Sunday - 18th Cayoosh Creek

And we are at Dave & Elizabeth's. It's an amazing place in a forest of trees, alongside the rushing Cayoosh Creek and nestled in between the mountains. So peaceful and relaxing and the cedar/pine smells are wonderful.







It was a bit of a stressful trip here and I'm trying not to think about leaving. The last stretch of road is very very steep and winding and we had an overheated engine and overheated brake pads. Yikes, nerve racking to say the least! It's a big climb to get out of the property and I just hope we can make it!!



The kids - big & little alike - have been keeping busy and having great fun -- damning up the creek, building forts, playing bocce, roasting marshmallows and at the moment the medal dectector is getting a work out.... (maybe that piece of gold will be found!?)





Anyway, that's the report from here. It is amazing to have internet out here in the middle of nowhere! (satellite)

Kari & Gerry will be leaving later today and the rest of us will head out tomorrow.

Sat - 17th

Well, the campground was "really hopping" last night. It filled for the long weekend and people were out to party !! Also, we were in the direct path to the washroom, so we had lots of drunks and other 'interesting' persons cutting through our site... busy busy.

Jeff came for lunch after writing exam. He said it was difficult, but he feels he passed.... so... we hope!! I'm sure he did just fine!



Odin entertained us at the beach fetching sticks and romping with the other dogs. (A dog area at one corner of the lake.) I'm well known for not being a dog fan, but I have to admit this 'grand-dog' has impressed me. For 6 months old, he is unbelievably well behaved and quiet... Never heard him bark, even at other dogs and for the most part, he just lay at Jeff's feet with all the activity in the campground. Really something for a young pup.

Christal came by after work and we enjoyed dinner and a campfire..... We introduced Christal to s'mores.

They left about 11:30 and despite the prior noise in the campground, things settled down and with our fan blowing for 'white noise', we slept pretty good.

So now we've left Vernon (9:30 a.m.) and are now on our way to Dave's at Cayoosh Creek. Kari, Gerry & family are already there. I think I mentioned there is an abandoned gold mine on his property, so.... who knows, we may come away rich! -- that illusive nugget! 

2 pm:  Almost there... We are at service station in Lillooet. Hwy 99 was quite the spectacular drive... Little hard on the brake shoes tho !!!

the drive to Lillooet

Friday - 16th Vernon, BC

Sandy Beach Campground (Newport Beach)
Site #6 - $26.25, p/w/s, some Internet, Temp 19C

We are camped on the Okanagan Lake. It's a nice spot with a great view. Unfortunately 'Lakeshore Road' runs between the campground and the beach and it appears to be a bit of a drag strip !!

With the weather finally heating up yesterday, the 'cruisers' and speeders were out in full force! On the opposite side of the campground from the beach is the trailer park that Jeff lives in. Very handy walk.

As I write this, Jeff is in Kelowna writing that darn 3 hour IP exam. Ron's comment -- "I've never seen Jeff so uptight about something!". Oh well, it will be celebration time later today! (He won't get results for 3 wks.)

So we met Odin (Jeff's dog!) and we met Christal (Jeff's girlfriend!). Both are cute, friendly, well behaved, lol -- and obviously a very important part of Jeff's life! Christal just started summer school classes in Kelowna and works part time at Home Depot, here in Vernon. They had dinner with us, but left shortly after for more studying.



Ron & I went for a short walk along the beach and then had our campfire. Ron is off on his bike this a.m. It looks like it will be a scorcher with temps in 30's forecasted. Jeff will come for lunch and then he & Christal will join us for supper and campfire this evening. I'm sure he'll be much more relaxed tonight!!

We are leaving Vernon in the a.m. and will head to Dave & Elizabeth's rec property on Cayoosh Creek near Lillooet  which is about 300 km. from here. Kari & family will join us for the rest of the weekend. On Tues, we will begin our Yukon/Alaskan trek!

Day 7 - Wednesday

One week in to our trip already!! How time flies! This is our last day in Kelowna. We will be moving on to Vernon for 2 nights in the a.m. Jeff came for lunch again yesterday, but didn't make it today. He stayed at school for additional prep time. Some exam, eh!?. Anyway, we did get a bit of extra visiting in with him. He and Christal will come to the campsite for supper with us tomorrow night in Vernon, and then we will be able to celebrate the end of school for him on Friday. Sure hope he does well on his Inter Prov. exam. And then it will be back to work. Funds are low !! :-(

The weather hasn't been great for us. It is still on the cool side and Remy's ball game was rained out last night. It's looking up for the weekend though, with temps in the 30's forcasted! I'm looking forward to sweating as opposed to shivering for a change! :-)

This morning I did a load of laundry while Ron & Doug went shopping. (Men shopping??? weird, eh?? but Doug needed new runners!) When the kids got home from school, we got out Ron's medal detector and searched for treasurers in the driveway. Looks like a gopher has been through there now! We found lots of great things -- nails, one penny, nuts (not to mention the ones holding the 'stick')

Anyway, it's the last fire on the patio tonight.  I must get my marshmallow stick!

Day 5 - Monday Kelowna, BC

We are enjoying our time in Kelowna. The kids seem to associate our visits with campfires :-) so we light the propane fire pit and roast marshmallows every evening before bed!

Ron & Doug went for a bike ride this morning while I picked up a few groceries at Superstore. I was glad for our GPS to help me find the way there and back. I thought I knew where the store was, but I'd 'miscalculated' in my mind. The GPS set me straight!

