Woohoo, it's finally time to travel to Alaska!
Meeting up with my WIN friends (Wandering Individuals Network) at Lynden, WA prior to crossing the Canadian border, chatting and sharing experiences in getting ready to go.
First days travel was interesting to see the topography change from the coastal wet green foilage and tall pines to semi arid open valleys and low hills, even sagebrush similar to the Colorado mountains. Rivers and streams are still running high and brown from snowmelt.
Stayed the first night at a Casino in Kamloops, BC. Grocery shopping at Costco. Joined route Canada 1 up to Williams, BC. Stopping briefly to tour Hat Creek Ranch.
More driving than laying over so far, but this group of WINS expects to slow down soon. There will be a second group coming in a few days. I had designed this trip to be boondocking except for Anchorage and Denali. So far this is agreeable with everyone.
108 Mile House near Williams Lake, BC has very good exhibits. We stayed overnight to see it in the morning.
The house was used as a Tavern for travelers during the gold rush. The woman who ran things was discovered to have killed over 200 travelers.
These buildings were moved to one location to make a good Heritage Village.
A little farther down the road in Williams Lake they have some Murals .
Here is the Xats'ull Heritage Village, Rick was the first one here so he drives down a twisty gravel road to within 100 yards of the village and a closed gate across the road. He is towing a 30' travel trailer and has to back up nearly a mile on a single lane gravel road!
The rest of us arrive as Rick is 2/3 up the hill. John walks back down and discovers that the gate is not locked! Ken walked straight down a hill from the viewing platform to test the ground where Rick could turn around and deems it safe. Finally Rick is able to drive all the way down and get turned around. Whew guess we're having different adventures!
Town of Quesnel, BC has much to see, its raining all day but we toured the Painted fire hydrants, murals, city museum (watch Ken Geib play the aluminum chimes). Lunch at a local Coffee House! Wow, so cool!
The campsite at Cottonwood City Park is really nice! No RV facilities its quiet, treed with hiking or biking paths near the Fraser River.
Alongside the trail there are large Cottonwood trees with faces carved into the bark that look really beautiful.
Left Prince George and on the way to the next stop we toured a historical museum in Vanderpool, BC. What a huge carving on the wall. Must be 40' long
Several other buildings from the original town had some unique displays.
The Burns Lake Municipal Campground had enough sites available for all of us.
Burns Lake Visitor Center and Museum, make sure to read the medical device sign...
New Hazelton, BC there are 2 1st Nation village in town with Totem Poles and Longhouse. This is our campsite along the river with snow capped mountains and grassy field. Wow I love this lifestyle!!!!!!
More Totem poles today, much more detailed carvings than the others.
Saw 5 black bears and 1 grizzly bear.
Cool pic of mountains and stream while I fish for trout in a glacier fed stream.
On the way saw snow at 1,000 feet and Bear glacier at 1,300 feet, huh, don't make sense to me. It was on the north side of the mountains.
I left the group to spend time fishing and had a few days of pure nature.
I finally found clear streams to fish but it is still high water, no luck. A local told me that once the snow is off the mountain the streams will drop and fishing picks up. Late July and August is prime time inland
So now I'm entering Yukon Province and am going to start a new page
So awesome!!! Living vicariously through your travel posts while I heal. Great to see you having fun!
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