Northern British Columbia

Things really started to feel wild when we turned north on the Cassiar highway(37) about an hour east of Prince Rupert. Few services, but the most continuously gorgeous drive I have ever been on. One snow capped MT after another. Lakes, rivers, awesome! We have stayed at 2 provincial parks, Meziadin and Kinaskan, both with lakeside sites. Since the season is early we had our pick. Fished 2 days, and Joe had the big "one that got away". Although we ate fresh fish that was given to us, called Dolly Varden. It was tasty, a little oily, got 2 meals from it.

Joe biked 22 miles on the road to Stewart, and passed 2 bears, thank god they ran when they saw him. The bears love eating the dandelions along the roadside, so the next day we saw 6 and got some great photos.

We took a day trip to Stewart, saw our first glacier. Small town with Mts to the sea.

The next stop Boya Provincial park on a lake where we rented kayaks, the water was turquoise and absolutely clear to the sandy bottom. It felt like the Caribbean, but freezing temps. Nice hikes around the lake, moose, and beaver sightings. Very quiet.
All of the Cassier highway is practically deserted, only the provincial parks until close to Watson Lake. Some of the road was a little rough, but doable and very worth it!
No phone service in this area, so I will call some of you when I get a chance. All for now

Central British Columbia

Almost immeditely we had better weather when we got on highway 16 outside of Jasper. Trees just starting to bud, dandelions in huge numbers, and new spring leaves. We stayed one night with hookups and then 4 nights in Provencial Parks. The parks are alot like our state parks. $15 a night with toilets and sometimes showers. Lots of very nice and helpful folks. I love the accent, mixture of soft Irish and Scottish like, Ey? Green farm land surrounded by snow capped MTs. Wooded parks, very lovely part of BC.

Took a beautiful hike through an anciet forest with red cedars 2,000 years old. It was mossy with skunk cabbage coming up in gorgeous shades of yellow. Felt like a rain forest. Saw our first Totem poles at a First People village called KSAN. These native people are thriving due to monies from fishing.

Banff to Jasper Canadian National Parks

We went through Calgary and I could see Cassi’s face in. everyone. It is too bad we didn’t connect with her. We entered the Canadian Rockies into Banff, beautiful. Found a quiet campsite on Two Jacks Lake, pristine, clear water. It was rainy and a bit chilly, so we drove the next day to Jasper. Unbelievable drive, through snow capped mountains, with views I cannot describe. Rivers, MTs, canyons. IT is hard to believe that Alaska will be more beautiful. Banff is a big ski resort, so lots of tourists, hotels, ect, ect. But the setting is magnificent. And it is so close to Calgary.

On to Jasper where it is a bit warmer and less rainy. On route through Ice Fields National Park we saw 3 big horn sheep in the road, stopped all traffic, they could care less about humans. Every bend in the road we were awestruck with unbelievable views. Elk are calving, so we hope to see some, we have seen adults. Males of all species have dropped their antlers, so harder to tell males from females. No caribou yet.

We are following the weather now, seems to be warmer closer to British Columbia, so tomorrow we will head there I think unless it warms up here.

Today is Dylan’s birthday, he is 6 years old! Hardly can believe it! I talked with him and he is doing great, got a new bed and excited about his new watch and books from us. What a bright and energetic little boy he is.

We plan to go to Prince George and the Cassier highway. We payed over $100 American dollars today to fill the gas tank! Yikes!!!! We hope it gets better when we get out of the National Parks.

Glacier National Park

Driving up through Northwest Montana was beautiful. Rolling hills, cattle, horsing, and lots of water. We came to West Glacier National Park and were awestruck. High Rocky Mts with snow peaks, clear Lake McDonald, long and narrow with thick conifer forests on both sides. This is a lovely park, not as busy as Yellowstone, more beautiful, and less commercial. We had 2 sunny warm days there. There are bike paths all over the park, so we road 12 miles and with hills and elevation that felt like a lot to both of us We also took a beautiful hike through some snow with shorts on!! And numerous waterfalls and raging rivers with all this snow melt.
We have been lucky so far, arriving at each northern park at about the same time they open. Tonight we are at East Glacier, St Mary’s lake, also beautiful but quite different. More Aspen trees, less pine, more open, but snow peaked Mts all around. The road through Glacier is closed, so we drove around and it was a nice ride mostly following another raging river. It’s so nice to be near water, even though going in it is out of the question. We will be in Canada tomorrow.
If anyone has Cassie Evans ph number in Calgary, please send it, she hasn’t answered my email yet.

