October 2, 2005

October 2, 2005

Princeton to Hope, B.C.

YEAR 2 DAY 107

 

Today was cloudy and cool, with intermittent light rain.

This morning after regular morning routines, we departed Princeton Municipal Campground heading west on Hwy. 3. Once again, we didn't travel far, only going as far as Hope. Just before Hope, we stopped to view the site of the Hope Slide in 1965. A large chunk of mountain broke off and slid down, as a result of a small earthquake, burying 3 cars travelling on the highway, killing 4 people. Once in Hope, we found our way to Hope Valley Campground, where we are for the night. While checking in, I was commiserating with the owners of the campground, who own a 1999 Chevrolet 1 ton diesel dually, and think it's a lemon. Shortly after buying it when it was a couple of years old, with about 100,000 km. on it, they had to replace the diesel engine while travelling in the United States, at a cost of U.S.$11,000, or about $15,000 Canadian at the exchange rate at that time. Adding insult to that injury was GM's complete lack of interest in providing any assistance. The vehicle was slightly beyond warranty, and they seemed to have an attitude of "well ... what did you expect ? You bought a used vehicle". So I guess I'm not the only one who had that kind of experience with GM.

We got set up in our campsite, and unhitched. A neighbouring camper couple from Washington came over to chat while Joanne and I were sitting at the picnic table in our site having an argument. I almost felt like saying "go away ... we're busy !" We had lunch. I napped. I find that driving though the mountains is tiring. Up, around, down, around, brake, shift gears, concentrate !

We had read in a local tourist information book about the salmon spawning at the mouth of the Kawkawa Creek, where it flows into the Coquihalla River at Hope. The article said that the Chum Salmon spawning run starts around the end of September. We drove over to the other side of Hope to check it out. Wow ... Wow ... WOW ! ! ! The small creek, perhaps a foot deep, 10 to 20 feet wide, was filled with salmon. Spawning, dying, and dead. Watching them spawn, swim upstream, jumping dead, fallen logs lying across the creek, jumping little rapids, swimming in such shallow water that their backs are out of the water ... it was one of the most astounding spectacles I've ever witnessed ! We hiked along the creek for quite awhile in light rain, watching in amazement, oblivious to the rain, struggling to keep Bo from jumping into the creek to catch salmon, struggling to keep him from rolling in the dead ones along the shoreline. I tried to get some photos, but my camera batteries were dead, and while I managed to get the digital camera to shoot a couple of times, the images are blurry. I guess I have neither the photographic skills nor sophisticated enough camera equipment to be able to take photos of salmon in flowing water. Of course, fresh batteries would have helped !

We drove back into Hope, and went downtown to see the series of chain saw carvings around town, mostly centred on a lovely municipal park in the centre of town. We both think the town of Hope is really lovely, as is the surrounding area. We'd like to reside around here if we could find a suitable place. We drove back to our campground, and while Joanne prepared supper, I did today's accounting and began working on this journal entry. I'm finishing it now after supper while she does dishes.

DSK