Jeff came for lunch after his classes today. He's a little stressed about the Inter-Provincial exam he writes on Friday. (We'd thought Thurs, but find out now it's not til Fri.) It will be nice to have that over with and he'll be done the last of his schooling. Anyway, we had a good visit until about 4 when he left for home (Vernon) and more study time.

We had an early supper and then off to Ryley's 6 p.m. ball game. We'll see Remy play tomorrow night. Ron & Doug are still sitting around the fire. Did I mention Doug is off work for a few weeks?? He damaged the rotary cup in his shoulder. This was very unfortunate for him, but must admit that it's been nice to be able to spend the extra time with him. well, time for bed --

Day 4 - Sunday

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's !! We are sitting in the rain -- still at Kettle River. We'll be having lunch shortly however and moving on to Doug's in Kelowna for a few days.

We had a nice afternoon & evening with Doug & gang yesterday. They brought their bikes and we rode the trail, showed them the mine entrances, etc. Doug figures they'll come back with their gold panning supplies!



The kids did a little fishing in the river and we had a weiner / marshmallow roast (s'mores, yum) and sat around the fire. Remy enjoyed feeding the chipmunks sunflower seeds out of her hand, until a gopher came along to check it out and bit her finger! She was a little leary after that!!







It started raining about 9:30 last night as Doug was leaving and it rained most of the night and again now, brrr... pretty chilly. Looking forward to some power and heat! I washed my hair this a.m. and tried blowing it dry with my DC blower in the lighter socket! It took over 1/2 hr. with just a slight trickle of warm air !

anyway.. time to pack up. I will send this from Kelowna.

By the way, that Senior's discount?  It was only for BC Seniors. The attendant came back and told Ron this as he collected for another night.  Ron ended up paying him the difference.

Day 3 - Sat. Kettle River Cmpgrd

Kettle River Prov Park

Site #25 - $9.50, then $19, n/s, Temp 20C

9:30 a.m and we are enjoying our morning coffee, looking over the river and mountains. It is cloudy, but pleasant, about 15C already! Kettle River is a very nice prov. campground although dry camping. As always I miss the power. We ended up running our little propane heater last night. I think it's more for tenters or smaller areas, so it wasn't "cozy warm", but it did take a bit of the chill off.

When we arrived, we went for a bike ride along the railbed trail which is part of the Trans Canada trail. Nice easy ride. So glad I can still ride. It's much easier than walking for me with the weight off my knees.

We had our evening fire with a log we found along the bike trail.

--------------------------------
Noon: Went for a short walk along the river. Lots of mine shafts along the other side. Ron had to check one out, but he didn't go in when he smelled the skunk!!

The park staff came by to collect when we got back. They are a retired couple who used to have a service station in the Yukon. So we had quite a visit re our upcoming trip and all. When he was filling out the registration, he asked if Ron was a Sr. so it was 1/2 price ($9.50) !! Pretty cheap!! I asked Ron after if he was offended at being asked if he was a Sr. and he said "No, not for $9.50 I wasn't !!"

We drove to Rock Creek for a couple of supplies (and to send the email). Doug and family are planning on making the hour drive to have supper with us. We will head to their place in Kelowna tomorrow.

Day 2 - Friday

We enjoyed our first night out. The campground is on the hwy, but it overlooks the Goat River and the noise of the river disguises the traffic!

There are numerous animal carvings on the tree stumps throughout the campground -- kind of cool. (I've posted some pics, "RV Trip" on my website: http://picasaweb.google.com/sharmstro though the carvings aren't real clear)

We had a fire last night. Ron's always a little stingy with the wood. We bring a "wood box", but he'll only get out 1/2 doz or so pieces and then he "scrounges" around the site for twigs and bits of scrap to keep the fire going... Anyway our neighboring camper must have seen him and felt sorry for him/us as he brought over with a armful of lumber ends for us to burn :-) So we had a great fire (not quite a "jimmy" though -- inside joke). This morning we enjoyed coffee outdoors (10C) before moving on to Grand Forks where we had lunch on the side of the road and then on to Kettle River Prov. Pk., just south of Kelowna.

Day 1 - Creston/Erickson, BC

Mountain Park & Resort
Site #? - $31.50, p/w, Cell, Internet, Temp 12C

We left MH at 10 a.m in light rain. It was 11C, but it dipped to 4C through the Crowsnest Pass and we had some sleet hitting the windows. Heavier sleet through Fernie and it was starting to look pretty dark and ugly.... Next minute we arrive at Elko, the sun was shining and the temp jumped to 11C again.... CRAZY !! Never-the-less, fresh snow in the mountains and it seems a little strange to be going camping!!

We had planned to stay at Moyie Lake prov. pk where we stayed 2 yrs. ago (to the date) but we were shocked to find it closed this time around :-( and so we had to continue on. It would seem there are a lot more "closed" signs up this trip. Not good! (And we are seeing other RV's on the road.) Anyway, we ended up at Creston. It looks like a nice spot on the edge of town with FREE WIRELESS !!

We hear Hwy 1 was closed, so we made the right decision by coming this route!!

Starting Out . . . ALASKA TRIP

Day One and our first change of plans :-)

The weather reports are not sounding good for Calgary area. It is already snowing in Banff and snowfall for Calgary area is on the way making the roads treacherous according to the weather man.

So, we will be leaving within the hour and heading the south, the Lethbridge route -- and hopefully avoiding any of that white stuff !!

We are still planning to be in Kelowna for Sat (or Sunday?)