June 17 to 23, 2018 ; Kinbasket Lake to home

Sunday ;  Yellowjacket Creek FSRS on Kinbasket Lake to Wells Gray Provincial Park

Sunny and hot.  Nice !

We had a vicious squabble this morning.  Its effects endured and tainted the entire day.

We left the Yellowjacket Creek Forest Service Recreation Site late this morning and drove back to the town of Valemount.  We dumped our black and grey waste holding tanks and refilled our freshwater tank at the sani-dump station behind the Shell service station.  We refilled with diesel at the Tempo Fuel Bar, then drove to the real reason we were in Valemount ; to have lunch at Double Diamond Donairs, in Joanne's opinion, the best donairs west of Ottawa, Ontario.  < sigh >  Closed on Sundays !

We headed south on Hwy. 5.  We stopped for a late lunch at Thunder Creek roadside rest area.  Lovely little river, likely great for fly fishing ... in a couple of months when the water is not flowing so fast and high.  At Clearwater we stopped at the Wells Gray Provincial Park Visitor Information Centre ( at 6 PM ) but they were closed for the day.  We turned north and drove about 25 km. into the very large provincial park and stopped for the night at Pyramid Campground.

Monday ;  14th ANNIVERSARY OF RETIREMENT ;  exploring northern portion of Wells Gray Provincial Park

Sunny, hot, humid.

We were able to make peace this morning !

We left the Pyramid Campground late this morning and headed north towards Clearwater Campground, the "end of the road" in Wells Gray Provincial Park.  We stopped and explored frequently.  First stop was Helmcken Falls, probably Wells Gray's best known attraction.  Beautiful falls.  Made me feel slightly sad though.  A Kamloops
( dumbass ) woman lost her life here about a week or so ago when she climbed over the safety fence ( for a better view presumably ), slipped, and fell over the cliff.  Later, while viewing Bailey's Chute, I read the story about the engineer named Bailey who was working on the development of the park, and lost his life here in a drowning accident. HMMMM ... death seems to be a recurring theme here !

The hike to view Bailey's Chute ( rapids ) was a fairly long hike through an old growth Cedar, humid rainforest setting.  My first difficult hike since cardiac bypass surgery. 
I and my bypass grafts did just fine, thank you.  Well ... it's possible that I may have had just a few minor twinges of angina.  First twinges of angina that I have felt since triple bypass surgery more than eight and a half months ago.  Let's keep that information to ourselves, shall we ?

By the way ... as an aside ... a few days ago in a "dollar store" the young female clerk looked at the surgical scar on my left arm ( inside of wrist to inside of elbow ) where the radial artery had been harvested to be used as an arterial bypass graft for my heart, and she asked "what happened to your arm ?"  I explained and ... her eyes glazed over, as if I was speaking in tongues or something.  HA HA HA !

We explored until reaching the end of the road and Clearwater Lake Campground where we used the sani-dump station to dump our waste holding tanks ... ( HMPH ... five bucks ! ) ... and refilled our freshwater tank.  We checked out the two sections of Clearwater Lake Campground and decided we would prefer to return to Pyramid Campground.  We drove back to Pyramid Campground, took Ozzie for a leisurely walk around the campground, then sat around our campsite enjoying the lovely weather.

At 6:30 PM I lit a campfire, then cooked supper on it.  An ear of corn, wrapped in its own husk, sausages, potatoes and vegetables wrapped in foil, and a large Roma tomato cut in half, stuffed with shredded cheese and Italian seasoning, wrapped in foil, then baked over the fire.  I had never cooked an ear of corn over an open fire this way before, and it had a wonderful smoky flavour.  MMMMM !

Happy Anniversary, darlin’ !  Hope you liked that wildflower bouquet I picked for you. 
( Wild Rose, Dogwood, Lupine, and Fireweed )

Tuesday ;  exploring southern portion of Wells Gray Provincial Park, then Clearwater to Latremouille FSRS

Sunny and very hot, temperature 97º F / 36º C.  I liked it !  Joanne didn't !  Somewhat like Emma the old cat, Joanne's "window" of ideal temperature is getting smaller and smaller.  HA HA HA !  Most of this trip has been much too cold ... for everyone.  Now it's too hot ... for some.  The temperature was ideal a couple of days ago ... for about an hour and a half.  HA HA HA !

This morning we left Pyramid Campground and headed south through Wells Gray Provincial Park back to the town of Clearwater.  Along the way we stopped to explore / hike to a couple of scenic waterfalls ; Dawson Falls on the Murtle River and Spahats Falls on Spahats Creek.  WHEW ... says Ozzie.  He thinks he's too old to be hiking on hot days.  We think long hikes in the forest are new to him.  It's unlikely that his life with the Watson's involved much hiking.  HA HA HA !  Poor Ozzie, we're making fun of him.

We had lunch in the Spahats Falls trailhead parking lot.  In Clearwater we went to the Wells Gray Visitor Information Centre and I used their free Wi-Fi for about an hour to retrieve e-mail and post my weekly journal to my blog.  A short distance south of Clearwater on Hwy. 5 we stopped at North Thompson Provincial Park and refilled our freshwater tank at their sani-dump station.  We continued south on Hwy. 5 to Little Fort, then turned west on Hwy. 24 to get to Latremouille Lake Forest Service Recreation Site ... again.  This is where we spent the first night of this trip, eighteen days ago.

