Dutch Lake Resort and RV, Clearwater, BC

We really enjoyed staying at the Dutch Lake Resort and RV right in Clearwater, BC at the turn off before the bridge right beside the RCMP Station. I never ate at the Painted Turtle Restaurant at the the Resort but Laura did with her cousin Catherine and said it was lovely. Tour buses stopped there daily for the famed cuisine.
The lake has rainbow and kokanee. Despite my efforts with lures and worms it still has rainbow and kokanee. I saw another fisherman catching them and Laura said she saw the actual fish by the dock in the morning.
I loved the location for hunting and fishing. It was only 5 minutes from the incredible network of logging roads where we hunted moose, bear, deer, hare and ruffed grouse. We got ruffed grouse, sometimes 5 or more a day, often seeing coveys of 4 or more. Gilbert was a specialist at raising them and finding the birds we shot. Luke got a rabbit. The moose, deer and bear are still there. We saw them but we weren't able to shoot them, not for lack of trying either.
The town of Clearwater has the most incredible food mart with everything you could find in a major downtown supermarket. There were several restaurants and we loved the friendly folk at the gas station.
It was really quiet in the RV Park and the views were incredible. We barbecued and Luke made great fires. Laura stayed at the trailer during the day while Tom, Luke, Gilbert and I went off hunting. She says she mostly lay in the sun reading fashion magazines but occasionally walked about the park.
Her cousin, Catherine, came down with her kayak from Salmon Arm and rented one of the resort cabins. Laura and she loved it. It was right on the water and had the most elegant tasteful decor.
Catherine and Laura then chatted up a storm while the guys were in the woods hunting. Catherine's one son was a Canadian Air Force who served in Afghanistan, her other son a business manager, her daughter a dental assistant is the same age as Laura's son. But mostly they talked about their sisters as the four of them all played together summers on the beach growing up.
Dutch Lake Resort turned out to be this place that served both the girls and the guys. At night when we all got back together Gilbert however got the most attention.

























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Merritt BC - Rustic Wilderness

