ON THE ROAD AGAIN - Adventures with Bob

ON THE ROAD AGAIN – Adventures with Bob   

July 19 Flew to Nanaimo, Vancouver Island to join up with another solo traveler.

Interior BC Camping Trip

Sunday July 24: A beautiful sunny day, we board the slick new Coastal Renaissance ferry bound for Horseshoe Bay. 1hr. 40m. later we are driving the scenic route to Whistler. We park & stroll the village: it is very crowded and warm. It’s mountain festival weekend and market day. 50 vendors and artisans are selling hand made crafts, pastries, wonderful breads, veggies. We cool off with an iced cappuccino then head for Nairn Falls Provincial Park (32km north) where we reserved a camp spot. It is high above the banks of the rushing Green River. A beautiful spot, clean outhouses, campfires. We set up then walk down to a small rocky beach area. We need to cool off: the water is like ice so we quickly sit on the edge and splash ourselves. The spot is filled with small rock sculptures (cairns) creating a Zen like feeling. After dinner we hike 1.5km to the roaring cascading falls, once a spiritual route of the Lil’wat nation. A gorgeous night: we are lulled to sleep by the sound of rushing waters.

Monday July 25: Up at 8.Eat, break camp, move on. Stop in Pemberton for a few supplies, maps at the Tourist Bureau and Bob’s 11 am coffee. A pretty village with views of Mount Currie. We head south on Joffre road to Lilloet Lake and travel 46km on a gravel road to St Agnes Falls. 16km in we stop at Driftwood Bay, a Kodak picture blue lake with driftwood lined shores. We collect wood for a campfire. We question where we are going: there is no one else on the dusty road. This private campground is on the banks of the rushing Lillooet River. The owner opens the gate, tells us to pick out a spot.  It is so windy we are worried we will blow away; we see a few other campers trying to anchor their tents. We find a secluded spot nestled in trees and bushes protected from the wind. We try to set up the tarp but the wind is merciless so opt to leave it in the car. Once camp is secure we have lunch and decide to find the church in the small native town down the road (the owner told us about it).

The Church of the Holy Cross is now a national historic site. Children are running around the grounds and there are a few historians on site taking photos of the interior. We chat with Sharon Syrette, the volunteer co-coordinator. She is trying to raise money for the restoration. Built 1905 by members of Stl’att’imx nation, the church is remarkable for the beauty and originality of its interior decoration. This wooden Gothic style building is being cost shared with a grant from Parks Canada. Interested in helping read more about the project at: www.skoomkumcheritagechurch.ca

We return to our camp and take advantage of the natural springs hot tubs. There are a few other people soaking and we choose a larger tub for ourselves. We chat with a couple who have their bottle of wine next to their tub (swimsuits optional). It is nice to soak in the sun. Not too many people know about this hidden gem in the woods. We make dinner, take a walk, build a campfire. The winds subside in the morning, We are up early, take a  hot tub dip before anyone else is there, have breakfast, break camp.

Tuesday July 26: We head to Lillooet, gas up, drive to Marble Canyon. The camp spots are so close to the highway, no privacy and the water is overflowing on the beach areas. We decide not to camp here, but have lunch and share it with the ducks. We continue on to Green Lake Provincial Park (25 km long). It is pouring rain. There are only 2 sites left on the south side and no trees to put up the tarp. We drive to the north shore and settle for an end spot away from the kids & family parties. We creatively tie up out tarp one end to the table. After dinner we check out the main beach (so so) and other camp sites. We spend a cool damp nite, fortunately no rain.

Wed. July 27: It is cool out so we decide to explore the region. From Green Lake we drive thru Lone Butte and Horse Lake to 100 Mile House. Fields of daisies surround the many log homes along the way. We stop at a comfy coffee shop off the main drag, pick up groceries, have a picnic lunch. We stop at the Visitor Centre for maps and a Bob photo shot. We pass a log building site and stop to chat with the lone worker. Turns out Bob worked with him many years ago. I was amazed at the structures going up: the size/beauty of the logs, the workmanship, the smell: my dream home. 100 Mile House is known as the Log Capital of N. America. Back on the Green Lake road we stop at FlyingURanch, established in 1925 by rodeo star Jack G Boyd. Log cabins, home cooked meals, trail riding are all included in a stay at this historic ranch. It overlooks the lake and even has its’ own town street and 1880s saloon. A few miles from the campground we stop at a quiet beach on the lake for a dip in the clear refreshing water (no showers here). Back at the site, we decide to cook our dinner of veggies and pork chops over an open campfire (after all we scored the best wood). It was delicious. Walkabout, campfire, lights out.

