Day 122 Lac la Hache, BC to Kitimat, BC - Home Again

Wed., Sept. 18

Lac la Hache Prov. Campground to Kitimat - Home Again

Crisp and cool but the sun is shining.  Fog over the lake but no other clouds in the sky driving north, gorgeous morning!  We turned on the heated seats, oh that feels better.   

Leaving Lac la Hache

Hwy 97 N to Williams Lake

Quesnel

West Fraser Mills in Quesnel going strong, closed in Kitimat in Jan 2010!

Prince George Cops for Cancer

Listening to CBC we heard distressing news that Jelly Fish are spreading!  Did you know that Jelly Fish range from peanut size to 400 kg!!   Then we listened to the Debaters, that is always good for a laugh.  Just before Prince George we saw the usual cows, horses, llamas, bison but in a field we thought we saw Ostriches?  Too big for Canada Geese!  Farming Ostriches?  

Fraser Lake-Piper's Glen

Broman Lake Rainbow

Houston

Hungry Hill east of Smithers

Hudson Bay Ski Hill

This is why we live in the North West; it is beautiful, clean and rugged.  So many options for the enthusiastic outdoors; hiking, fishing, biking, camping, skiing and more!  We thought we would make it home in the sun but the closer we got to Terrace the clouds got heavier and grey.   What a fantastic trip, travelling with the Bogaert’s for 103 days, great sights and history lessons.



Morice Town

West Hazelton

Skeena River

Seven Sisters

Travelled over 25,000 km 85 km from home!

Airport hill!! About 40 km from home!!

Made it home safe and sound and passed 3 deer on the Kuldo extension!  We have to start planning our next trip.  Maybe we’ll have to do a snowbird trip.  First things first, book a haircut and get legs waxed!!  Then empty the RV and put it away for the winter. 

Daily Stats: 

Today's distance:  922 km
Weather:  Fog, sun, clouds and rain; High: 19 degrees; Lo: 5 degrees
Wildlife: Birds of Prey, Eagles, Black bear, 3 deer, llamas
Campsite:  Home again but using RV bathroom, toilet in house leaking

Trip Stats:
Total Mileage:  26,308 km
Diesel cost:  $3,719.44
Average cost of diesel:  $1.21 / litre
Most expensive fuel:  Kitimat, BC $1.419 / litre  What's up with this!!
Cheapest fuel:  Sturgis, ND $.972 / litre


News:  Terrible accident in Ottawa with a double Decker bus and passenger train.

Day 121 Vancouver to Lac la Hache, BC

Tues., Sept. 17

Vancouver to Lac la Hache, BC

Ready to go just after 9 am and headed to Carmen’s in Surrey for coffee.  It was a great visit, almost 3 hours and we got to meet her granddaughter Leila.  Her name is spelt a little different than our granddaughter, Layla.  Once on the road we didn’t get far and the traffic was at a stand still near exit 264 Street.  It took over half an hour to go about 10 km to Mt. Lehman Road where it looks like a semi went off into the ditch on the right hand side. 

New Ministry of Transportation office where Mark works

Rosemary & Carmen

Semi being pulled out of ditch

Traffic flowed well into Hope.  Pulled off into the truck stop on the highway, Flying J, which also has a Subway so a quick lunch.  Where the truckers fill up is perfect for pulling through with an RV but we had to go in the car section which pulls in towards the building then making it tight to turn around and get out.  Driving through Hope we saw that the diesel and gas was cheaper by a few pennies a litre.  Love travelling the Fraser Canyon, a great scenic highway.  Very active train tracks, empty coal cars heading north and two more trains heading in each direction.  Tried raining but didn’t last long near Cache Creek. In one field we passed 100-200 Canada Geese migrating.  That will be one messy field.  We stopped at Lac La Hache Prov. Campground and when we paid we were told there were two other RV’s from Kitimat in the campsite but we didn’t walk around to see who they were.  It was dark by 7:30 pm.  Gaining back time has made it darker sooner.      

Gardens in the Chilliwack area

Fraser Canyon

Coming into Cache Creek

Rock formations and colours

 

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance:  483 km; near Cache Creek 99,000 km on truck!!
Diesel:  $1.339/Gas $1.299 Hope, BC; $1.299/Gas $1.379 100 Mile House
Weather:  Fog, clouds and sun; High: 19 degrees; Lo: 12 degrees
Wildlife: Hawk, Heron, 100+ Canada Geese, deer, and ducks
Campsite:  Lac la Hache Provincial Campground $16 no service (bathrooms)
Walking:

Day 120 Vancouver, BC

Mon., Sept. 16

Vancouver, BC

Slow morning before we headed over to visit Mark. Mark had just finished his exercises. He has improved a lot since May when he was first diagnosed with Guillian-Barre Syndrome while he and Sarah were on vacation in Japan.  We walked to Metrotown, had lunch and then headed back.  We looked at his Japan pictures which ended with Mark being in hospital in Tokyo for 10 days before being able to fly home.  Positive attitude helps the recovery process.  We decided to all head to Gary’s for dinner and watch the Canucks first preseason game against San Jose.  Canucks lost 3-2.  Very nice evening spent with Mark, Sarah, Gary and Amanda.  The moon is almost full and the view across the water is gorgeous!  Tomorrow we slowly head home.