Marquart Lake is just 15 minutes south east of Merritt. I was able to get in to the lake on my motorcycle a few years back despite the stretch of logging road. Great memories of camping in the pup tent by the side of the lake with the open range about. Real ranch country. Lots of heffords about. Big tan brown and white cattle who stand dumb on the road always acting like you're the first vehicle they've ever seen.
Another time I came up to Lundbom Lake with Gilbert and Laura. We had the new canoe along and probably the Ranger truck. It was his first year camping and all he seemed interested in was digging. There are corrals up by these lakes and horse folk bring their beautiful mounts to ride the trails. I remember horses by the lake in the morning that first year with Gilbert. I never did catch any fish, though I tried. The lakes around here are stocked with trout and others surely caught fish, but I didn't.
I brought Luke up hunting here late one season with the ATV. He went off on the trails and I followed the roads a goodly way back through the range country. There was snow on the ground then and it was a harsh and cold terrain. We saw game but didn't shoot any. I've often stayed in hotels in Merritt and they've all been fine. A couple of outdoors stores are well stocked. There's everything one could need from a town here.
This year I've brought the Rockwood Mini Lite RV and we're staying in this great RV place called Moonshadow.  It has all the amenities and terrific people are the owners.  They really take pride in the place and are down home friendly as well. 60 sites, open year round. We've got water and electricity and there are showers and such in the main hall.
I've brought the Clipper kevlar canoe which is a bit of an irritation because I haven't used it yet. It was heavy putting on with my back still a little weak from rolling the ATV last year. It's been easier to explore 4x4 in the truck. I really wanted to fish at Corbett Lake but the idea of lifting the canoe back onto the truck changed my mind.  I've got the electric motor I "won"  at the Chilliwack silent auction with my Scottish Canadian accountant friend, Lorne. Laura and I enjoyed dancing and hanging out with Lorne and his friend  Judith that night. Never did I expect to leave with an outboard motor, though.    I tested it off the back of the truck with a battery yesterday so would really like to try it out at the back of my canoe.
Yesterday I slept in. Didn't get away till 1 30  pm. Enjoyed reading and Laura's bacon sandwich breckie. Hot shower was good too.  I'm not moving very quickly this morning either. This blog is a good excuse to hang out drinking coffee.  I'm overwhelmed with decisions.  Corbett Lake looks most attractive but this morning I was thinking I should get back up on the Quilchena Trail with my bow and shoot a buck. Then too I could drive into Kane Valley and look for a black bear.  There's been too many around here apparently so people would be happy to have some of them culled.  Bear hamm sounds good but fresh fish and playing with an electric motor seems like it might win out.  "Cadillac problems".  Laura is happy to hang out at the RV. She's got her blackberry cell phone nearby and hopes to hear soon that her latest grandchild has come happily into this world.  Her daughter hoped for a blue moon baby but now Laura thinks it' might ironically be a Labour day baby.
Yesterday I eventually headed out taking the 97C connector route south east. I had a vague idea I'd go to the Kane Valley, maybe fish Harmon Lake where there's great country with  very deer friendly places. I've an Excalibur Max cross bow along and ostensibly I'm here for the opening of bow hunting season. I had the idea of bringing the canoe so I'd cross some lake and hunt the backside where no one goes. I passed the Lundbom Lake turn off and then passed Kane Valley. I was going at 110 km in the Ford 350 diesel truck with the canoe high on top and had the fleeting thought there'd be a lot of campers in those places so I thought I'd go further afield.
Next I saw Corbett Lake. There were some boats out on this small lake with folk fishing. This is a good sign. A nice looking lake with reeds at one end, good size, not too big, not too small, and a little area to park and unload the boat too. I saw all this as I drove by thinking I wanted something to myself. I'm still going a 100 km/hr making recreational decisions based on a whim. It's a whole shopping mall of wilderness out here and I can easily get stuck in my truck. I had this new Matt Maher CD I was enjoying. The dog was with me. The views are spectacular. I could just keep on going but I remembered this lake I'd explored one year off the north end of 5A. So that's where I headed.