Thurs. July 28: Breakfast of bacon/eggs, break camp. 1 hr. drive to Big Bar Lake Prov. Park. We have a reservation but the site is not nice and has no trees for a tarp. So we find an empty spot on the lake. After lunch we hurry to set up the tarp and tent as dark clouds are rolling in. We are eaten alive by mosquitoes, so we leave the air bed and stuff in the car for later. The rain clouds pass over: we head to the beach to get away from the beasts (windy there) and catch a bit of sun. Crystal clear lake, very quiet with the sound of loons.  Later we drive to the other side of the lake in search of wood and to seek out the Big Bar Ranch to try and buy some repellent. We drive to the end of the north shore road past log cottages but we can only find the old abandoned ranch. We stop and ask some residents and they tell us the new ranch is outside the park. 
 
We will have to drive to Clinton 40km. They check in their house and bring a half bottle out for us. Their visitors also give us a bottle. How nice. We gather wood to burn: head back to our site. The park attendant greets us and tells us the spot is reserved (couple is waiting). There was no occupied ticket but we have to take down our camp. We decide to leave the park because of the mosquitoes and our original spot is terrible. We head towards the Big Bar Guest Ranch (50km). We check with the girl and she says we can camp anywhere $25 and use of showers (teepees & cabins but no vacancy). After walking the rocky grounds covered with dry manure and with rain in the forecast, we leave. Bob is getting frustrated, we are hot and tired. It’s 7:30 and we are driving back to Big Bar campground. We see an empty spot right at the entrance across from the boat launch, pull in, set up camp. We are getting pretty good at putting up a tarp. We see we have our own water tap, but notice we have no number post. We realize it was the old host spot, but the chain was off: we are staying put. No one comes to check. We have a view of the water and can walk to the beach.  We build a big campfire but the mosquitoes are still wicked. Bit of rain but super quiet.

Fri. July 29: The lake is emerald stillness so after breakfast we take our coffee down to the water.  Later we hike around Otter Marsh (about 1.5 hr). We swim at the beach and relax in the sun; a breeze keeps the mosquitoes at bay. New campers roll in: it’s Fri. of the long weekend. The park attendant comes by, says it’s okay to stay where we are. We chat and she gives us all kinds of info for our journey. She is very accommodating and friendly. She even lends us her personal maps. 

Sat. July 30: Sunny, blue sky, calm. Driving south 97 thru Clinton, Cache Creek. Despite the dryness there is a stark beauty to the sagebrush carved hills. Stop at Ashcroft Bakery: the best home made sweets and breads at the lowest prices we have seen anywhere. We have coffee outside and chat with Howard, a senior town resident. He walks a few km. to town every day; told us stories of his lost love and interesting past. We visit the local the museum then head to Logan Lake, pass a very large copper mine. We pretty much have the highway to ourselves. Pine beetle devastation has left its’ mark here. In Logan Lake we get directions from the tourist bureau: all the campgrounds are full: best to keep going south. 10 minutes out of town we get a flat tire. Hot 27+ Bob has never changed a tire on this new VW. Empty the trunk to get at the tire. A young guy in a truck stops to see if we need help. Bob declines. He is reading the instruction book. I call AMA/ no connection. He gets the car jacked up. A couple on a motorcycle pass us then turn around and ask if we need help. But Bob is okay (he’s the man). Country folks are sure nice! On the road again at 3:30. We stop in Merritt to get the tire checked (it’s a full size tire so that’s good). I would kill for an iced cappuccino but no luck. We head up the Kokahala. We missed a turn and decide to keep going to Hope. 

The only camping spot we can get is in town at Telteyet on the Fraser River. Very windy, noisy and crowded: we set up at the far end on the grass. We make dinner then walk around town to check out all the wood carvings. There are only 2 showers so Bob takes his before bed. The camp partier wakes up everyone when he returns from the pub at 3am. He is cursing and building a bomb fire. The motorcyclist tenting close to him reves up his bike when he leaves at 7am not that I blamed him. 

I take a shower: Bob breaks camp. We have breakfast at Blue Moose Coffee House in town. It is large and has a good selection of eats. We head to Othello Tunnels, part of the abandoned Kettle Valley Railway, a stunning walk thru the tunnels and Coquihalla Canyon gorge. Because it’s cool and rainy we decide to head  back home via a stopover at friends in Langley. We walk about the restored townsite: quaint boutiques, antique stores, quilt shop: we read tombstones in the old graveyard. Many movies are filmed here.
 
Sun. July 31: We drive into Vancouver to catch the Tawassen ferry to Nanaimo (2 hr. ride). We have to wait an hour being the long weekend there is a huge line up (best to book ahead $17).

Mon. Aug: Re-group, re-pack

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