After we settled into a secluded site I opened the camper's awning ... for the first time in the four and a half years that we have owned the camper.  We rested.  I worked on the computer sitting at the picnic table.  At 7 PM I lit a campfire and cooked Super Deluxe Dan-O-Campfire Cheeseburgers again.  HA HA HA !

Wednesday ;  Latremouille Lake FSRS to Kamloops to Harmon Lake FSRS

Sunny and very hot during the day, perfect in the evening !

We left Latremouille Lake late this morning and drove east on Hwy. 24 back to Little Fort.  We turned south on Hwy. 5 heading towards Kamloops.  We stopped to have lunch at a rest area near McLure.  Once in Kamloops we found our way ... not easily ... to Surplus Herby's where we bought what we were unable to find at the Prince George location.  Then we found our way ... not easily ... to Superstore to buy a few grocery items and refill the truck with diesel.  Last stop in Kamloops was the Visitor Information Centre to use their sani-dump station to dump our waste holding tanks and refill our freshwater tank.

We left Kamloops around 4 PM and headed south on the Coquihalla / Hwy. 5.  In the space of about 20 km. we went from 95º F in blazing sun to 61º F in a heavy rain squall.  YUP ... ya gotta love the "Highway Thru Hell" !  Blizzard conditions, all the time, winter or summer !  At Merritt we turned east on Hwy. 97C, the "Coquihalla Okanagan Connector".  At Kane Harmon Forest Service Road we turned south and drove about 10 km. to Harmon Lake Forest Service Recreation Site, our destination for tonight.  There were quite a lot of campers for a "remote wilderness campground".

We rested.  I fished, catching a teensy little Rainbow Trout fingerling.  I lit our final campfire of this trip and cooked our final supper of this trip on it.  < sigh >  Home tomorrow !  Late in the evening, sitting around the campfire, lake glassy smooth, mosquitoes brutal, we watched a pair of mated Loons teaching their pair of babies how to dive and fish.  < taking a slow, deep breath >

Thursday ;  Harmon Lake to home

Sunny and very warm.

This morning before leaving the Harmon Lake Forest Service Recreation Site Joanne wanted to drive around the three sections of campground and check them out.  At the last section of campground, on Kane Lake, I had to back up the truck to get turned around.  A stump pushed the truck's rear wheel fender flap underneath the tire which then tore the fender flap off, and ripped the wheel well's inner liner as well.  < sigh > 
I had to do some emergency roadside repairs to be able to continue driving.  And now
I have a fairly simple, but also fairly large, remove, repair, and replace project on the wheel well inner liner and the fender flap.  Third time in fourteen years I have ripped a fender flap off the truck this way !  < huge sigh >

We drove back to Hwy. 97C, the Coquihalla Okanagan Connector, then drove east to Aspen Grove where we turned south on Hwy. 5A to Princeton.  I refilled the truck with diesel at Petro-Canada in Princeton, then we headed east on Crowsnest Hwy. 3, the final leg to home.  We stopped to have a late lunch at Bromley Rock Provincial Park.  We arrived home around 4 PM.

Emma was VERY glad to be home.  She doesn't really like travelling / living in the camper.  We did some first aid on Ozzie's bug bites and cysts, then gave him a needed bath.

Friday ;  Mostly sunny, warm, windy.

Today was mostly a day of "return home" chores.  Joanne did a lot of laundry.  I made some phone calls and paid some bills.  I did truck preventive maintenance.  We went to visit our neighbour / friend Jeanine, mostly because it was time for me to trim her little dog Charlie's nails.  We removed the camper off the truck.  And I removed the rear wheel well's damaged inner liner.  It was easier to remove than I had expected.  And now that I have it removed I have a better idea of what must be done, and how, to repair it.

Saturday ;  Mix of sun and clouds, warm.

I / Similkameen Trailer Towing was hired today to transport a large trailer from Penticton to the Calgary Stampede next Monday and Tuesday.  The client is a food concession operator.  The referral was made by a friend / former neighbour.  Thank you, Diane.

Joanne did a lot of gardening work on our rock slope / "front yard".  We picked Saskatoons.  WOW ... great Saskatoon berries this year, plump and sweet.  This is about a week earlier than we have ever harvested Saskatoons before.  Should be a lot more ready for harvest when we return from the trailer delivery to Calgary.  I did some repair work on the truck.  I did some replenishment work in the camper.  I prepared and marinated a couple of small Rainbow Trout to be "smoked / candied" in the Sun Oven tomorrow.  In the evening I worked on computer scans and backup.

DSK

June 10 to 16, 2018 ; Burns Lake to Yellowjacket Creek / Kinbasket Lake

Sunday ;  Burns Lake to Augier Lake FSRS

Partially sunny, mild temperature, a few minutes of rain mid-afternoon.
 
This morning we went for a walk around the Burns Lake municipal park adjacent to the municipal campground, and I did an exercise session utilizing the fitness machines around the park's perimeter trail.  We left the campground, drove to the nearby municipal sani-dump station, emptied our grey and black waste holding tanks, and refilled with freshwater.  We went to the Visitor Information Centre and I used their free Wi-Fi to finish posting my weekly journal to my blog.  We left Burns Lake around noon.  Thank you very much, town of Burns Lake.

We headed north out of town on Babine Lake Road, intending to check out another few Forest Service remote wilderness campgrounds.  Our first stop was Division Lake Forest Service Recreation Site.  T'was okay ... small campground, some campers there.  Next was Pinkut Lake Forest Service Recreation Site.  We liked Pinkut Lake and will probably return to camp there tomorrow night.  Last stop, and our destination for today, was Augier Lake Forest Service Recreation Site.  There was only one other camper at Augier Lake and they were at the far end of the campground.  We selected a secluded lakeshore site and settled in.  What a lovely place !