I remember it was near the Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park. Couldn't find if it was legal to hunt there but despite the fact I was hunting decided to drive around to see.
I think the whole city of Merritt, Vancouver, and Princeton, and Kelowna had decided to come here too. I'd forgotten how bad the road was too. Definitely 4x4 but wide enough to avoid bushburns on the side, just gravel up and down, up and down and steep so the canoe slid forward. Then every 5 minutes or so young people in four by fours would want to get by so they'd back up or I'd back up to where there was room for two vehicles. Some of their vehicles had 8 or 9 people hanging out and standing in the back. Several families were target practicing at the place I remember sighting in my rifle one year. Dad's with military rifle and 8 year old kids learning to shoot handguns. Gorgeous women in short shorts sighting in 22's while others sun tanned in bikinis on top of their car roofs. I was impressed.
 Yet my idea of sighting in my bow and doing some target practice with the 223 at this secluded gravel pit went out the window. From the looks of the beautiful women and young men I was concerned that dressed in sloppy old khacky I wasn't in the latest of Cabelas haute courture too.   At the lake there were a half dozen tents. I was glad to turn around always feeling easier having found a spot to turn the extended truck around and be heading out rather than in with ever the fear of road being blocked somehow and then facing backing out forever with cliff falls off one side. I've done that too much in my life.
The Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Camp looked wholly too civilized. It's a beautiful place and back in my 30's when I just loved to tent and go for hikes, this would be the ideal place. Lots of kids about too. When I see that I'm reminded of camping in the 60's and 70's with the bit of Woodstock in the air. Nowadays it's always more European with the typical Canadian camper carrying a mountain bike or dashing about in Mountain Coop hiking boots. I'm the guy who in contrast is armed to the teeth with bow, rifle and fishing rod, definitely not into 'catch and release'.
 Gilbert earlier had run down a ridge and chased a cow in a circle before the cow left and Gilbert decided rolling in fresh cow manure was just the trick. I was making my inaugural call on the Iridium Extreme Satellite phone to Laura's cell phone back at the RV while intermittently calling to Gilbert to get back here. The call went through so Laura had a play by play of Gilbert's return only to be less than welcomed. I was delighted to have communications. The ATV roll last year getting trapped underneath alone and injured had got me thinking I was getting older. The radio hadn't worked back then so I figured it was time for a better phone especially as I'm on call so much for work and felt guilty when I was beyond cell phone range though I'd be able to get calls at night at base camp. Now I was a whole lot safer and connected. Except Gilbert using my distraction had really got up to mischief. I cleaned him off as best as I could with the water I was carrying in a jug in the back of the truck. He didn't like that one bit. I really needed shampoo or soap. Once Gilbert was released from purgatory of bath he immediately began to roll about in the dirt. This actually improved things and the fragrance was reduced considerably. I shared a truck cab with him the rest of the day and the eau de fresh cow manure was never quite absent but it was tolerable.
I slouched off in search of greater wilderness and found it back in a place call the Quilchena trails. I accessed it again off 97c. I sighted in my Excalibur bow with the help of some styrofoam and a sandy hill. Then I confirmed I was shooting fine with my 223 by killing the gingerale bottle I'd just finished. That shot was about 75 yards so I figured I was ready. Looking at the BC Hunting regs on my iphone app I saw that black bear were open for rifle as well as hare. So that meant I could shoot bucks with a bow and bear or hare with rifle. I 'd only brought the rifle along for target practice so this was new to me. More reason to stay in the truck and drive about. It's called 'car hunting' and is frowned upon. Low yield and very lazy but it was windy and there was chill in the air. I'd never been here so was enjoying exploring the country too. All kinds of folk enjoy going for drives back woods and they don't even carry bows and rifles.  I really was enjoying the Matt Maher cd and heated seats too.
