We had been told by several that our drive from Revelstoke, BC to Hinton, AB would be gorgeous . . . and I'm sure it was! We just couldn't see it for the clouds and SNOW! They say only in Alberta!
We awoke that morning to cool temps and as we enjoyed a pancake breakfast with the owners at Revelstoke, it began to rain - and get cooler. The owners here are South Korean. Although Mom & Dad are the financial backers, the son & daughter-in-law (Sung & Lily) manage the park. After our meeting, Sung loaned Roger an umbrella to go get the rig, while I waited (nice & dry) in the store.
And the day did start out beautiful. We made our way towards Lake Louise and then turned north. Right at the start of our trek north a Big Horn sheep darted across the road in front of us. Know they are sure-footed, thankfully, for it bounded over the road barrier on to a hill that, I know, went straight down! It happened so fast! I knew it wasn't a deer, but it didn't have the 'big horns' - but (I'm told) that's because it was a female.
As we drove, the temperatures continued to take a downhill spiral. Wasn't long before Roger said, "I do believe that is snow hitting the windshield!" Sure enough! It didn't last long, but the clouds were hanging so low, we couldn't see the mountains. Driving on, and then it began to snow again . . . this time harder! Now, folks, this is JULY 10th! We passed several 'pull-over' areas, but what was the use? We couldn't see anything! So we kept driving. We saw signs about glacier activity, but it was so cold - and we were in shorts & capris & sandals - that we decided we would just add this to the list to do 'next year'. . . and kept driving. The snow continued to 'come & go' but by the time we passed Ice Center, it was coming down so heavy it was accumulating and the temp was showing 31 degrees! It was beautiful, though!
Finally, I had to stop for a much needed bathroom break. I asked Roger to stop at the next 'level' wide spot in the road, cause I couldn't put it off any longer. He saw a spot ahead, and there was a car & some bicyclers already there. We pulled over, and had hardly got stopped, when one of the young women came running up to the truck. I rolled down the window and she said, "Could we please get a ride on in to Jasper? We are freezing!" Although we are not supposed to take on riders, we could not say "No" to these folks. They were so grateful that we had stopped, that we didn't have the heart to tell them that we really had just stopped for a bathroom break! Seems the car had stopped to help, but 4 people and 4 bikes would not even begin to fit in the car. So the guys got three of the bikes in the back of the truck and one in the fifth wheel. One couple rode in the car and the other couple climbed in our back seat. What a delightful afternoon it made as we drove the 60 miles or so on in to Jasper.
We even had some lukewarm coffee left in the Thermos to share - and we cranked up the heat, to help them thaw out. They were two young adventursome couples that had taken a week off to bike the Canadian Rockies. The snow had definitely NOT been in the weather forecast. They had camped out just north of Ice Center the night before and had awoken to snow on their tent. They made the attempt to ride out of it, but after three flats on the bikes, they were frozen and the girls had made the decision that it was time to call a halt to this 'adventure!' It was time to ask for help - and they couldn't thank the 'big yellow truck' enough for rescuing them!
They filled us in on all kinds of info about the area, and we will definitely make it a must if we make it back here next year - hopefully in better weather. When we dropped them off in Jasper, they even wanted to get a picture of their 'rescuers', complete with the rig. Just mark that up to some good 'ol KOA public relations!
One of the things we noticed as we drove was how 'milky' the water looked - almost a seafoam green. Our new friends told us that was due to it being water from a glacier - it pick up a lot of silt, etc. that makes it that way. They then told us to watch for a spot just outside of Jasper where two streams join - one glacier fed and one a spring fed. It is neat to see the waters meet and the spring water is so clear, while the glacier stream is so murky that there is a definite 'line' where they meet. And sure enough we spotted it as we finished our drive on in to Hinton, AB.
Thankfully we had scheduled a day off in Hinton, and that day (for me anyway) was spent sleeping. Roger claims I had 3 or 4 naps . . . I wasn't counting! It just felt good to rest.
A beautiful park here - full to the brim - and an easy review to do. Sunday (7/13) found us trekking west, back in to Briish Columbia to the Clearwater/Wells Gray area. Another good bit of driving, but today was THE day - as Roger finally got to see his black bear.
