Robert, Friday, May 23
Hit the road to Prince George this morning. It is in British Columbia. Tomorrow morning we have an appointment to get the water pump replaced. Along the road there were countless signs warning of moose. Well I saw as many abominable snowmen as I saw moose–absolutely zero of both! The best we could do is a few mule deer along the road.
As we get further north and as we get closer to the summer solstice, the daylight lasts longer and longer. I am never awake to see when it gets light in the morning but it is still light until almost 10:00 pm. The weather has been cool and cloudy since last weekend. My guess is that as we get closer to the coast, it will stay this way for the month of June.
Today is the start of our second week on the road. In one way it seems like we just started and in another it seems like so long ago that we started this adventure. We are both having a great time.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Prince George, Bristish Columbia
Leslie Friday, May 23, 2008
We’ve been on the road for two weeks. Today was another travel day. I drove west from Jasper to Prince George. As we drove west we came through several more Canadian national parks. The route climbed through a mountain pass (with a view of Mount Robson at 12292 ft.), and then dropped precipitously. The road dropped at an 8% grade, which is significant, especially towing 16,000 lbs. loaded. We saw signs every few miles warning traffic to slow down for moose – and of course we didn’t see a single moose. After dropping out of the mountains we passed through grazing countryside.
We’ve been told that Prince George is a real town but the campground where we’re located is in the country.
We’re in Prince George to resupply before making the last trek towards Prince Rupert. Prince George is the last town of any significance before the Pacific coast. Our water pump hasn’t worked since the beginning of our trip and we have an appointment tomorrow morning to have it replaced. The RV repair facility is just across the street from this campground.
Molly’s swollen lymph node seems to be getting smaller.
more later,
Leslie
We’ve been on the road for two weeks. Today was another travel day. I drove west from Jasper to Prince George. As we drove west we came through several more Canadian national parks. The route climbed through a mountain pass (with a view of Mount Robson at 12292 ft.), and then dropped precipitously. The road dropped at an 8% grade, which is significant, especially towing 16,000 lbs. loaded. We saw signs every few miles warning traffic to slow down for moose – and of course we didn’t see a single moose. After dropping out of the mountains we passed through grazing countryside.
We’ve been told that Prince George is a real town but the campground where we’re located is in the country.
We’re in Prince George to resupply before making the last trek towards Prince Rupert. Prince George is the last town of any significance before the Pacific coast. Our water pump hasn’t worked since the beginning of our trip and we have an appointment tomorrow morning to have it replaced. The RV repair facility is just across the street from this campground.
Molly’s swollen lymph node seems to be getting smaller.
more later,
Leslie
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Whistler's Campground Jasper
Leslie Thursday, May 22, 2008
Whistler’s Campground in Jasper National Park is another wonderful Canadian government campground with widely spaced full hook-up site (30 amp) amid lodgepole pines. We were pleased to find all three of our immediately past campgrounds.
Here’s picture of our campsite.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300367287_9x4dL-M.jpg
And the view out our picture window.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348535_pbfrj-M.jpg
It didn’t rain today but the weather remained chilly and cloudy. The cats are now sharing Molly’s heated bed.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300351195_9tzcr-M.jpg
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348535_pbfrj-M.jpg
We spent several hours setting up our campground reservations for southeast Alaska. Because we have ferry reservations and therefore know when we’ll be at each stop, we decided that we might as well make campground reservations.
Later we drove to Jasper to get diesel and check out the town. The town of Jasper has only 4000 residents; it appears to be mostly a tourist town. We try to fill up on diesel after setting up camp so that we don’t have to maneuver the rig in a tight gas station. Diesel was actually slightly less expensive in Jasper than in Banff, only (ha, ha) $1.329 per liter).
More later,
Leslie
Whistler’s Campground in Jasper National Park is another wonderful Canadian government campground with widely spaced full hook-up site (30 amp) amid lodgepole pines. We were pleased to find all three of our immediately past campgrounds.
Here’s picture of our campsite.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300367287_9x4dL-M.jpg
And the view out our picture window.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348535_pbfrj-M.jpg
It didn’t rain today but the weather remained chilly and cloudy. The cats are now sharing Molly’s heated bed.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300351195_9tzcr-M.jpg
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348535_pbfrj-M.jpg
We spent several hours setting up our campground reservations for southeast Alaska. Because we have ferry reservations and therefore know when we’ll be at each stop, we decided that we might as well make campground reservations.