I saw three doe standing at the edge of the woods watching me. I stopped the truck and watched them. Eventually one spooked and they all ran back in the woods. A few grouse ran off the road. That got Gilbert excited. I suspect he smelt them rather than saw them. He was standing up with his head out the window. Another hunter in cammo with a bow and his boy behind him came along on an ATV. I felt slightly ridiculous with a canoe back country with no lakes for miles. He'd only seen doe as well. It was the witching hour, time when game come out so I actually parked.
With the rifle over my shoulder carrying the bow cocked I headed up the mountain. It was a steep climb for about a half an hour. Gilbert knows to stay behind me when we're stalking. I had slippers on but the wind wasn't in my face, moving around in the hills. Eventually I got to a place where the deer come down the mountain, lots of tracks, but no fresh sign. Better than nothing. I found a place behind a tree in a shallow and sat. Gilbert missing his heavy winter coat cuddled next to me under my coat, his little body every once in a while shivering. I wasn't sure if it was from the excitement or the cold but he was pressed warmly beside me sitting on a leg that subsequently went to sleep. As dusk settled and no deer appeared on the path I staggered up and headed down the main path.
There at about 75 yards away a snoeshoe hare had kindly chosen to stop .. I wasn't sure till I put the bow down and had him sighted in the rifle scope. I was down on one knee, Gilbert behind me, when I took the shot. In retrospect I could have gone for the head but took the body instead. He went down for sure that way. Gilbert didn't even see him because he was looking for a grouse.
The shot had pretty well severed him at the lumbar spine. I got out a knife and skinned him cutting off both hind legs, head and paws, glad to find a plastic bag in the pocket of my jacket. Gilbert was pretty excited then jumping around me for the rest of the walk down the mountain.
I was glad to see the truck safe. Night was coming on. I shot an arrow into the wood pallet. It went right through. Shooting an arrow is the way I uncock my bow. Dry shooting ruins the string.
I got lost coming out of the woods that night. Not so much lost as unable to find a road that lead off the logging road onto the high way. I had to detour 30 or more km south through Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park because I couldn't find my way back on the 97c connector in the north. I eventually came out on the 5a and headed north for 97c.
I don't much care for driving back woods cow country because you really have to be on the watch for them. Several times I came around a corner and there was one in the middle of the road. That's why ranchers don't care for hunters, not so much that they mistakenly shoot their cattle but more because they are more likely to hit them with their vehicles. I'd earlier come across the Douglas Ranch signs down by the Kentucky Alleyne loudly declaring their land private and no hunters allowed. Some of the best hunting area in the Okanagan is posted now and I expect it's because some hunter out of the thousands of good ones hit a cow. The full moon helped along with the high beams. I was glad to be back on the highway doing 90 km/hr after going slowly along logging roads at night watching for cows.
It was 10 pm when I got back. I filled up with fuel and that cost $50 so I figured the rabbit cost that much a lone. I was glad to find the RV site. When I got in Laura was ready for bed. Gilbert needed a bath. I was glad I'd bought a salad kit and Laura got that out for me. After bathing Gilbert for the second time, but this time with shampoo, I was beat. I still watched an episode of FarSide before climbing into bed.
I did have a rabbit though. That had gone into the freezer and will become part of a magnificent rabbit stew. I figure there must be something in rabbit that God figures I need right now. I shot quite a few 20 years ago on the island but haven't shot them since so it will be a treat to have rabbit stew again.

