After we went for a long, leisurely walk around the remote wilderness campground
I tossed a fishing line into the lake, and prepared a campfire.  HEY ... caught two Rainbow Trout !  WOO-HOO ... supper for tomorrow !  While Joanne prepared a salad, mashed potatoes, and sautéed Morel mushrooms inside the camper I grilled two marinated steaks over the campfire.  The lovely taste of the Morel mushrooms did not come through as well when they were mixed with mashed potatoes as they did when mixed into a creamy pasta dish.  Oh, well ... live and learn !

Joanne went for a leisurely, solitary walk along the shoreline / beach.  She tripped. 
< stifling a snicker >   Fell in the lake !  < snickering >  What can I say ? !

Monday ;  Augier Lake to Pinkut Lake FSRS

Overcast, windy, cold.

Caught another Rainbow Trout in Augier Lake this morning, a bit larger than yesterday's two fish.  We left the Augier Lake Forest Service Recreation Site remote wilderness campground this morning and travelled fifteen km. back to Pinkut Lake Forest Service Recreation Site remote wilderness campground.  There was one other camper there, at the opposite end of the campground from where we selected a site.  We had lunch,
I napped, then went outside to fish.  Joanne, Ozzie, and Emma all opted to stay inside the camper, with the catalytic infrared heater on !  I did a bit of preventive maintenance on the truck.  I certainly am eager for the arrival of the remaining valve extender products I ordered from Amazon quite awhile ago.

Caught a Rainbow Trout in Pinkut Lake.  Oh, boy ... four fish equals two suppers.  Two fish for tonight and two into the freezer.

Late in the afternoon we went for a hike in the woods.  BRRRRR ... too cold !  I lit a campfire and while Joanne prepared a salad and Teriyaki noodle side dish I butterflied, seasoned and grilled two Rainbow Trout over the campfire.  Very good !  Had never prepared them that way before.  After supper we sat briefly around the campfire, but ... BRRRRR ... too cold to stay outside, even with a fire.

Saw a bear as we drove from Augier Lake to Pinkut Lake this morning.

Tuesday ;  Pinkut Lake to Ootsa Lake

Sunny and mild for most of the day, cloudy and cool with intermittent drizzle in the evening.

Caught another Rainbow Trout in Pinkut Lake this morning.

Left Pinkut Lake Forest Service Recreation Site this morning and drove back on Augier Lake Road and Babine Lake Road to the town of Burns Lake ... again !  We certainly are getting our money's worth out of the town of Burns Lake.  HA HA HA !  And we'll back again in another couple of days for even more free services !

When we arrived at the municipal sani-dump station there was a motorhome parked at the dump.  The ( American ) owner was gone shopping at the nearby home building supply store.  I was livid !  And when he returned ... I told him what an inconsiderate asshole I thought he was.  And yes, yes ... I used those exact words.  I was even more indignant when he was leaving and I noticed the Escapees ( RV Club ) decal on his rig.  Yeah ... way to embody the club's credo of "caring and sharing" ... asshole !

We dumped our grey and black waste holding tanks, and refilled with freshwater.  We drove over to the Visitor Information Centre and I once again used their free Wi-Fi to check e-mail.  We drove to the car wash in town that had one bay with a very tall door to allow entry to logging trucks, and washed the truck and camper.  YUCK !  We drove to the municipal park, and walked with Ozzie around the perimeter path with all the fitness machines, and I did an exercise session.  We went inside the camper and had a late lunch.

After lunch we were just getting ready to depart for Prince George when Joanne announced that ... on impulse ... she decided she wanted to go and see Ootsa Lake, and its free campground offered by Rio Tinto, which I think is an aluminum mining company operating in Northern BC.  They operate a power generating station where Ootsa Lake dumps into the Nechako River.  The power generating station was developed by Alcan ( predecessor to Rio Tinto ? ) in 1952, to provide electricity to their aluminum smelter at Kitimat.  Well ... if she can go see Ootsa Lake, then I want to see Takysie Lake, on the way to Ootsa Lake.  Okay ... deal struck !

We headed south on Hwy. 35 to Francois Lake, then took the free ferry across Francois Lake to Southbank ... on the southern shore of Francois Lake.  We continued south until we found the Takysie Lake Forest Service Recreation Site.  Very nice !  I want to spend tomorrow there.  We continued south until we found our way to the Ootsa Lake / Nechako Reservoir Spillway ( power generating station ).  There was a very nice ... and free ... campground there, many sites along the lake's edge, and some further back in the forest.  A couple of water spigots.  Lots of free firewood.  WOO-HOO !

We chose a secluded site back in the woods.  Joanne took Ozzie for an off leash walk, and to bring some firewood back to our site.  On their way back, Ozzie thought the empty site next to ours was where we had parked.  He rushed into the campsite ahead of Joanne, and then was very upset because he thought that I had driven away with the camper, leaving him and Joanne behind.  Poor Ozzie !  Dog logic !

I chopped firewood, loaded enough into the truck for tomorrow night's campfire, lit a campfire, then cooked chicken legs and vegetables in foil over the fire.  We sat around the campfire for awhile after supper, but by 8:30 PM were feeling too cold to remain outdoors.  I "made" a "hot rock" for Joanne to warm her cold hands.  Then brought another one inside the camper and put it in Emma's bed.  She didn't seem impressed.

