Day 46 BC Canada Stewart
Trip Start
May 07, 2008
1
56
205
Trip End
Nov 22, 2008
Stewart,
British Columbia,
Canada
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Well we woke this morning after a rainy night, the clouds had made the mountain with the Glacier behind us disappear!
It just was not visible, and after last nights view it was amazing to experience this happen.
We drove out at around 9am and the road was a great drive, clear and good blacktop and quite smooth in comparison to some of the previous roads travelled, maybe it is because we have a nice clean Castle again and it doesn't have to attempt to shake the dirt off!
Along the way we all were fortunate enough to spot a wolf ducking off the road ahead of us, and then we spotted a loan black bear up off the side of the road eating some vegetation, it was in such a spot it wasn't safe to stop and obtain a possible photo.
We continued on and spotted a vehicle up ahead comming towards us stopped at an unusual angel with hazard lights going.
We slowed down to stop along side of the vehicle to offer assistance, ( there is not a lot of traffic along this road, and it is an unwritten rule to "offer assistance") well We pull over and attempt to talk to them, they had their windows up but were pointing past our vehicle to our side of the road.
Earnie looked over to see three bears grazing just off the side of the road. WOW GREAT, BUT I reckon it might have been better for them to park a little safer and not create a traffic hazard, the spot they were at was double yellow lines and a rise in the road just ahead of us!
Never mind we moved forward a little to allow them a view, (The castle was a big view blocker!) and we attempted to get some shots, it was difficult and also being aware of TWO vehicles on the road with double yellow lines, It was time to move on, The bears had started to move into the woods anyway.
On we go and turn off to the 37 north to 37A west towards Stewart, this road narrowed a bit but was still good blacktop.
We drove alongside some wonderful mountains, but the cloud and rain was making it difficult to see them clearly.
Then we came to Bear Glacier, very hard to miss, it is just over the water (a small patch that is like a lake formed by the glacier melting.
A Road side Galciar
This an impressive view to look up at this glacier virtually alongside the road, Mind you I must say we were VERY happy to have taken the time to purchase our warm gear and have it on to step out of the Castle to absorb this view. Mind you Karon commandeered Rick's gloves he wisely packed before leaving Australia. Gee he has some fore sight but doesn't reap the benefits; I guess Karon will say, "that is the way it is!" From here we drove to Stewart, this is a twin border town, it shares with Hyder.
They both sit on the Canada USA border.
We figured after talking to the information centre lady, we would have lunch and book into an RV park, then look around.
The lunch bit was ok, with Fish (Halibut) and chips, then head for the RV park, well we had a look and made an inquiry, but decided this wasn't for us, we might head to another.
Re-assessment also gave us the decision to head to Alaska, into Hyder where another RV park was.
Crossing the border was marked by a small building on the left side with a Canadian flag and the blacktop road turning to potholed gravel!!
We turned the first corner that pointed to a motel/RV park and then did a u-turn in front of the building (all the practice U- turns in the Castle are paying off!) just the outside view of this was enough for us to make another choice.
Oh well let us head out to the bear viewing platforms( yes they have bear viewing here as well we have found out!) we know we are early yet because the salmon haven't arrived and so neither have the bears, but gee we "might see one"
Well this must be a forgotten part of the United states road network, it was no more than 20 kmph (and yes it WAS sign posted at KMPH , maybe a good trivia question as to where in the US do they post signs in kmph and not mph?) but we can attest to the fact you would NOT want to go above the speed limit! The Castle received a good shake down and it reminded Karon and Rick of the road into the tiger temple in Thailand, (the driver told us on that road it was a "car Massage")
We arrived at the viewing point, I might add here, before the bears and Salmon, but it was a nice spot and it is set up well to view the small stream and would be great to see the bears there.
We stopped and had a chat to a younger Canadian couple for a while, it was a lovely setting in among the high mountains and the gentle running stream.
We returned along the road and had to show our passports to return to Canada, we had spotted the RV park we are in at this time on the road in to town.
Is this the Birth place of Fire Engines
It proved to be a good choice from the others on offer, it has hot showers that according to the guy booking us in, "go for 4 mins on a Looney"
I reckon Earnie and Rick are pleased Rick was alongside Karon at the time, Rick asked what a "Looney" was, and it is the name they call the Canadian $1 coin because it has a "loony" bird on it.
Maybe Karon consider she was travelling with 2 "loonies" so she would be ok for a shower so she hadn't asked about a "loonie"
As Earnie said it makes Bulli showers cheap at 20 for 5 mins, whereas we are getting 4 mins for a looney ($1) here.
Also the parks rules are not to venture out in the dark because bears and wolves are sometimes visitors in the dark, MMMM hopefully with the 21 hours of daylight we are experiencing at this time, we may be able to visit the restrooms in daylight.
We have managed to get back in touch with the rest of the world and in particular Nicole and Danial.
Nicole's mum passed away on Saturday during our time of "non contactable period".
We pass our understanding and love to all and will stay with you during this challenging period.
Take care and love from all the travellers.
