled today 167 miles from Lacey, WA, here to Hope, B.C. Gorgeous weather! Skies were deep blue, white puffy clouds, 73 degrees, and mountains were very visible….something unusual because there are clouds on the mountains so often. We plainly saw Mr. Ranier and Mt. Baker. Breathtaking!

Our trip up on I-5 took us through Seattle. From what we could see from the interstate that went right through the downtown, it is a beautiful city. It has tall skyscrapers and beautiful bridges. Saw the Port and ships docked there taking on loads and also cruise ships. We saw the Space Needle from a distance.

We crossed the border at Alderton, WA. None of the five of us were stopped or had any problems. We were told to remember that: “If a fish would keep its mouth shut, it wouldn’t get into trouble.” Same thing crossing the border. I told Dan not to chit-chat with the agents!

We arrived in Hope and the campground (Hope Valley Campground) around 3:30 p.m. Everyone had dinner at their trailers and spent the night visiting around the picnic tables. After arriving, some went into town to exchange U.S. dollars for Canadian currency. Today’s gas was $3.14/gal in Washington.

Tomorrow we will move onward and upwards! So far, 3,328 miles since leaving Wentzville! Till another day……….