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Blue Moon Weekend

This annual bowhuntfell on a Blue Moon weekend. Fitting, as it is always a rare and wonderful time with only one deer shot years ago with bow. Many deer, shot later in the years with rifle, have graced the table but mostly this weekend is a hot sunny walk in the woods with the dog or a zip around on the country on ATV or off road motorcycle. It's the autumn weather and the beginning of hunting season that are rich in promise.

Laura and I are on our 7th year doing this. It's Gilbert's third and I hazard to say about 20 or so for me.

This year we came up the Coquihala after fueling as usual at the Husky in Chilliwack, towing the Rockwood Mini Lite Trailer, this time with the Clipper Canoe on top of the Ford 350 diesel Harley Davidson Edition truck. I had hated the wind coming down this high mountain road last year after Sturges North Rock Festival and Motorcycle Rally, but going up it, even with the canoe on top, wasn't a chore at all.

We're here in Merritt. The Blue Moon is high above the RV. I've barbecued the IGA steaks and Laura has the potatoes boiled for topping with butter and sour cream. Really roughing it here with electricity, running water, heat and hot water. RV living is a wilderness experience. Tomorrow I'll take the canoe, Gilbert and the bow, leaving Laura with her fashion magazines and cute little home she really adores.

Because of the RV site and night , I've got Cat Steven's song, "I've been followed by a Moonshadow" running around in my head. Not a bad song to have living free in one's brain. On the way up we enjoyed Matt Maher's music. We heard him live at the Third Day concert in Langley last spring and now so love his uplifting music.









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Pierre's Point Campground and RV, Salmon Arm, BC

This is a lovely campground and RV park. it's run by the local First Nations Band, situated on their land.  Approximately $40 a night with all the facilities, sewage, electricity and water. There are a lot of more basic sites. Further there are sites where people are obviously staying the season or year round.  It's right on the lake with the beach just the next lane over from us. We can hear the water lapping .  Dogs aren't allowed on the beach but there's a dog beach further down.  There's also a concession with hotdogs, pies and such plus a store.  The downside is the train tracks are next to the campgrounds.  We're 8 km from Salmon Arms with celluar and wifi coverage.  We're here for the Sturgis North Motorcycle and Rock Concert.  It starts tomorrow.  Eric Burden and the Animals, Steppenwolf, Doctor Hook. A young pretty girl talked to Laura and I when we were walking Gilbert around the park. She said she was really looking forward to hearing Nazareth.  I'm here for Eric Burden and just don't know whether to torch my 'Depends' or just wave them.  I don't think the Nazareth crowd would applaud if one of the performers smashed a walker on stage. 

