August 16, 2017. Onward to northern British Columbia

CAMPGROUND:  Lake Lasalle Park.  Out in the middle of nowhere, a forestry camp.  Tiny - about 10 sites.  Pit toilet.  On a little lake.  A slice of paradise. FREE!  5 stars. 

 

LOCATION:  Near McBride, British Columbia.  

 

WEATHER:  Much cooler.  High 70.  Jacket weather in the mornings and evenings.

 

We know we are in Canada -- the abundance of Tim Horton restaurants, Canadian Tire stores, highway signs in kilometers, signs advertising poutine and donaires, and of course, the rugged beauty, eh?  

 

We left crowded Vernon, the top of the busy Okanagan Valley, and were quickly in wilderness.  The views were stunning. Tall pines on the mountain sides with verdant valleys below.  As we drove north and west, it got less and less populated.  We stopped at a picnic area for lunch next to a river that we had followed for miles and miles.  

A few hours later, we stopped in a town to buy gas, groceries and a Tim Hortons coffee.  Later, we stopped at a road side stop next to another river to stretch and use their pit toilet.  All beautiful.  The skies are still smoky from the forest fires, though. 

 

We passed through a junction with a neon sign announcing that the highway was now open, after having been closed for several weeks due to the fires. Many people have been evacuated and can now return to their homes. This is the route we would have taken.  Even though the road is now open, we decided to stick with the route that the Visitors' Center had recommended.  (We enjoyed this "detour" later).....

 

I did some of the driving.  I drive about 55 mph with the Airstream.  There were lots of signs alerting drivers to moose, bears and deers just waiting to dash out in front of you.  So, I didn't want to go too fast.  Cars and logging trucks were lined up behind me.  I'm sure they were cursing me.  

 

At about 3:00, we started looking for a campground.  We had passed some good-looking ones earlier in the day, but weren't ready to stop yet.  Now that we wanted to stop, there weren't any.  So, we continued driving.  Suddenly, we saw a tiny sign with an arrow and a picture of a tent.  We missed the turn, so did a u-turn in the highway.  We inched down a dirt road and voila!  An image from "On Golden Pond" appeared before our eyes.  A beautiful small lake with fish jumping, a circular path to set up campers and tents, and a pit toilet.  All pristine (well the pit toilet is less than pristine), quiet and unspoiled.  

 

We hiked around a bit and talked with the only other campers here, a couple from Vancouver Island.  I kept hoping a moose would saunter in, but none did. 

 

The ground is covered with teeny frogs.  At first we thought they were crickets.  We don't know why they aren't in the water.

 

 

Due to driving longer than we had expected, both yesterday and today, we may reach our friends in Prince Rupert a day before we had anticipated.  

 

 

DINNER:  Tacos, using the last of the leftover grilled elk burger.