British Columbia: Goodbye Canada

After leaving Jasper National Park we spent two days on a winding, mountainous, scenic southeast trip through British Columbia. The latter is a lovely province, but the glaciers were mostly gone, and we were observing lots of rolling ranchland and farming country. The lower altitude and warmer temperatures had helped create an abundance of wildflowers. We camped one last night in Canada at a beautiful but rustic provincial campground called Lac Le June east of Kamloops. It was clean, and the sites were large. It reminded us of the way campgrounds looked in the U.S. 55 years ago when we were still tent camping. There was no water or electric hookups, and the sites were large, level, grassy and private. Each had a fire pit and picnic table. The adjacent lake was pristine and serene. The water was cold, but that did not deter Canadians from taking an evening dip. A few boats and canoes were on the water, but they were mostly tied to their docks. Our sunny, evening hike along the shore revealed mostly small cottages that had been there for many years. Some looked abandoned, while others were being fully used. One lot was adorned with unique, rather primitive art. The artist must have had a keen sense of humor (see photo to left). Our grilled dinner really hit the spot.

The next day, we left early, as we were eager to get back to the States. At one point, Jerry got caught trespassing on a rancher’s domain to capture a photo of an old log house, but the owner was very nice about it. He talked to us for a long time about how he came to BC from California 30 years ago, purchased the gorgeous riverside ranch, and why he preserved the old barn and cabin that had caught our eye.

How nice it was to finally arrive in Bellingham, WA and find gas at $3.92 per gallon after paying an average of $5.75 for the past month in Canada. Gloria made quick use of her cell phone as soon as we cleared customs, as we had been restricted by Verizon’s high prices for cell service in Canada. We checked in at a Good Sam RV Park and stayed for three days in order to purchase three new tires, get the Tundra serviced, shop for groceries, catch up on email, and do get our laundry. Canada is unique, rugged, and beautiful beyond words, but it can drain your wallet in a hurry. Ah the good life in the USA!

Now we are heading to Lacey, WA for the week-long National Potlatch and Salmon Rally.