A testy bastard, at times.

Alberta Bound, Alberta Bound..I long to be....

2020-10-18T22:33:00.006-07:00

See? More trains..this is in Jasper

Banff

Moving into southern Alberta. Cattle country

Yes..train stuff.....

Ying and yang

2020-10-18T22:22:00.004-07:00

A church in Spences Bridge...so many people says...'I always wanted to take that picture'...

Yard art...

And we get to Clearwater BC and Wells Gray Provincial Park.

So..we overnight here...drive out and turn onto the highway....

Trains....

2020-10-18T22:11:00.002-07:00

Trains...the sounds, the look...the lights coming thru a tunnel. I have no idea what attracts me..oohh...I bet it's because it represents moving. Going some place. I have a favorite place in the Fraser Canyon and I can sit and watch trains all freakin day and night.

I have been coming here for years.

Riches in the Fraser Canyon

2020-10-04T07:46:00.001-07:00

The Fraser Canyon holds an abundance of great stopping, camping and picture taking opportunities. From Hope to Cache Creek....if you ply the train spotting fad, history of the gold rush,

Westminster Abbey in Mission

2020-10-02T07:59:00.004-07:00

One of coolest places to see...Westminster Abbey in Mission....

http://westminsterabbey.ca/

From the properties view point, the Fraser River

Sun up on Spanish Banks in Vancouver

2020-10-02T07:52:00.007-07:00

We overnighted 3 nights down by Spanish Banks in Vancouver.

Sunrises are amazing....

This IS a sunrise...coming thru the incoming smoke blanket....

Sailing sailing.....over the ocean blue....

2020-10-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

My daughter and her husband have bought a sailboat...God help all....

We go 'sailing' in Burrard Inlet for an hour or so....no wind, thankfully, so no mishaps.

Leaving Williams Lake...heading for...."the cottage".....

2020-10-02T07:41:00.001-07:00

We drive down about 70ks on a dirt road..looking for a rec site for the night. Not omly do we find the right place....I get put to work....

Next morning it is over the Dog Creek Reserve road....

If you have ever heard of the Gang Ranch.....

The Fraser River flowing south

Our last guests of the season invited us to their "cottage".....

We go 'barging'....

A lovely two days....lovely people...

So....away we went, down to Lilloett and over the Sea-to-Sky Highway, heading for Vancouver. We overnight at a Rec Cite on the Cayoose River...one of many....even did steaks on a fire...

Bored people make rock lined walkways.

Coming back east on 20, to Williams Lake....things to see....

2020-10-02T07:19:00.002-07:00

Maybe 45? years ago, I thought I would buy a business in the Cariboo..Lee's Corner. A motel, gas and grocery store. I had no money, so dream on big boy....This is all that is left....

A dream parked in Alexis Creek...about as far as a boat can be taken....

The bridge crossing the southbound Fraser River, coming into Williams Lake.

The Hill to Bella Coola....

2020-09-22T06:00:00.001-07:00

The beginning of the hardest, toughest drive in BC..in Canada and maybe in North America. It's an 11? kilomete single lane roadway, that is at time a 19% grade. The fun starts at Anihim Lake....and ends at Bella Coola. There is no good reason for anyone to do this drive unless they are taking the ferry, serious fishers or ego driven. My RV is very heavy and I ended up in 4lo to safely navigate it.

This is the best picture of the Hill I could get..and it shows nothing.

Bella Coola..a First Nations village...a fishing dock...

Mind you...there are things to be seen.....

We met this guy at a campsite at the top of the hill...FishTrap, if you want to go there. Bugger is leaning on my truck.

And the grizzlaeys fishing...this is maybe the best reason to come down. Betnardo is a fishing viewing platform.

Traveling the Cariboo/Chilcotin...signs of yesteryear

2020-09-22T05:43:00.005-07:00

I had worked up in the Cariboo as a much younger man. It is aplace that always calls to me, sooo....we turn west onto highway 20 at Williams Lake and start down a one way road...to Bella Coola and return to Williams Lake.

Using a great guide book..Backs Roads of BC...it spells out all of the camping spots, the roads in, the number of camp spots availabale and the road conditions.

https://www.backroadmapbooks.com/travel-category/brmb-products/

We stop at Pinto Lake...and have the MOST horrendous thunder, lightening and rain storm, right overhead, for two hours...from 10pm till after midnight. Unbelievable.

