Monday 12 August 2013

Well another adventure is over and as I write this final post I am once again at home after having taken the Hippyhome up to storage for a few weeks.
In my last post we were about to head to the mainland and then on to Logan Lake. Well we got into Tswassen to pick up some groceries and I set the GPS on my phone for Tunkwa Lake Resort. When you end up going through Surrey and Langley you realize just how big the greater Vancouver area is. It seemed like ages until we were back in what I would call the country side.
We found a nice rest area just before Chilliwack and stopped for lunch. Not much shade and all the picnic tables were out under the sun which was smoking hot so we chose to eat inside with our windows cracked and our Fantastic Fan running.
From there we headed to Hope for some propane since we were low and Tunkwa Lake was going to be two nights at an unserviced site.
It broke my heart not to stop at the Home restaurant in Hope where they have those huge pieces of pie but when you travel with the food police sometimes you just have to pass things up.
Up the Coquahalla( not sure of spelling) and up is not the word for it. There was one uphill part where the semis could not have been doing anymore than about 5-10kph. It was also hot out like in the high 20`s and there were several vehicles over with their hoods up, not just people pulling trailers but older cars as well. The Hippyhome boogied up no problems and the temp gage stayed right in the middle so I was pleased. It has run really well over the time we have had it.
At Merritt we turned off and followed directions on some pretty winding and vacant secondary highways. For some reason we thought Tunkwa Lake Resort was in or on Logan Lake. We came to an intersection, right for Logan Lake and straight ahead for what we assumed was Tunkwa. By the time we got to this point we were in and out of cell reception and so my GPS was a little unnerving as we appeared to be going further in to the bush with no sign of a lake. The GPS would say 5 more k and then run out of K. We decided to go another 10 min and if we found nothing turn around and head back. On the way we had passed by many residences single and also trailer parks seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Later we found out their are mines in Logan Lake and many people in the surrounding area work there.
Anyway we kept going and finally came across a sign that said Tunkwa Lake Provincial Park. We turned off and just a bit in was the gravel road and sign for Tunkwa Lake Resort.
This is a fishing lodge. If you know me you know I don`t fish and don`t like to eat them. We stopped here so we could meet up with the old neighbours of Anne`s parents who spend the summer out here.
Very remote. This was another place on our trip though where I could actually see bald eagles flying around. when you see them land in a tree you get some perspective on how big these guys are.
One day we took Cash for a walk down the road to the Provincial Park. Aside from the nice gravel pads this is a rustic park like the ones I went to with my parents back in the 50`s and 60`s. Pit toilets, no power and drinking water was from an old fashion hand pump. Good to know as if we ever stayed there , you would want to make sure you topped up your fresh water tank before you got there as it would be a trick getting it in out of a hand pump.
John and Anne own and canoe and let us go out in it. Anne(my Anne) and I paddled a good route around the lake and Anne was thrilled to hear the call of the Loon and we were able to get close enough to see its markings and the fish it had in its mouth. Hard to do this kind of thing with a noisy power boat.
From Tunkwa we headed to Kamloops for gas and a break. Coming out of Tunkwa and heading north on a road that for those of you familiar with the Thunder Bay area, this road was like the road to Silver Islet before they straightened it out. Certainly keeps you alert while up and down and around in a |Class C motorhome, especially the last extremely steep hill without guardrails.
Filled up in Kamloops for $1.23 per litre which was a deal after paying mostly $1.34-1.39 for most of the trip and just down the highway in Revelstoke it was back up to $1.34. I actually did not fill up again till Calgary. I was between 1/4 and empty but made it 621km on a tank.
We both found signage in BC a little lacking on advance notice and just about overshot the second entrance to Canyon Hot Springs RV park.
Another hot night but we had some trees around us and it cooled off as the evening came in. Walked down by the train tracks and Cash got an up close look at a train going by. He has been very curious on this trip when he has heard the sound of a train in the distance, always looking to see what the sound is, well now he knows.
The old saying " small world" truly is. I was sitting in the rv having something to eat as I see this family going by heading to the hot spring pool and I realize I know the son, so I jump out of the rv and say hi Thomas, see you in September. Thomas is one of my Junior High kids on my school bus route.
Onward home from here, lots of construction repairs on the number one between here and Lake Louise then pretty much clear sailing the rest of the way.
It was our first time through the Canmore area since the big flood and you can still see all the damage that occurred and streams rerouted etc.
Well that takes care of another summer of travel or at least long distance travel . We will go out a few more times before winterizing the unit. Where will we go next year? Maybe back east but go up to Edmonton and across the top as neither of us have been that way before.
Thanks to all who follow us on our little journeys. We still would love to meet some friends who could travel with us.
Ciao for now.

