Punch buggies

Here's the one and  only Volkswagen dealership of an vintage

And for those on July 30, It has special meaning.

A Trentmobile?

Nanaimo bathtubs

After 2 1/2 hours ( the stragglers)  return from the islands, barely able to run up and ring the bell. The first tub came in at 1 1/2 hours, the next was 30 minutes back. 40 boats started , less than half finished with 20 knot winds and accompanying waves out in the strait.

Almost there ... that bell

There was a large turn out to cheer them on. In years past, some boaters came in from Australia, and won the race.

Nanaimo continued

We had just settled into the boat when the neighbours informed us there was a dock party (pot ((not the BC kind)) luck dinner) that evening.
We have all motors running, dinghy and sailboat, sails up, galley replenished, water tank full, fueled up, all ready to head out. But first some visiting  of  relatives and house browsing. I don't know how many Macdonalds we'll see on the way, or maybe some unsecured wi-fi to post some photos.
The  SS Minnow , renovated, is located in the covered docks close to us and runs, yep, 3 hour tours. I mention the boat because, Mary-Anne stopped  in to visit  but unfortunately at 80, she has lost some of her appeal.

Our departure from Horseshoe bay

Qualicum beach with kilometers of sand.

We stayed overnight at relatives, ocean side dinner with the mountains in the background.

More come to following the bathtub races, and snowbird fly overs.

The SS Minnow was renovated and is owned by Quality Foods and they  run  3 hour tours with all proceeds going to various charities.

Alice lake / Squamish

Well, we made it past Whistler to Alice lake. The highway roads don't seem as bad any more or we are now seasoned cliff drivers.

I am always in awe of the mountains.

Our campsite at Alice lake is a walk in, everything else was taken. At least in BC the walk ins are only 50 metres in, not like real ones in Ontario, that short one km walk.  We are way to close to Vancouver and civilization. It was very noisy last night and will probably be worse tonight, Friday..Some of the noise came from  loud readers, as they read instructions on how to put up a tent, honestly. We were polite and didn't laugh out loud.

Amy's favourite animal - slugs

We mentioned it was a little crowded, here's your normal "single " camp site, not group camping for those who are familiar with the concept.

Pemberton

One last look at his view in Lilloet, nope, I don't think we can climb that one.

We aren't feeling too bad this morning, our host and myself both agreed that we had a little too much wine last night, but it was worth it.

One last hike to another local water fall to end a great time in Lilloet.

We can almost touch Vancouver now.

Either Amy is a little more used to the cliff side scenery or it wasn't as bad, but the trip, albeit a little slow, went with out too much tension.
Our view coming into Pemberton .

I managed a loner hike last night to be impressed with yet another waterfall and no , they don't all look the same , yet.

Local wildlife on the path

We will try to find a dryer campsite, it is pouring rain to the east and sunny to the west before making our next campsite, tentatively the  Whistler area.

Lillolet

 We stayed at Marble Canyon last night , snuggled up to the mountains, with the lake at our feet.

 We're taking a little tent  respite and stayed with an old  friend here in Lillooet taking the scenic route. Amy was in tears from the drive, the river was at the road side with no guard rails. The river was about 1000 feet down. (the side of the road). Yep, it made me tingle a bit too. It was an impressive view, but gave me no real time to look around, focusing on the next curve with that drop down to the  river ever present, and of course no photos.
One stop to let traffic go by revealing a road side kill, identification please?

We did get one shot before all the "scenic" stuff.

This is how my friend irrigates his garden up here in the mountains. It is the real deal for the almost perfect location. Mountains, lush gardens, horses, waterfalls in your backyard, bears, the odd cougar. It's going to be hard to leave.

Ten Mile lake

Another  stop at Smithers, one of the twin falls.

Camped at Ten mile lake for a one night stand. We are getting too close to civilization again, with the longer days the motor boats go long into our bed time.

Our breakfast at Williams lake, Dog and Spud's diner

At Amy's request, still no fish

Smithers, BC

We are now stationed in Smithers in the bright sunshine. Still no fish.. So we hiked up to Crater lake on Hudson Bay mountain, no fish there either.

Notice the red lanyard in Amy's pocket, I hiked up the trail twice because that lanyard was dropped    while someone took photos of wild flowers. I wanted the extra exercise anyway, sleep comes much easier.

I was contemplating a swim, but something got in the way.

Just checking out the view.

This a ski in community atop the Hudson bay Mountain. There is enough snow that the out houses are perched six feet high on a concrete holding tank, some with ramps others with ladders, (summer time use). 

Are the folks in Smithers called Smitherines? I haven't asked yet.

Today will be a couple more hikes, short ones, twin falls and  the farmers market.

Telkwa Provincial park

Through hwy 16 and Smithers, getting back into some civilization, don't really like it.

Suspension bridge on Bulkley River

The standard view of the mountains on the drive.

Only 3 bear counted today, one doing the proper car check before crossing, looked both ways.

Our final destination for today will be Telkwa Park.

Meziadin Lake

We ventured into Alaska today to check out the glaciers in Hyder. No american customs, the rumour was that someone burned it down. We didn't make it all the way to that particular one, more dust outs on the gravel road. We settled on one close to the highway on the Canadian side.

We are camped out at Meziadin Lake provincial park. Another lakefront site up against all the motor homes. The motor homes, home away from home literally. TV, ovens, baths, heaters, AC, generators, microwaves,, is it really camping?

Smithers tomorrow and then some.

Canada day travel

We saw this guy on the side of the road, and slowed to take a photo. He didn't move so we stopped and then he walked around behind the truck and came up to  the drivers side looking for handouts. Sorry, no spare change.

On the Alaska highway to the "signpost" we encountered dust storms created by the trucks on the gravel road leaving us blinded. At the Bison herd, a motorcyclist had been hit or hit them, not life threatening, but that wait for the ambulance 2 hours away must have seemed an eternity.

Watson lake

We couldn't find Ottawa Ontario, so we settled on Madawaska and Wilno. 82,172 signs to date, and they will erect more posts as required. Our stop for the night was at Iskut, it had the fewest mosquitoes, sort of.

Muncho lake

Tried out my new fly fishing technique (newbie) and managed to catch a few trout, but a little too small to keep. The time for the photo is 23:30, the midnight sun.

and some more highway animal life.

This is the view from the waterfront campsite. 

Our day was complimented  with a stop at the Liard hot springs. It was a warm day so the effects weren't fully appreciated. Camping now comes with Internet access, along with complaints about speed.