Moving across the Cariboo...all the old ranches still remain. New quarters but the original buildings remain. In this case, the pens for loading cattle.

Just another day in paradise....

2020-09-22T05:32:00.002-07:00

Ms Sharon...doing some communicating....

We stopped in Clinton for the night. Found wifi at the libaray, a place to bbq, on the sidewalk and spend the night.

RV dump day is also shower and hair day. 100 Mile House has a great dump at Save-on Foods. Two bays..lots of space.

Standing water with fall colours on #97 northbound.

One pissed off dog....we had gone into a craft brew place, Fox Mountain, in Williams Lake. Beer was really good...the food was like...meh...50%

2020-09-16T16:05:00.002-07:00

A new header pic..a new trip!

After a summer of craziness...Covid-19, and our vacation rental in Penticton, BC..."Sunshine and Wine Loft", should you care to Google it....we have decided to take some time to wander in the province. We can't go south into the US, and the prairies just isn't calling....so, we will remain here in BC and take the next 4 to 6 weeks, to just plain ol'wander.

Sharon has never been to Bella Coola, nor over the Duffy Lake road..nor to Wells Grey Provincial Park...nor Jasper/Banff. So..there is our itinerary.

We have left home...as of the 15th of September. I had a VHF problem to resolve so we went up to Vernon to Vernon Communications. Shit hot guys in there....go it sorted and away in 30 minutes.

We have some friends that are into RV living and doing so in the Shuswap area. They invited us to hang out with them for the afternoon...it was lunch at The Barley Station in Salmon Arm and down to their 'spot' for the night. Now..the people that actually own 'the spot'...geeezus fuk....so much stuff.

3M Respirators and Canada

2020-04-04T10:05:00.002-07:00

Putting a stop to respirators made by 3M from coming into Canada?

And then there was Canadian Ambassador Taylor that brought the people from the US embassy in Tehran under his care and protection and then got them smuggled out to safety.

and home.....

2020-03-29T14:24:00.002-07:00

And home....overnighted in a small town just south of us..has a sani-dump...up early, dumped and drove in at 8am

What a great trip. We saw so much....hanging with the Israeli's was a trip....

So...until next time...I wish you well.....if you ever have any questions? You are welcome to E mail me...hauptgw@gmail.com

Gary

Hiding out from the coronavirus

2020-03-29T14:17:00.001-07:00

We overnighted in Bellingham on the street with the RV homeless....felt right at home.

Arrived at the border at 10:30am..and not a vehicle in sight. Holy shit...6 CBD officers..and us. I could have had boxes of contraband and they wouldn't have cared. They had NO intention of coming close to us..gave up the green fact sheet and waved us thru.

Running from the corona virus and hiding out. We can't go home quite yet...the virus isolation stuff is creating so much havoc. Our house-sitter has to pack up all her stuff and get ready t head for her home in Alberta. We had called and told her we were on our way....so...we have to kill another three days. We 'could' go home and live in the driveway, but the animals will create a problem. Cats wanting to get in to see us..and the dog wanting to get into the house.

We opted to go to one of my all-time fave spots..in the Fraser Canyon, across the Thompson River from the downward CN/CP trains..tunnels train sounds....

So...looking at the tunnels..they are built to allow rocky crud to NOT fall on the tracks. As I was standing there looking at the scrabble coming down...I looked up and followed the trail of dust....

Running from closures in Oregon

2020-03-29T13:41:00.002-07:00

Approaching the Oregon/California border....I was wondering if this place would be open, what with the corona virus closures. But...it was..oh yayayayayayay...

On to Brookings for the next couple days.

Sharon did a cauliflower in the frypan...man that is sure good. Chop up a head, toss in some good olive oil...spices maybe....and just let it fry up. We got this from our Israeli pals, although they roasted it...frying is quicker.

The cororna virus news is beginning to take it's toll on us. We have been very careful about our exposures and have really stayed away from people.

We used the Rest Area just west of Brookings for two nights. They even have a Sani-Dump station there...huh....good for them.