Okanagan Lake Provincial Campground

The mighty Rockwood Mini Lite made it from Vancouver to Oliver without plummetting over canyons and down into bottomless ravines.  At Dessert Gem we stayed in what was a parking lot with excellent facilities though the water supply was weak. It was downtown. We had a pull through, water on site, sewage on site, cable and internet.  Laura and I enjoyed having steak and potatoes while watching tv.  In the morning I walked Gilbert back of the Oliver airport.  Breakfast and readying the trailer we made our getaway in record time.
Now to find a nice place in the heat and sunshine of the Okanagan to stay a few days. We wanted more trees  and a little bit of wilderness after downtown RV living.  We wanted to 'rough it'. We drove by quite a few signs for RV camping.  Most spots now are reserved but we thought we'd just see where the road took us.
That's how we lucked out at Okanagan Lake Provincial Campground. Normally reserved and full, they had two spots vacant. We took one.  It was an experience backing up for the second time.  Mostly I can't see little Laura and I certainly can't hear her.  We've never discussed this, so her hand movements don't make much sense. Just a whole lot of flapping and pointing. I find she sprints over to my window screaming something when she really wants me to stop.  I get out alot.  We discuss where the trailer is supposed to go. I get back in the cab of truck and back the trailer up where it wants to go.  Laura waves her arms frantically and then sprints up to the side window.  I stop. We get out and discuss where the trailer is supposed to go.
There are an amazing number of trees, bushes, and signs that are planted where they could obviously get hit. Laura was especially concerned when the picnic table looked like it was in jeopardy. I was losing patience with this whole backing up business about then when she said, "You don't want the picnic table to damage the back of the trailer."  I'd been thinking about how big I was and all this other stuff being irrelevant so I re thook things. After that moment of revelation I parked the trailer just fine.  You just do the opposite of what you think you should.
That's when we found that the batteries seemed hooped, the refridgerator and water pump weren't working, but the lights were on.  So I followed the electrical through then decided to ride my motorcycle into Summerland to get a new battery. I hadn't been able to use the generator because I didn't have the proper connector either.
I got a connector  and a battery charger. We'd never been roughing it in the trailer.  I didn't know a whole lot of stuff about how the RV works without city electrical and city water supply.  I even found a 25 gallon portable honey pot in the RV store just past Summerland (great folk!)  to extend the black water capacity of the backwoods RV experience.  It was an exciting ride back with this big tank behind me and the wind off the lake nearly making me airborn.
Back at the RV I changed the battery (I needed another one for the electric outboard motor for the canoe) anyway.  That didn't change things. Still no water and the refridgerator didn't work even though I'd got the pilot light going. I'd gonethrough the whole propane system too. Laura phoned the Travelhome folk and she told us that sometimes even if the fuse looked good it was best to change it. I'd looked at all the fuses.  We're still on warranty and I notified the folk who we are insured for roadside service. (They phone in the morning after we'd solved the problem. I'd forgotten we had this option.) I didn't have any more fuses. I took the truck this time Back into Summerland. I got a slew of fuses from Lordo Auto parts.
Now back at the RV I found Laura still roughing it. I walked 30 feet to fill up the blue 5 gallon jug so we had some water. There was a clean communal toilet house with showers but Laura was dreading the thought of waiting in line. I really like having my own loo handy. I don't mind peeing in the woods but this place had too many nearby families with small children.  I couldn't just pee against the tree outside the RV door without risk of major charges.
I changed all the fuses.  Relit the pilot lights.  Kept playing with the water pump and lines.  Amazingly the fridge first worked and then the water pump came on. Laura sounded and looked for a moment like the woman in the IKEA ad. It was that kind of moment.
There it was 7 pm and we had barbecued pork chops, boiled potatoes and water to wash.  Even the ice cream was saved.  To think how close we came to devolving backwards to our earliers days of tenting when we'd thought we'd crossed that threshold only to feel it all slipping away.
I actually used the communal shower this morning after walking Gilbert around this lovely campground. Most people are tenting but there are quite a few RVers like us.  We don't have cable tv or wifi. The cell phones work though.
There's no on site sewage so I've told Laura to ration her bowel movements that way I don't have to.  Worse comes to worse I'll get to try out my new hard plastic honey pot on wheels.  I've taken the 5 gallon jug of water I got in desperation yesterday and added it to the RV tank so we could 'haul' more water if the 35 gals isn't enough. The tap is across the lane from us, beside the garbage bins.  Laura had her bath in the RV.  She was in there most of the day. I ran the generator for 2 hours this morning charging up the batteries.  With the connector I can actually run the whole RV.   There's a rule you can only have the generator on 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours around dinner time here and I wanted to be sure the batteries were fine.  I tested them and they're full so I now have a new battery for the electric canoe motor.
Laura and I think our generator sounds better than the neighbours kids.  Gilbert has spent the day on a rope watching all the goings on of other dogs on ropes and the marmots that run across the lawn to taunt them.  I saw some quail too.
It was a struggle but after lunch I actually got on the bicycle and toured the park. I'd seen the 5 year olds on their bicycles so figured it was right up my alley.  Otherwise it's been alot of reading books and nodding off in the sun in lawn chairs.
On my big bike tour I saw other people in the water swimming.  One pink bikini was memorable. I noticed another fat grey haired old guy on a bicycle had stopped to admire the rustic lake view too.
Swimming seemed like a novel idea.    After i do some more lawn chair time and snacking I might consider that. I made a big bonfire last night. That was really in the spirit of things.  Maybe I'll swim tomorrow.  These decisions are sometimes so overwhelming that I find it best to take a nap.
I feel sorry for the poor tenters.  I know I once was one and there wasn't any room for a refridgerator. I saw this poor woman washing her dishes under the water tap and thought I had been there.  Today I  preferred watching Laura wash our dishes in the RV.  