How nice to be able to do hard work like chopping firewood without suffering angina pain.

Wednesday ;  Ootsa Lake to Takysie Lake FSRS

Mix of sun and clouds, cool, windy.

This morning we refilled our freshwater tank at the Rio Tinto campground on Ootsa Lake, then departed.  We drove west along the shoreline of Ootsa Lake until we found the Ootsa Landing Forest Service Recreation Site and checked it out.  We drove south back towards Francois Lake until we reached Takysie Lake Forest Service Recreation Site, our destination for today.  We had lunch, then I napped with Ozzie.  After napping
I walked down to the dock on the lake and fished for a few hours.  I caught four very nice Rainbow Trout, and lost a few others as I tried to lift them out of the lake and onto the dock.  HMPH ... should have used a net !  For two of the three hours that I was fishing, the fish seemed very interested in feeding.  Then, suddenly ... POOF ... they were gone, or not hungry any more.

On this trip I have been trying something different in my "harvesting" of fish.  I have been immediately killing, gutting, and cleaning the fish I have caught, in the lake, at the water's edge, and tossing the offal out into the lake.  Today as I was lying over the edge of the dock, cleaning the last, and nicest, Rainbow Trout that I caught ... < sigh > ...
I dropped it into the lake just as I was finished cleaning it.  I lunged for it, plunging my arm into the water up to my shoulder, but ... I failed to grab it !  DARN !

I lit a campfire.  Joanne made a couple of foil wrapped packages of a meat loaf type dish, with vegetables, and I cooked them over the campfire.  We ate our salads outside at the picnic table, but it was too cold and windy, so we ate the rest of supper inside the camper.  And it seemed too cold and windy to return to the campfire after supper.  BRRRRR !

This entire trip has been too cold !

Thursday ;  Takysie Lake to Burns Lake to Prince George

Mix of sun and clouds, occasional light rain, mild temperature.

Today was mostly a day of "urban" chores, and driving.  Late this morning we left the Takysie Lake Forest Service remote wilderness campground and drove north back to the town of Burns Lake, including crossing Francois Lake from the south side to the north side on the free ferry.  As we arrived at the Francois Lake south side ferry terminal, and pulled up to the back of the line in vehicle lane 2, lane 1 was already loading onto the ferry.  Good timing !  Saw a small Brown Bear as we were driving, probably a yearling.

First stop in Burns Lake was the municipal sani-dump station to dump our black and grey waste holding tanks, and refill the freshwater tank.  Then to the adjacent home building supplies store to refill a propane tank ... again.  We blew through that tank of propane pretty quickly, using the catalytic infrared heater as much as we have been ! 
I dropped Joanne off at the grocery store to buy groceries, and I drove to the Visitor Information Centre to use their free Wi-Fi to check e-mail, to drop off a book at their free book exchange, and to return some phone calls.  When I was done there I returned to the grocery store and helped Joanne finish the grocery shopping.

While Joanne prepared a very late lunch for us in the camper parked in the grocery store parking lot I took our five gallon water jug to be refilled at a nearby water refill business.  After lunch we drove to the car wash and washed the truck ... again.  Last stop in town was the BG Fuel Bar to refill the truck with diesel.

We left Burns Lake around 4:30 PM heading east on Yellowhead Hwy. 16.  We arrived in Prince George about three hours later.  We stopped at the shopping mall area on the west side of town and shopped at Dollarama for groceries and supplies, then I went to Canadian Tire to buy some fishing floats.  We pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot and Joanne made supper while I worked on the computer in the camper, using the nearby McDonald's free Wi-Fi signal which reached our camper in the parking lot.  After supper Joanne went into Wal-Mart to do more grocery and supplies shopping.

When she was finished Wal-Martin' we left the Wal-Mart parking lot and drove to the casino at the junction of Yellowhead Hwy. 16 ( east / west ) and Hwy. 97
( north / south ) where we had planned to boondock overnight ... as we have done before.  When we arrived at the casino we discovered ... HMPH ... overnight RV parking is no longer allowed.  So ... HMPH ... we drove back to Wal-Mart and spent the night parked in their parking lot.  Along with MANY other RV's.  Despite the "no RV overnight parking" signage.  It was obvious from the contents of the parking lots that the casino is enforcing that rule and Wal-Mart is not.  Thank you, Wal-Mart.

Friday ;  Prince George to LaSalle Lake FSRS

Mostly sunny, mild, a few drops of rain around suppertime.

This morning we left the Prince George Wal-Mart parking lot and drove to Superstore. 
I refilled the truck with diesel at the Superstore Fuel Bar, then we went inside the store to replenish groceries.  After grocery shopping we went back to the Wal-Mart shopping mall area and had lunch at McDonald's.  Because ... Joanne was adamant that we use up some McDonald's coupons that we had that expired today ... < rolling my eyes >.

After lunch we refilled the camper's freshwater tank at a Husky service station then headed east on Yellowhead Hwy. 16 which crosses right through downtown Prince George.  Once downtown we found our way to Surplus Herby's where I wanted to shop for three items.  HMPH ... only got one of the three.  And the Prince George Surplus Herby's was nowhere near as much fun as the Williams Lake store.  From Surplus Herby's we continued east through and out of town on Yellowhead Hwy. 16.