Gary & Amanda

Ross, Mark & Sarah 



Looking from N Van to down town

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance:  95 km
Weather:  Fog and clouds; High: 20 degrees; Lo: 16 degrees
Campsite:  Burnaby Cariboo RV Resort $55 full service
Walking: 2 km walking

Day 119 Vancouver, BC

Sun., Sept. 15

Vancouver, BC

Slow morning and fog is not lifting.  We headed over to Mark & Sarah’s place.  Sarah had to drop her sister at the ferry so we headed to Rogers Arena with Mark to watch the Canucks scrimmage.  After watching the Canucks practice with some of their hopefuls like #48 Hunter Shinkaruk from Calgary we drove to Gary’s and relaxed for a few hours.  Mark made dinner reservations at Les Faux Bourgeois.  From the outside the restaurant doesn’t look like much but once the food arrived, it was great!

Canucks Scrimmage

Kesler in grey

Daily Stats: 

Today's distance:  68 km
Weather:  Fog, clouds and rain; High: 21 degrees; Lo: 15 degrees
Wildlife:
Campsite:  Burnaby Cariboo RV Resort $55 full service
Walking: 2 km walking

Day 118 Seattle, WA to Vancouver, BC

Sat., Sept. 14

Seattle, WA to Vancouver, BC

I thought it had rained over night but it was just the mist from the fog that left wet spots.  Headed north on the I5 into the Skagit Valley we crossed the bridge which had a section taken out a few months ago by a truck hitting a brace.  The bridge is scheduled to be closed tonight to repair that temporary section of bridge. “InFARMation” on a sign rather than Information centre.  Corn, apples and hay, farming land.  The fog didn’t lift until we were at the Peace Arch.  Crossing time was about ½ an hour and we had no problem getting through.  Heading to the RV park we went through Burnaby before realizing GPS wasn't set for the campsite so an extra half an hour getting through some construction.  Yes, the sun finally came out and it was beautiful.  We enjoyed the afternoon and took a dip in the hot tub then went to the sitting deck to dry off and read.  Mark & Sarah had plans to go out so Gary and Amanda brought pizza to the RV.  Great evening!

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance:  192 km
Weather:  Fog to Sun; High: 23 degrees; Lo: 15 degrees
Wildlife: squirrels, hawk
Campsite:  Burnaby Cariboo RV Resort $55 full service
Walking: 1 km walking

Day 117 Seattle, WA

Fri., Sept. 13

Seattle, WA

Yesterday the fog over Seattle lifted after 11 am so we were hoping for the same today.  They predicted 78 and sun but it never appeared and it stayed cool.  We parked across from the Space Needle in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation underground parking $12 for the whole day compared to $8 for 2 hours plus $$ for additional time.  We walked down to the Duck Tours but decided to do the Hop On Hop Off Trolley instead.  The Trolley has three separate routes; Scenic Downtown, Overlook & Locks and History of Flight Shuttle.  We started with the Overlook & Locks which took 1 ½ hr then back to the Space Needle to connect with the Downtown Trolley.

Zoo entrance & Rose Garden stop

Yacht belongs to Russian Vodka mogul

Kerry Park Overlook

We got off the trolley near the Aquarium and wandered the wharf then headed to the Crab Pot per Mark and Sarah’s recommendation.  It was very good but we did not order what everyone comes here for, the Sea Feast for two; crab, prawns, mussels, corn on the cob, potatoes.  Pic is worth a thousand words!  We walked up to the Pike Market via the Post Alley.  Market is a very interesting place to visit. Starbucks started in here. After wondering around for an hour we hopped back on the trolley. 

We took their pic, the spread gets dumped then dig in!

Post Alley, gum stuck to walls!

New mode of transportation!

New buildings must contribute something to art in Seattle

Fountain by Space Needle    

Today, Friday the 13th maybe that is why the weather didn't cooperate.  Better tomorrow when we are back in Canada, on home soil again!!

             

Daily Stats: 
Today's distance:  80 km
Weather:  Overcast; High: 21 degrees; Lo: 16
Hop On Hop Off Trolley:  $20/adult per day or $35 for 2 days
Campsite:  Maple Grove RV Resort $46 full service
Walking: 5 km walking