Montana is a beautiful state

Spent one night at KOA and then drove beautiful roads through Montana north to Glacier which we will explore today. Last night stayed at sweet little RV park called Mt Meadow outside Glacier. Wooded sites with hookups, similar National park grounds. Finally the sun is out and warm weather is setting in. More photos.....

Yellowstone to Bozeman

We drove straight up into Yellowstone from Tetons. Even higher snow banks, 12-16ft in places. Much of Yellowstone is closed due to snow. Again hiking is out. We stayed one night in Mammoth, north Yellowstone where it was clear of snow and quite lovely. Sparce tree covering, deep canyons with rivers. Many elk and bison right in the campground. Kestrels, Kingfishers, along river banks. Onto Bozeman to have the car serviced and do shoppoing, laundry, ect. KOA campground is convient. We went to best co-op I have ever seen. Lots of fresh food with a coffee, desert bar, very big, must be the University crowd supports it. We had a minor problem with the Casita, and found another very helpful Casita owner here in Bozeman who volenteered his expertise to get it fixed very quickly. Kent has done many interesting mods to his trailer and shared lots of tips with us. We are very grateful to him.

Tomorrow onto Glacier.

Snow!

We drove all day in Utah to escape the heat, many peaceful valleys with cattle, rivers, gorgeous Mt's. Mt road closed after traveling about 30 miles, then after turning back another delay as an oil tanker missed his turn and spilled all over. Sad to see the oil covering the ground near a river knowing it would pollute it. Stayed one night just outside of Heber city Utah in a little valley with protected lands nearby. Then on into Idaho and to Grand Teton National Park. The Mt's were completely hidden in a cloud of snow. About a foot of snow on the ground, record year of snow in the area. Surprised to wake to sunny skies but cold. Saw moose, bear, wolf, and several birds including an American White Pelican in migration. This is a beautiful, peaceful place with nice folks running the lodge and campground. Just 25 miles to Yellowstone we will leave for in a few days.

Moab

May 7

Drove through amazing red rock formations from Gooseneck State Park into Moab. It puts Sedona to shame, on a huge scale. Moab is a touristy, but down to earth place, many young people with bikes. Hooked up with electric, which was a life saver, as it was so hot on the 6th here, used our airconditoner (thank you Casita). Couldn't get a camp site at Arches, they fill first thing in the morning. Just as well as it was hot during the day. We hiked about 41/2 miles, some quite strenuous, to Delicate Arch, was worth it. A 6 year old girl ran out ahead of me and made me think of Dylan, he would love it. It was my first hike in many months, and felt good. Arches National Park was formed from salt and weather millions of years ago, and the salt is what formed the arches causeing uphevals. We are eager to get to cooler weather, so may have a long travel day tomorrow. Would love to come back here someday and really explore.

Sunday May 4th on the road for about 51/2 hrs. Casita pulls easily, no swaying. Walnut Canyon trails were closed due to a small avalanche of rocks, very dispointed as I had really wanted to hike in the ruins. First night camped at Sunset Crater Monument, very nice little camp ground near visitors center. Woodsy, towards the crater, are hundreds of acres of lava rock fields, strange to see in the forest. We bought a pass to all national parks and campgrounds for $10 as Joe is 62. This gives us free access to parks and half off camping, amazing. Gas prices are $3.45 in Arizona.

Monday May5
Leisure morning, on the road by 9am head up 89 to tuba City and through National Monument, crossed into Utah at Mexican Hat. Gas now $365. Camped at Gooseneck state park. No services, amazing views of formations made by San Juan river in the shape of goosenecks. Views in all directions and eerily quiet. Heard an owl last night and big starry sky.

getting ready for trip

we are getting ready for our big trip, check out our site. Come back often to see photos.