Saw a large, muscular looking Brown Bear on the side of the road.  We did a U-turn to go back and take a second look at it, unsure of whether it was a large Brown Bear, or a Grizzly.  We checked out Willow River North Forest Service Recreation Site and Purden Lake Provincial Park.  We stopped at a roadside rest area beside a fast flowing small river, name unknown, and I fly fished for about half an hour.  We stopped for the night at LaSalle Lake Forest Service Recreation Site.  We are now at the western edge of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

LaSalle Lake remote wilderness campground is apparently not remote enough !  There were about a dozen campsites, and most were occupied, including one very loud family with children, generator, and chain saw.  Ah, yes ... the weekend is upon us !  We settled into a site, I lit a campfire, and cooked supper over it.  After supper we went for a leisurely walk with Ozzie around the campground loop.  This Forest Service "remote wilderness campground" was more "upscale" than most, more like a provincial park campground quality.

Saturday ;  LaSalle Lake to Yellowjacket Creek FSRS on Kinbasket Lake

Sunny and mild.  Well !  It's about time !

Saw a young moose, and a young deer while driving today.

Late this morning we left LaSalle Lake "remote wilderness" campground ... just in time.  Multiple noisy families with many children and uncontrolled large dogs were arriving.  We continued eastbound on Yellowhead Hwy. 16.  We checked out multiple rest areas located on small rivers that looked like they would be ideal for fly fishing in a couple of months, but right now the rivers are running too fast and high.

We stopped in the small village of McBride, a quaint, old, railroad town.  The impressive train station is still functioning, and houses the Visitor Information Centre.  When I went into the Visitor Information Centre to ask where could I find a water spigot to refill our freshwater tank I was directed to a water faucet on the front of the train station building.  HA HA HA ... how convenient.  After refilling the water tank, and chatting with some tourists from Trinidad who were waiting for the arrival of the Via Rail passenger train ... they were taking the train to nearby Jasper, Alberta ... we ate lunch in the camper, parked at the municipal park across the street from the train station.

We continued east on Yellowhead Hwy. 16.  We checked out the Forest Service Recreation Site at Beaver River Falls.  It was completely filled with members of a whitewater rafting club on a weekend outing.  We continued east on Yellowhead Hwy. 16 until we reached Tete Jaune Cache where we turned south onto Hwy. 5 and crossed the mighty Fraser River.  At Valemount we stopped at the Visitor Information Centre and I used their free Wi-Fi to check e-mail.  We drove around the small town checking all the service stations for water spigots to use to refill our freshwater tank tomorrow morning.  Found a sani-dump station at the Shell station.

From Valemount we headed east on Cedarside Road, then Canoe East Forest Service Road towards Kinbasket Lake, to check out three Forest Service Recreation Site remote wilderness campgrounds between twenty and twenty-five kilometres from Valemount.  It was a poor condition gravel road most of the way.  First campground was Yellowjacket Creek, second was Horse Creek campground, third and final was Canoe Reach Marina campground.  After checking out all three we returned to take a site at the first, Yellowjacket Creek FSRS on Kinbasket Lake.

We settled into a site, rested, walked around with Ozzie, and walked around with Emma.  I lit a campfire and cooked Super Deluxe Dan-O-Cheeseburgers for supper.  HA HA HA !  For the first time in the two weeks that we have been travelling we were able to sit around a campfire in the evening without being bothered by cold, rain,
and / or bugs.

DSK

June 3 to 9, 2018 ; Latremouille Lake to Burns Lake, BC

Sunday ;  Latremouille Lake to Hwy. 97 rest area near Kersley

Cloudy, chilly, raining in the afternoon and evening.

We left the remote wilderness campground at Latremouille Lake this morning and continued west on Hwy. 24 to Hwy. 97 just south of 100 Mile House.  At 100 Mile House we stopped at the Bank of Montreal to deposit a cheque, then went to the municipal sani-dump station to refill our freshwater tank.  Last stop in town was Dollar Tree to buy a few items we needed.  We stopped for lunch ( and a brief nap for me ) at the rest area adjacent to the 108 Mile House Museum.

We continued north on Hwy. 97 to Williams Lake.  First stop there was Surplus Herby's.  WOO-HOO !  What fun !  We bought a few items ... nothing we really needed, just neat stuff, purchased on impulse.  We drove to the Williams Lake Visitor Information Centre where I used their free Wi-Fi to post my weekly journal to my blog.  Joanne picked up quite a bit of travel information for this trip, and another we are planning in the fall to the Bella Coola area.  The Williams Lake Visitor Information Centre is housed in an astounding log building, built by the local log home builder, the iconic Pioneer Log Homes, "star" of the television show "Timber Kings".  As we drove into town we could see how very close last year's wildfires came to Pioneer Log Homes building and log storage yard.  YIKES ... close call !

We continued north on Hwy. 97 from Williams Lake.  We decided to stop for the night, around 6:30 PM, at a nice roadside rest area where we have overnight boondocked at least a couple of times before.  It was raining, and we were getting tired, cold, and hungry.  Joanne said she preferred to boondock at the pretty rest area than the alternative which was Wal-Mart in Quesnel, about an hour north of here.

Monday ;  Hwy. 97 rest area near Kersley to Hogsback Lake Forest Service campground

Mix of sun, clouds, and rain.

We left the rest area this morning and continued north on Hwy. 97 to Quesnel.  We needed diesel and were planning to refill at the Extra Foods Fuel Bar, but when we got there ... it was closed for renovations / reconstruction.  I decided to chance continuing all the way to Prince George before refuelling.  I broke a hand mirror this morning, so we stopped at Dollarama ( didn't have what I wanted ) and Dollar Tree to buy a new hand mirror.  At Quesnel's excellent municipal sani-dump station we dumped our grey and black waste holding tanks, and refilled with freshwater.