Signs of the closures. It appeared that we were just ahead of the crews that were closing view points and campgrounds. Was very odd.....

We stopped in Depot Bay. I so wanted to get a shot of USCH boat leaving Depot Bay harbour, but with the closures and the whole state getting closed down...we carried on. Next tim3e, I will try to time our arrival for an early morning so I can get crews heading out.

We rolled up the entire state or Oregon...border to border,...fuk, that was a long drive. I used to drive a bus for a living, so long days behind the wheel were the norm...but that was some time ago...and I have finally learned to not be in a push.

Crossing the Columbia River bridge at Astoria...hell of a long span. I had Sharon grab a pic with my camera...shooting past my chest....

From our overnight spot...about a minute east of the bridge exit....

And they closed THAT in the morning, right after we left. I think that there is going to be some serious trouble if the governments...all of them...do not make some kind of provision for people that don't have a traditional stick and brick home. In the US..how many people live in their RV's...and their cars and campers and bread trucks. Closing so many places to them...where will they go? Into towns and cities...and towns and cities don't want them there. And they don't want to be there either.....trouble.

We drove east up the Washington side of the Columbia..heading for Longview and the I-5. Stopped in Cathlamet for a look-see.

Cresent City..a really neat city.

2020-03-29T12:57:00.000-07:00

We stopped in Cresent City...there is a drive along the coast from the city...heading north. Towards the airport..should you get the opportunity? Take the drive. Short and wonderful!

I love waterfronts......

And the sea lions...

Samoa Dunes, Samoa Township and Ferndale, Ca.

2020-03-24T19:15:00.001-07:00

We have been to Ferndale, Ca. before, last year..but this time...it was so quiet. Just south of Eureka..it iis worth a visit.

Then we have the Samoa Dunes...

And the Samoa Township.

And back to the Samoa Dunes again...we stayed 3 days, just kickin...

such a beautiful morning view..and Mono Lake

2020-03-18T09:48:00.002-07:00

Our morning view from the camping spot just north of Bishop

Mono Lake....just north of Lee Vinning.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mono_Lake

Wild horses, wild burro's and a wild hot spring...

2020-03-17T21:13:00.001-07:00

On our way north....stopped in Ridgecrest for one more feeding of the wild horses and burros.

First we had to stop at the Farmers Market

Heading up 395..stopping to take pictures....

Last stop before Bishop...the Keough Hot Springs..or ditch, as it is referred to.

The deal is..there is the resort...but the stream flows right on down the hill....you pay big bucks for resort....

A little bit of heaven..Lark Spa

2020-03-17T20:59:00.003-07:00

Lark Spa....if you wan to just hang out for a bit, up by the Salton Sea...check the place out. They have one 'dry' spot...best view of any of the spots..people leave you alone....and the sunsets....

http://www.larkspa.info/Aboutus.html

Union Pacific runs in the distance....the night trains sound so lovely.

http://www.larkspa.info/Aboutus.html

They had a St Paddy's Day breakfast...they do one a month, for the four winter months...5 bucks..pancakes, ham, sausgae, eggs, coffee....FIVE BUCKS....

Bombay Beach....go there.....

2020-03-11T12:19:00.000-07:00

Walk way into the Ski-Inn

Waitress was trying to decide which of two tables got the one plate of potato salad that was left.

Trip Advisor

2020-03-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

Do you follow Trip Advisor? I often submit reviews..and did one for the Farmers Market and Cafe in Ajo.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60924-d15887060-r748958137-Ajo_Farmers_Market_Cafe-Ajo_Arizona.html

Man....just rolling along in downtown Ajo.

We fetched up in Lark Spa for a week, Hadn't intended to..but....here we are! We take the one and only 'dry' spot...it has the view and are away from everyone, else. $15 a night...get the view, the pool and a super clean laundry area.

http://www.larkspa.info/index.html

Looking out over the backside of the grounds.

Ajo and an Indian Cemetary

2020-03-06T14:21:00.001-08:00

Ajo...what a charming and quiet wee place.....southern Arizona not far from....

Ajo....

We were on BLM lands, just south of Ajo, meeting friends Karen and Tony and a pal of theirs, Sally. This day..we are going walk-about in the desert, to an Indian Cemetary.

Many roads in the area have signs like this.