Canyon Alpine RV Park, BC, Canada

Laura and I have spent several weekends here.  We love the Canyon Alpine RV Park. It's on the #1 highway just south of Lytton and 2 km north of Boston Bar. 

Canyon Alpine RV Park - Sunshine

After this winter in Vancouver I concluded that what we were experiencing this weekend at the Canyon Alpine RV Park was sunshine. That explained my red face. It also explained my satisfaction at doing absolutely nothing but lying about reading. Oh yea, I made a sandwich.  I threw ball for Gilbert.  I watched the birds for a bit.  Cute little birds and hummingbirds all around.  Exhausting schedule.  I napped.  I put moisturizer on my skin.  Better to fry than bake.  Then I did some more nothing.  Sunshine.That explains it. 

Canyon Alpine RV Park

The last time we tried to take the Rockwood Minilite RV out of the Frazer Valley into the Coastal Mountains, the Ford F350 had overheated.  Chilliwack Ford did a marvellous job of replacing head gaskets and exhaust components to restore the powerful deisel engine to new.  Now we had to test it with another trip uphill under load.  We drove out to Yarrow where we found that our batteries had been stolen in the trailer storage facility. 26 trailers had had this done to them by criminals who'd gone to some planning.    I picked up  new Nautilus  RV 12 volt deep cycle batteries at $100 a piece at Canadian tire. The obvious attraction of Chilliwach Canadian Tire was the expansive parking lot which accomodated a truck and trailer. I'm new to this hauling a home behind me so must be very cautious about where I go because frankly I can't back up with any skill whatsoever.  Also the Canadian Tire service folk were extremely helpful with advice.  I also filled my extra propane tanks.  Laura entertained Gilbert who never can understand why he can't come along on all manly business.
After that we filled up with diesel at our favourite Huskey where they cater to the big trucks, have everything imaginable for the road, and have gobs of room for newbie RV haulers.  Then we were actually on the road.  Both Laura and I were paying attention to every sound the engine made as I kept to 80 km. "We're breaking in new parts, " I said. "It doesn't matter how slow we go, "She said. "We're hauling a trailer and everyone else can get around us. "   She had her seatbelt on and whenever I looked over I noticed she was praying.
It was on the hill before Hope the engine had overheated before. This time no problema!  "We're going to make it. I love Chilliwack Ford!" I shouted.
In Hope we stopped to phone Canyon Alpine RV Park to confirm a site.  The woman who answered was delightful.  So joyful and full of enthusiasm for her RV Park.   Lots of pull through sites.  Perfect for the newbie.  Pet Friendly. "Look forward to seeing you shortly!" she said.
We headed up the #1 Canyon road.  Tom had said big rigs had been travelling on that since time immemorial  so he thought it would be fine when we'd told him we were going to go on that or  the Coquahalla.  The weather for  Boston Bar area was better than Merritt where we would have gone if we'd taken the Coquahalla.  I trusted Tom's judgement and we headed up the Canyon.  In the places where the passenger could look down the ravine I saw that Laura had her feet up bracing herself.  I remembered Mark Twain's comment that he'd died many times already but so far only in his mind.  Laura was bracing herself and praying while I was chatting.  I get chatty when I'm concerned about those around me being concerned. I realized I was tense too.  This hauling an RV was serious stuff. Canyons, ravines and tunnels. All the while I was listening to the engine and thanking God and Chilliwack Ford for the sweet sounds it made. I was also watching the temperature guages delighted that they were not changing despite the steep incline..
I love Sailor's Bar Tunnel simply because I'm a sailor too.  Laura and I reminisced about the time we came home on the Harley Roadster motorcycle where we hit the bad patch of road enterring the tunnel finding ourself air born at 90 km/hr  going into the tunnel darkness suddenly blind. We were very thankful when the tires hit and we stayed upright.  Another trip with Bill Mewhort we'd come home with his trailer on the back of the truck hauling a little trailer full of the moose I'd shot and him speeding to catch the last ferry back to Vancouver Island.  That was a memorable ride.  Of course there's been dozens of other times I've travelled this route and only those two stick out. This one might as well because it was my first time hauling an RV into the mountains.  As a prairie boy, I do remember the first time I drove through the Rockies to the coast and this had some of the flavour of that adventure.
Canyon Alpine RV Park is just beyond Boston Bar.  I'd often hunted and fished the Nahatlach River across the bridge from Boston Bar past the North Bend.  I'd also spent time around Lytton which is just a ways further north. .  Consequently I'd been in this area and noted the Canyon Alpine RV Park in passing.  I'd thought I'd like to stay there someday.
Pulling in with our RV behind us I had one of those God moments realizing that this was a kind of miracle. Tracing back the seeds that had lead to just this day had it's own synchronistic personal value. Laura said, "We're doing it. This is what you said we'd do when you got the motorhome last year and here we are doing it."  There's joy in the fulfillment of modern day prophecies. God's grace is bountiful to say the least. Here we were living the adventure.