We continued north on Hwy 97 towards Prince George.  Shortly before reaching Prince George we stopped at a roadside rest area and had lunch.  Once in Prince George we headed to Superstore where I refilled with diesel and we bought groceries.  I selected $150 worth of fuel on the pump's pre-select, and ... that wasn't even quite enough to fill the truck's tank !

We left Prince George headed west on Yellowhead Hwy. 16 towards Vanderhoof.  Shortly before reaching Vanderhoof we decided to leave the highway to check out a Forest Service remote wilderness campground.  We drove about 13 km. / 8 miles south of the highway to reach Hogsback Lake Forest Service Recreation Site.  It was worth
it !  We chose to stay for the night.

We were the only campers at the six site remote wilderness campground.  We chose a lovely site overlooking the lake.  After settling in we went for a long walk ... mostly uphill ... with Ozzie, exploring the campground and lake area.  I started a campfire, and ... threw a fishing line into the lake.  Joanne made a salad, and we "roasted weenies" over the campfire for supper.  MMMMM ... good hot dogs !  Didn't catch any fish !

Tuesday ;  Hogsback Lake to Sowchea Bay Provincial Park

Cloudy, chilly, ten or fifteen minutes of heavy rain every hour or so.

Before leaving Hogsback Lake this morning Emma was very ill, and ... Ozzie was a very bad dog !  By the time all was said and done ... I felt demoralized, discouraged, and defeated.  I just wanted to drive a thousand km. back home and go to sleep !  Joanne had the strength and patience to get both of us to a better place.  Thank you !

We left Hogsback Lake, drove back to Yellowhead Hwy. 16, and west to Vanderhoof.  We drove around Vanderhoof awhile, checking out their municipal campground and sani-dump station, and the Rotary Club campground.  A bit further west on Yellowhead Hwy. 16 we turned north on Hwy. 27 to Fort St. James.  In Fort St. James we found our way to Cottonwood Park, home of the municipal campground and sani-dump station.  We refilled our freshwater tank, then drove around town and Lakeshore Drive sightseeing for awhile.  We returned to Cottonwood Park, parked on the shoreline of Stuart Lake, and had lunch.  I napped briefly then we drove back through town and found Sowchea Road.

Fifteen km. south of town along the south shore of Stuart Lake was Paarens Beach Provincial Park.  We drove around the provincial park campground then continued south on Sowchea Road another five km. to Sowchea Bay Provincial Park.  After driving through the second provincial park's campground we chose to stay there at Sowchea Bay.  We chose a lakeshore site, got parked and set up, then went for a long walk through the campground and along the shoreline with Ozzie.  Well ... as much of a long walk as my very painful right knee would allow.  I have been experiencing quite severe knee pain the last few days.  Driving seems to be aggravating my often sore knees.

It was much too cold and wet for another campfire tonight.

Wednesday ;  Sowchea Bay Provincial Park to Co-op Lake Forest Service campground

Mix of sun and clouds, mild temperature.

Late this morning we left Sowchea Bay Provincial Park and drove north on Sowchea Road back to the town of Fort St. James, and then found our way to the Fort St. James National Historic Site, a federal government operated, recreated Hudson Bay trading post.  As we were paying our entrance fee we found out that the site is dog friendly, so we returned to the camper to get Ozzie who was waiting with Emma in the camper for our return.

WOO-HOO ... thought Ozzie !  And he really did enjoy the adventure of traipsing along with us through this recreated and re-enacted Hudson Bay trading post.  He particularly seemed to enjoy the scents of the Fur Store, filled with furs ; beaver, fox, coyote, wolf, lynx, marten, bear, muskrat, even skunk pelts.  Behind the "Officer's Dwelling House" there was a garden area and ... CHICKENS !  WOO-HOO, WOO-HOO, WOO-HOO ... thought Ozzie.  HA HA HA !  Good thing he was on a leash !  After touring the site we returned Ozzie to the camper and went back into the site to have a late lunch at the fort's Commemoration Café.

After leaving Fort St. James National Historic Site we drove into town and found the library.  I went inside and used their free Wi-Fi to check e-mail and get some other online work done, including preparing and submitting a trailer towing quote.  From the library we went to Cottonwood Park and once again used the town's municipal
sani-dump station to refill the camper's freshwater tank and dump the grey and black waste holding tanks.  By then it was almost 5 PM and we had to decide whether to return to one of the two local provincial park campgrounds or ... hit the road !  We chose the latter.  Was there any doubt ?  HA HA HA !

South on Hwy. 27 back to Yellowhead Hwy. 16, then west.  In between the towns of Fraser Lake and Burns Lake we turned north off the highway onto Augier Lake Forest Service Road and found our way to Co-op Lake Forest Service remote wilderness campground where we spent the night.  We've been here before.  We took Ozzie for a walk, and checked out the lake and campground.  WOW ... countless numbers of tadpoles in the shallow water along the shoreline.  Haven't seen tadpoles since I was ... well ... a tadpole myself !  HA HA HA !  We did some trip planning in the camper before having a late, light supper.

Today while driving we saw a large, red fox leap across the road, and later, an antlered moose running awkwardly beside the road.

Thursday ;  Co-op Lake to Owen Lake Forest Service campground

Overcast, mild, occasional rain.

