Our border crossing was a total anti-climax to all of the dire predictions people like to shower on us. We did take the precaution of registering the serial numbers of all our tools, computers and cameras with the US Customs. When we presented ourselves at the Canadian Customs, they made the standard inquiries about where we wanted to go and how long we intended on staying. They gave the inside of “Arcturus” a thorough once over and took a peek in the “Shop Annex.” They smiled and wished us happy travels and sent us on our way.
The country in this part of British Columbia is spectacular. These are some rugged mountains around here. We pulled an eight percent grade all the way to 1700 meters. For those of us who are metric challenged think of it this way. 1.6 kilometers is one mile. That means 1700 meters is 1.7 kilometers and is a tad over a mile high, (5600 ft). Arcturus just purred and pulled his way up and over, and the PAC brake eased us down the other side. We have run into a couple of serious road construction sites around Metaline Falls and again around Creston BC. (Holly, that beautiful wash and wax job we did in your yard is just as grimy as it was before we started.) The waiting time has been 10 to 20 minutes, but we just step back into the salon and pick out a book to read, or grab a snack.
We have been spotting lots of game. There were some very large mule deer in the campground at Lake Leo on the Tiger Pass. We spotted a gangly young moose alongside the road on the flats on toward Tiger. Then we slowed while a young bull elk in the velvet made up his mind about crossing the road or retreating to the brush. So far the only bear we have seen have been the carved wooden ones. One of the flaggers told us she had seen several black bear and that one young grizzly had came past her station a few days before.
This last night we camped in a beautiful Provincial Park on Lake Moyie. The camp is carved out of a stand of lodge-pole pine and tamarack. The sites are well spaced and the tables a solid wood and concrete and the wood is varnished. We will break camp shortly, and if we can find a library or internet friendly coffee shop you will all hear of our adventures on time. We are having to adjust to not having the access of our “Air Card” here in Canada. The cell phone still works, except in the rugged places.
Judy and I send our love to all.