Brent and his wife are RV Park owner operators.  Being motorhomers themselves they'd decided last year to buy this RV park and were loving it.  Really friendly and helpful they gave us an easy pull through and ensured that we were happy before leaving us to get the electricity and water hooked up, tv cable, and sewage hose inserted.  Gilbert loved the gated area for dogs where he ran big circles before rolling in the fresh cut lawn.  Laura tidied up the interior of the motorhome, what had been displaced in the move.  I then set up the lawn chairs.  Ah.....sitting together in the sun with Gilbert on a leash beside us.  This is heaven.  Hummingbirds flitted about the trees above us.
I always have great ideas about what I'm going to do, like hunting, fishing, hiking and bicycling and building things but with no guilt whatsoever I languished in my oh so comfortable reclining lawn chair, having pulled the trailer here and set it up.  Now I really was just enjoying reading in the sun.  The book I was reading was about a space cowboy, nothing deep by any means.  Great RV or beach read though.  I read a little and dosed a little. Laura was reading an Oprah magazine and occasionaly brought out gingerale or chips. Gilbert chewed on a bone.  When the sun was going down we had hotdogs and cheese in fresh buns we'd picked up in Hope.  There was a sprinkle of rain so we went inside and watched tv before getting into the heated bed.  Gilbert naturally joined us.  This is really roughing it.   I think Laura slept well because earlier she'd been convinced I was going to kill us all by driving over the canyon edge.
In the morning Gilbert got me up licking my face.  He has no conception of 'sleeping in'.  So I got up, pulled on sweats and took him for a walk.  The mountains and trees were beautiful with sunshine waking the valley.  Gilbert had an idea that I'd play ball all day with him but instead I walked back to the trailer where I made coffee and fried scrambled eggs and microwaved bacon.  The toaster made the toast.  Laura was very pleased at breakfast in bed.  Gilbert was only too happy to scour the frying pan and clean the dishes.
He slipped out then and joined the half dozen other dogs and little  kids who were walking their big dogs.  Soon Gilbert was being chased by three leash dragging german shepherds and labs with children running and screaming and dogs all having a marvellous break in their morning routine.  Soon parents were there and Gilbert sheepishly 'heard' me calling him finally.  Little girl screams settled down and I apologised for Gilbert's escape from the trailer.  The one dad was more concerned with his daughter's screaming like a bear attack and encouraging her to save that particular scream for something more than dog's at play.
I liked the RV park.  Little kids voices in play were all we heard.  No heavy metal music or reggae.  Nobody smoking ganja and no heavy drinking.  There were fires around the camp that night  but by 10 or 11 it seemed everyone had settled inside.
I'd gone for a drive in the truck around the logging roads seeing lots of mule deer does.  I even saw a great marmot.  I took my rifle and target practiced for a bit, hitting a bullseye first shot so figuring the rifle was still sighted in from the fall.  Still I think I"ll talk to Reliable Guns on Frazer about getting the rifle taken down and cleaned. Carrying them on my back on the motorcycle in the fall, I could see caused  a lot of grime to get in and on the rifle .  I probably should break it down myself. I'd done that before but these days was happy to have an expert check it out.  It's like so many things in my life.  I have learned how to do them and done them myself but just can't make the time to do everything.    Master of one thing, jack of all others. You really can't be a master at everything or you do very little.
Another time Laura came for a ride with me in F350 over the mountains on the logging roads.  Ostensibly I was bear hunting. It was black bear season, I had a tag. The rifle was in the back seat and I do love bear ham but mostly we were exploring.  I'm planning on getting a quad this year, maybe trading in the off road motorcycle. Gilbert is the occasion. He'd ride better on a quad and I'd be able to carry game out of the woods easier.  We saw some nice trails where quads had gone. A couple of the fellows in the RV park had theirs along and used a road just beyond the park to get to the backwoods. Brent the owner told me about the hiking trail. You can hike right up to a big cross on the top of the mountain. "Lots of trails lead out from there as well."  Brent said.
Gilbert and I climbed half way up the mountain on the logging road,with me taking along a rifle just in case but that's as far as I got being somewhat out of shape after a winter of flu and sickness and undue stress.
I did enough exercise to enjoy getting back into the lounge chair though.  This time I was sitting  by a wood fire I'd made while Laura barbecued steaks which we all, including Gilbert of course. Nothing like homecooked meals eaten out doors. It's hard to believe this is the May long weekend only and we've a summer of RV fun ahead of us.
Today I might even get air in the bicycle tires and take a spin round the park.  We've holidays this summer for RV camping and then we'll take the canoe along. There's fishing near by here in the Frazer River.  "The Spring Salmon will be running soon," Brent told me.  There's all manner of River Rafting around here too.  There's fishing on the Nahatlach  and that's only 20 minutes drive.  There's just too much to do especially when my favourite RV camping event is lying on lounge chairs in the sun.  An artist studio is within walking distance down the road. Features 15 local artist.  That's a must see.   After this last wet Vancouver winter sunbathing is the best however, especially when you are beside your own self contained mobile home on a quiet little piece of God's country.   We love Canyon Alpine RV Park and can't wait to come back another week since we do have to go back to Vancouver for work tomorrow.