This morning we left the Co-op Lake remote wilderness campground, drove a short distance south on the Augier Lake Forest Service Road back to Yellowhead Hwy. 16, then west to the town of Burns Lake.  First stop in town was the municipal sani-dump station to dump our grey and black waste holding tanks and refill the freshwater tank.  Then BG Fuels to refill with diesel.  We went to the Visitor Information Centre to get some information on the Burns Lake to Houston "circle route" we wanted to explore, and I checked e-mail using their free Wi-Fi.  We stopped at a bakery to buy some bread, buns and pastries, then drove to the municipal campground to have lunch.  HMMM ... free camping at the municipal campground.  How nice !

After lunch we headed south on Hwy. 35 to Francois Lake, then west along the lakeshore checking all the Forest Service Recreation Site remote wilderness campgrounds around Francois Lake ; McLure Pit, Government Pit, East Noralee, West Noralee, and finally, Francois Lake West.  We stopped at West Noralee for about an hour and I had a nap.  From the west side of Francois Lake we headed west on Owen Lake East Forest Service Road then north on Morice - Owen Lake Forest Service Road to Owen Lake campground.

We had the Owen Lake remote wilderness campground all to ourselves.  I lit a campfire while Joanne prepared foil packets of chicken and vegetables.  While Joanne handled the cooking of dinner over the campfire I went fishing for about half an hour, catching nothing.  After supper we went for a long walk with Ozzie, wandering around the campground area, and the lake and dock, and over to a nearby bridge over a creek.

Friday ;  Owen Lake to Sunset Lake FSRS

Overcast, chilly, raining frequently.  That's getting tiresome !

We left Owen Lake this morning and continued north on Morice - Owens Forest Service Road.  Shortly after we started driving we encountered a female Black Bear and her two little cubs on the road.  How cute !  How's your porridge, Mama ?  HA HA HA !  We stopped at Aspen Forest Service Recreation Site on the Morice River to check out the remote wilderness campground, but decided to continue on.  Morice - Owens Forest Service Road ended at Yellowhead Hwy. 16, at the town of Houston.

At Houston’s municipal sani-dump station we refilled our freshwater tank then parked at the adjacent municipal park.  We walked through the park to see Houston's tourist attraction, "the world's largest fly fishing road" and ... WOO-HOO ... the weekly farmers' market.  We love farmers' markets.  WOO-HOO, WOO-HOO, WOO-HOO ... freshly picked, wild Morel mushrooms.  What a delicacy!  What a rarity ! ! !  What a reasonable price !  I bought half a pound, which is a lot of mushrooms.  And a jar of home made Saskatoon jam.

We had lunch in the camper then drove to the town's shopping mall.  While Joanne went into the supermarket to buy some milk, I went across the street to the Visitor Information Centre to use Wi-Fi to check e-mail.  Oh, goody !  Just what I wanted to download ... then read.  Ten documents pertaining to our RV park's recent AGM.

We left Houston continuing east on Yellowhead Hwy. 16, and near Topley we turned off the highway to find Sunset Lake Forest Service Recreation Site remote wilderness campground.  We had been here before.  It's nice !  It was empty when we arrived around 4 PM but within an hour or so began to fill up with a lot of other campers arriving.  Oh, yeah ... it's Friday ... and we're near a small city !  I napped for an hour. 
I fished for about half an hour, but did not catch anything.  I lit a campfire and we had another "weenie roast" for supper.  After supper I worked in the camper, downloading and processing the photos I have taken so far on this trip.  AND ... < sigh > ... reading out loud and discussing with Joanne the ten AGM documents.  We certainly are glad that we keep ourselves isolated from the foolish drama of our park's politics !

Saturday ;  Sunset Lake to Burns Lake

Mix of sun and clouds, cold.

This morning we left Sunset Lake remote wilderness campground, drove back to Yellowhead Hwy. 16, and headed east back to the town of Burns Lake.  First stop was the municipal sani-dump station where we emptied our grey and black waste holding tanks, and refilled our freshwater tank.  At the building supplies store adjacent to the sani-dump station we refilled an empty propane tank.  We drove to the laundromat in town and Joanne did laundry.  We had lunch in the camper while the laundry was washing.

After the laundering was all done we went to the Visitor Information Centre where
I checked e-mail and uploaded six days of my weekly journal to my blog, saved as a draft.  Tomorrow I will return to the Visitor Information Centre, and will have to upload only this / today's entry to complete my weekly posting.  We went to a Dollar Store and bought some supplies for the camper, then to BG Fuels and refilled with diesel again.  Finally we went to the municipal free campground and selected a site.

Our "next door neighbours" were a young couple from Switzerland, with a rental
Class C motorhome, returning from a trip to Alaska.  They were trying to chop wood with a hatchet, and were having difficulty.  I lent him my large axe to use.  We took Ozzie for a long walk around the municipal park adjacent to the campground.  Around the large perimeter walkway in the park were a series of fitness equipment machines. 
I had a good cardiac exercise workout on the machines in conjunction with our long walk with Ozzie.

I did some work on the computer before we prepared supper, then we prepared creamy pasta with Morel mushrooms.  MMMMMMMMMM ! ! !  WOW ... they were SOOOOO good !  It's been over fifty years since I last had Morels.  And ... < whispering > ...
I never did like the way my mother prepared them !

DSK

May 27 to June 2, 2018

Sunday ;  Sunny, very warm, a bit humid.