Monday 5 August 2013

Hello again from the Hippyhome. It is now Monday August 5th and it is our last night on Vancouver Island. Tomorrow morning we will catch the 11a.m. ferry to Tswassen and then start are way home.
Since my last post we spent our 7 days at Living Forest. The brochures all show very tranquil scenes and well they are there , this time of year is anything but tranquil. I love that families are out camping and in nature but I wish there were more parental control on the kids. The site we had probably did not help matters, we were at the confluence of two roads. The kids are just wild on their bikes and skooters  flying up and down and through stop signs. Getting them to quiet down in the hours near 9pm would be a great improvement also. I would go back here but not in the summer.
We left Living Forest on Saturday morning and took our time coming back down to Victoria.
We decided to go see the murals in Chemainus and that was a really good choice. There are approx. 50 murals on the buildings downtown. We saw a great many but not all. They are something to be seen if you are in the area. They also have an amazing performing arts building that seats about 300 people. Anne and I both really liked the feel of the town. I will put an album on Facebook just of the murals that I took pictures of.
From there we travelled south and stopped at a couple of local vineyards. One was  very small and I need they need some help on their wines but the other was very nice and very good wines. It was called Averill Creek Vineyard.  We headed up a washboard gravel narrow road and wondered if we were on the right path. Up a ways the road took a turn to the right and in the  distance we saw a gate closed across the road. I said to Anne great and there was no way we could turn around. As we got closer we were relieved to see a sign that said punch in code 1234 and gate will open and so we did and up the road we continued. When we rounded the end of the row of vines we saw their very nice building with patio etc. The staff were very good and said the patio was for picnic lunches that you bring if you want or they were selling some cheeses and meats. We bought some wine but passed on the patio and had our lunch in a closed weigh station.
On an off topic I think something crawled up Cash`s arse as things are smelling off in here right now and it is not me or Anne.
From lunch we motored on to our next rv site which was Ft Victoria RV park in the community of View Royal . The sign says the town of but it seems like it is a suburb of Victoria.
As luck would have it this place was within a 15 min walk or 5 min ride to the Galopping Goose Trail that Anne so badly wanted to ride. We walked part of it Saturday night when we went looking for it and then on Sunday we did 18km return. A beautiful path build on a old rail line from the 1920`s. Next time we are here we will do another part of it. It links up with another trail and you can ride from downtown Victoria all the way out to Sooke.
We left Ft Vic this morning and went to Langford to a huge wine store called Anything Wine. They apparently have one in Edmonton and Red Deer and Lethbridge. They are trying to get into Calgary.
Topped up the gas well in Langford as well. Gas Buddy showed a Petro Canada there at $ 1.32 and 8min away in View Royal a Petro Canada at $1.41. Go figure that one out.
Killed enough time off for check in at West Bay Marine Village and RV park which is right on the harbour. Since I had taken Cash for an 80 min walk in the morning we felt ok leaving him to guard the Hippyhome. We took a water taxi from West Bay Marina and it dropped us off right where we were going for lunch, The Wharfside Eatery. After a great lunch they had a market going on the dock area so we went and browsed that . Then took the water ferry back to West Bay Marina and opened the door to a downward dog. He obviously was having a good snooze. What a great traveller he is.
I almost forgot but when Anne and I were riding the Galopping Goose yesterday I should have stopped and got a picture. I would have titled it "how you know you are on Vancouver Island" It was two ladies walking a llama.
As I said this is our last night on the island. I must say the island people are very friendly and l look forward to our next visit here.
Tomorrow will be a big drive day, Victoria to Logan Lake which is just outside Kamloops. The children of Anne`s parents old next door neighbours in London Ontario own a resort there that has some campsites. We will be there for two nights then on to Canyon Hot Springs then on to Calgary and the end of another Hippyhome Adventure.
I will do one more blog probably from home.
Ciao for now