Williams Lake to U.S.A. 8/11/2014

On the road again Monday August 11

We stayed overnight at the Williams Lake Visitors Center.
We said goodbye to Tom and Linda, our travel companions as they were going east and we west.

Scenery continues to be awesome.

Passing through the town of Lac La Hache.  

The "longest town in Cariboo" stretches 11 miles along Hwy. 97 and the river.

Sprinklers in the fields.

This area is semi arid with hot dry summers and cold dry winters.

I can't resist sharing.

Cache Creek is called the Arizona of British Columbia

We are starting our descent from the west side of the Rockies.

Which also means lots of curves.

At the Canadian border at Abbotsford we waited about 15 minutes to get to the Customs Agent.  All was going well till he asked if we had vegetables.  Yes, carrot and celery.  "That's ok."  And a red and green peppers.  "That's not ok.  Give them to me."  Oops, I bought them Sat. at Safeway. Wish I had eaten them.  At least I only paid a dollar for each.  Not like in Valdez where I paid $3 for a red pepper.

Yeah, back in the U.S.A.  We had to weave through the small towns of Sumas, Nooksack,  Everson and farmland before getting to I-5 and heading to Seattle.

We arrived at Corrina and Tait's, our daughter and son-in-law's about 5:30.  96 degrees.  Wow, not used to this hot temperature but so very great to see family.

We traveled 10,000 miles in 67 days.  At least 500 miles were gravel roads.  We saw spectacular scenery and so much wildlife.  That bears repeating:  We saw spectacular scenery and so much wildlife.  We only made campground reservations on time:  at Denali National Park.  We had no difficulty finding places to stay.

Highly recommend traveling through Alaska AND taking the ferry.

Smithers - Prince George, B.C. 8/10/2014

On the road again Sunday August 10

Alpine themed Main Street of Smithers

Alpenhorn

Don't see many Singer Stores any more.

We stopped in Houston,  B.C.

To see the World's Largest Fishing Rod that was designed and made by local fishermen.

21 inch fly

First time seeing this.

Steelhead fish fountain

Marie and Frank, fellow Roadtrekers from Iowa. 

After we exited the ferry in Prince Rupert we went our different ways.  Then lo and behold they saw us at this park and had to come and say hi.  We meet the greatest people on our trips.  She's another flower lover.

Lots of lumbering in this Province.

Mosiac depicting the early history of Prince George

Mr. P. G. is a 26 foot statue that is a symbol of the importance of the forestry industry to this area.

We stayed overnight at the Lake Williams Visitor Center.  When we arrived there was a couple from California near the Center using the Center's WiFi.  We visited with them for over an hour.

Supermoon.

Prince Rupert & East 8/9/2014

On the road again Saturday August 9.

Phil woke me at what I thought was 7:30 am. It was 2 am before we settled in bed this morning.  Actually it was 8:30 because we changed from Alaska time to Pacific time.  We talked with some of the others who were overnight at Walmart and shopped there.  One couple was from New Zealand.  We had breakfast at Tim Horton's and used the free WiFi to check our emails.  (We keep our phones on airplane mode in Canada.)

Certain things catch my eye....this old farm girl!

Driving around Prince Rupert

A fisherman left Japan and was never seen again but his boat showed up here.   In finding out who and where it came from it was learned the two cities were sister cities.

Amazing murals around Prince Rupert.

 The weather was misty but the landscape was so stunning and lush.

Tiny Chapel for the community of Usk is a replica of a pioneer church that was on the other side of the river until the community and church were swept away by a flood in 1936.  The only item to survive was a Bible which was found floating atop a small pine table.

How do we find these little gems?  Our trusted Milepost book has been a wealth of information.  754 pages of information for roads to travel and things to see, where to stay, etc.  

A tribute to those working in the forestry industry.

Mesmerizing Moricetown Canyon and Falls is a First nation fishing spot

They are netting salmon.

Seeing many farm fields.

A good hike out to Twin Falls and Glacier Gulch

Atop the falls are misting & farther water shooting hard and fast like from a fire hose.

On the right the water is just gently falling of the rocks.

We attended Mass at Smithers, B. C.

We stayed overnight at Safeway and could use their WiFi.