Got hired today by a local trailer dealer to deliver a horse trailer on Tuesday to Ross Spur, a bit east of Castlegar.  Did some truck and camper preparations for camping / travelling in a week or so.  Did routine investment records keeping.  Posted my blog entry.  Took Ozzie for a couple of long walks.  WHEW ... horrific mosquitoes !  That's why we go camping / travelling for most of June ; to escape the mosquitoes here at Riverside RV Park Resort, an annual problem in June.

While Joanne prepared supper I drove into Keremeos to refill our five gallon water jug.

Monday ;  Penticton

Sunny and very warm in Penticton, chilly and very windy at home in the evening.

We left for Penticton late this morning.  We spent the day running errands in Penticton.  On the way home we stopped in Twin Lakes ( at 5:15 PM ) to pick up a horse trailer that we are delivering tomorrow.  We were surprised and dismayed to find out from the client ( trailer dealer ) that he required it to be delivered in Ross Spur ... about four hours east of here ... by noon tomorrow !  SHIT !  So much for a 10 AM departure ... and borscht for lunch in Grand Forks !

Tuesday ;  home to Ross Spur and return ;  eight months since cardiac bypass surgery

Sunny until mid-afternoon, then cloudy.  Somewhat chilly all day.

Left home at 8 AM.  Drove 320 km. east to Ross Spur, between Castlegar and Salmo.  Killed a quail on the way ... < sigh >.  It flew up off the road right in front of the truck.  Delivered a horse trailer at 12:30 PM.  Drove home, arriving back home at 6:30 PM.  Tiring day.  On the way back home, stopped in Grand Forks for a very late lunch at
3 PM at The Borscht Bowl.  Can't drive through Grand Forks without stopping for borscht.  It was so good ... ( how good was it, Dan ? ) ... that I bought a litre "to go", to take camping with us.  The Borscht Bowl has only been re-opened for five days, after being flooded.  Most of Grand Forks downtown businesses are closed, undergoing extensive flood restoration.

Also stopped in Castlegar so that Joanne could buy a few advertised "on sale" items at Shoppers Drug Mart.  While she was in the store I "negotiated" a trailer delivery job by telephone.  When she returned to the truck she listened to my side of part of the phone conversation.  As we continued driving, she convinced me that I should NOT do this job.  She was certain that this would be a problem client with a problem filled job.  She was right.  As soon as I returned home, I advised the client to hire someone else.

Wednesday ;  eight years as a non-smoker !

Mostly sunny, warm.

Slept late.  Did pet ear care and dental care.  Went over to neighbour / friend Jeanine's for a visit.  Did cardiac exercising in the swimming pool.  Did some minor maintenance on the truck.  Did credit card accounting for Monday's and Tuesday's credit card spending.  Prepared our ballots for the upcoming rescheduled AGM of our RV park.  Prepared an invoice for yesterday's trailer towing job.  Exchanged some books at our park's library.  Took Ozzie for a couple of walks.  WHEW ... we've got to escape these mosquitoes by leaving for a few weeks.

Thursday ;  Cloudy, warm.

We began to load the camper today in anticipation of leaving on Saturday for a few weeks of camping / exploring / travelling.  After lunch we drove into Keremeos,
I dropped Joanne off at the medical clinic, then I ran errands in town.  When I was finished about half an hour later I returned to the clinic to pick up Joanne, and we drove to Twin Lakes to return the client's dealer license plate, and pick up payment for our recent trailer towing job.  In the evening I did some month end online work, retrieving and printing bank statements and investment updates.

Friday ;  Mostly cloudy, warm.

Continued preparations for a three week camping trip.  Removed the fifth wheel hitch from the truck bed.  Mounted the camper onto the truck.  Reinstalled the truck's rear wheel liners and hub caps.  Did cardiac exercising in the swimming pool.  In the evening I reconciled May's bank statements and updated our investment records.

Today we "lost" a laundry basket.  It became Emma's new bed.  Her decision.  HA HA HA !

Saturday ;  home to Latremouille Lake Forest Service campground

Mostly sunny, warm.

This morning we drove "next door" to SunKatchers Park, to attend their annual "yard sale".  Every year we find useful stuff to buy at their annual yard sale, although this year less than usual.  I bought one item.  Before and after lunch we continued final packing and preparations for departure.  We pulled out of our yard at 2 PM.  First camping trip with Ozzie.  First camping trip since my bypass surgery.

West on Hwy. 3 to Princeton, north on Hwy. 5A to the Coquihalla Okanagan Connector, west on the Connector to Merritt.  While I refilled with diesel at Extra Foods Fuel Bar, Joanne went into Extra Foods to buy a couple of grocery items.  North on the Coquihalla to Kamloops where we stopped to shop at Princess Auto.

WOO-HOO !  Shopping at Princess Auto ( and coming up ... Surplus Herby's ) is as much fun, or maybe even more, as shopping at Harbor Freight in Yuma, Arizona. 
I needed five items at Princess Auto.  But ... I bought one of them at the SunKatchers yard sale.  I bought three of the remaining four at Princess Auto.  I didn't like the last item.

From Kamloops we headed north on Hwy. 5 to Little Fort, then west on Hwy. 24 to the Forest Service remote wilderness campground on Latremouille Lake.  We've been here before.  It's a nice little campground with about half a dozen secluded campsites.  The road in is pretty rough, as are most Forest Service Recreation Sites, but it's only about a thousand feet off the highway.

We settled into a site, Joanne prepared a simple, late supper, then we went for a walk with Ozzie.  There are two other campsites occupied here.  WOW ... still daylight at 9:30 PM.

DSK