Trucking along, when a bear lumbered out in to the road. Roger & I both saw it at the same time, and Roger begin to slow down. The bear spotted us and picked up his pace to get across the road. No time for pictures, but it was still a thrill, as this was the first bear we have seen in all our travels.
No time this year for sightseeing here in the Wells Gray area, but we'll add it to the list of places to come back too. New owners here and we enjoyed a delicious full breakfast in their restaurant before hitting the road, headed south to Sicamous, BC.
Sicamous is in lake country - it is the "house boat capital' of BC. We got to 'connect' again with one of the other FSR teams, but only for a very few minutes. They were leaving Sicamous as we arrived.
Monday found us headed south again - back to the good 'ol US of A. But, turned out, we had many mountains to cross before we got there! Looking at the map, I decided we should head south a bit then take an 'freeway' to yet another 'freeway' that would land us just north of the Lynden, WA KOA. What I didn't know was that these 'freeways' took us - basically - straight up - and straight down. Don't know if it was my 'tired' catching up - or just what - but before the end of the day, I was in tears. It might be ok if we were just in a car, but knowing that we have 15,000 lbs plus 'pushing' us down those mountains, scared me to tears. So glad that is behind us.
I've complained about the mountains we've had to drive here in the US, but they are NOTHING compared to those. Unreal! And to 'add' to the excitement, as we pulled through the toll booth, we saw two RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) standing by a car that was in the ditch. The 'unsettling' thing, was that they were getting rifles out of their trunk as we passed. Then just a ways down the road, we had to go through a 'road block' and were stopped and questioned by the police. Seems there was some kind of 'man hunt' going on. Since we hadn't made any stops since the toll both, they passed us on through.
Finally we found our turn off to the border. Everyone seemed so friendly, but, as luck would have it, we got the 'greenhorn' border patrol. After consulting with the border officer in the next booth over, he directed us to "pull over and go inside". OK. The guy inside explains that we now have to 'pay' a fee to cross in to the US, since we are 'commercial'. I smiled sweetly - (really) - and said, "You know, I just have to say, that we've been crossing the border for the past 6 years and NEVER have we been charged a 'fee'!" His answer to that was, "Well, you just got lucky!
Not that it has to come out of our pocket - the company would pay it - it's just the principal of it all! I got in one parting comment, that it is not like we are transporting goods - it's just 'paperwork' we do! He consulted with his supervisor, and, once again, we were told we were free to go.
Still doing a review a day, we worked our way down the Washington coast (Lynden, Burlington & Concrete). Friday, July 18th, was another travel day, but this time it included a ferry ride from Coupeville to Port Townsend. The ferry cost us about $60, but well worth it, when it saved us from having to drive completely around Seattle - many miles and much traffic. Once we hit dry land at Port Townsend, it was a short drive over to Port Angeles, where we will actually get to park the rig for three nights.
Although the rig gets to sit still, we don't. Up early to catch the 7:15 shuttle from the KOA to the Victoria Express walk-on ferry to Vancouver Island. It was packed, but the hour-long ride was fairly smooth. Had to cross the Canadian border - again - but this time we were not in yellow shirts and not in our yellow rig. Told them we were just coming over for the day to 'visit friends'; true, we hadn't 'met' these friends just yet - but every KOA owner is a friend!
Picked up our rental car, stopped for a bite of breakfast and then 'attempted' to find our way out of Victoria. On our second try, we found TransCanada Highway 1 and headed out to the KOA. Pretty little park here - and, indeed, new friends. Spent the day with them doing the review, then headed back in time to stop for a leisurely supper, before turning in the rental car and catching the ferry back across to Port Angeles. This time the crossing was not as smooth, and when we hit the tidal swells, my Dramamine 'jumped ship'. I was a bit 'green' by the time we hit dry land again and so ready to be back to the rig. Think it took me all of about 30 minutes to get in my night gown & recliner. Roger woke me up about 11:00 to go to bed.
Then yesterday (Sunday, July 20) we slept in and 'vegged' the morning away. Got around and did our walk-about later in the afternoon. Not a full day 'off' but almost. This morning we will meet with these folks about 9:00 and then drive 5 hours down the coast to Bay Center.
The days are beautiful, the nights cool enough that the heater is running once again. That's the Washington coast for you!
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