Later we drove to Jasper to get diesel and check out the town. The town of Jasper has only 4000 residents; it appears to be mostly a tourist town. We try to fill up on diesel after setting up camp so that we don’t have to maneuver the rig in a tight gas station. Diesel was actually slightly less expensive in Jasper than in Banff, only (ha, ha) $1.329 per liter).
More later,
Leslie
Exploring Jasper
Robert, Thursday, May 22
We did a number of chores around the trailer today. We made reservations for all of the stops we will make when going up the southeast coast of Alaska. Some of the stops are small towns with few choices of places to camp. One of the campgrounds was actually filled but the manager said he would fir us in somehow. As a comparison, the campground where we are now has something like 350 sites. The one where the manager said he would fir us in has 7 sites.
The tires needed air. Before we left home, we bought a CO2 tank to inflate tires. It looks like a scuba air tank except it is filled with carbon dioxide. Using a small air compressor can take 10 minutes to put air in one tire. With this tank, it takes 10 seconds. The other great advantage is that our air compressor needs 110 vac; the tank needs no power so it is much easier to use in the middle of nowhere.
After that we went into town. The population of Jasper is something like 4,000. There is one station that has a diesel pump, one small grocery store, a bunch of tourist gift shops, and that is about all.
We did a number of chores around the trailer today. We made reservations for all of the stops we will make when going up the southeast coast of Alaska. Some of the stops are small towns with few choices of places to camp. One of the campgrounds was actually filled but the manager said he would fir us in somehow. As a comparison, the campground where we are now has something like 350 sites. The one where the manager said he would fir us in has 7 sites.
The tires needed air. Before we left home, we bought a CO2 tank to inflate tires. It looks like a scuba air tank except it is filled with carbon dioxide. Using a small air compressor can take 10 minutes to put air in one tire. With this tank, it takes 10 seconds. The other great advantage is that our air compressor needs 110 vac; the tank needs no power so it is much easier to use in the middle of nowhere.
After that we went into town. The population of Jasper is something like 4,000. There is one station that has a diesel pump, one small grocery store, a bunch of tourist gift shops, and that is about all.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Icefield Parkway
Robert, Wednesday, May 21
We drove north to Jasper today. The road from Lake Louise to Jasper is called the Icefield Parkway. According to the brochures, it is a beautiful drive with views of mountains and glaciers. We will have to take what the brochures say as the word as it rained with low hanging clouds all of the way. And it was cool. The temps got down in the 30s and we had snow rather than rain when we were going over one of the two passes. It wasn’t sticking but it was snow.
When we got to Jasper, we stayed in the Whistler National Park campground. It has full hook-ups which is unusual for any government run campgrounds. Our site is in the trees and this is a campground we would return to visit. As it was still spitting rain, we didn’t do much except get set-up.
We drove north to Jasper today. The road from Lake Louise to Jasper is called the Icefield Parkway. According to the brochures, it is a beautiful drive with views of mountains and glaciers. We will have to take what the brochures say as the word as it rained with low hanging clouds all of the way. And it was cool. The temps got down in the 30s and we had snow rather than rain when we were going over one of the two passes. It wasn’t sticking but it was snow.
When we got to Jasper, we stayed in the Whistler National Park campground. It has full hook-ups which is unusual for any government run campgrounds. Our site is in the trees and this is a campground we would return to visit. As it was still spitting rain, we didn’t do much except get set-up.
Banff to Jasper
Leslie Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Our day started with a herd of elk visiting our campsite. This view is out our picture window.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348780_sPsFn-M.jpg
We traveled along the Icefields Parkway, along the glaciers to Jasper. Unfortunately the weather was raining/snowing and in the low 40's. I’m sure that if the sun was shining the view would have been impressive but as it was, we really couldn’t see much.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348688_8Zpgx-M.jpg
We did stop at the Visitor’s Center at the Icefield Center. Because of the low clouds, the views of the glaciers were mostly obscured.
We did visit with a Bear Mounty. He graciously posed for pcitures.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348752_VCCYU-M.jpg
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348833_sB4sh-M.jpg
Because there were few people at Tunnel Mountain in Banff, we decided to skip reservations (and saved the $11.00 reservation fee) as we proceeded to Jasper National Park. We showed up at Whispers Campground around 3:00 pm. There was no problem getting a full-hook up site (30 amps).
We were warned that the elks are calving and are very aggressive. We didn’t see a single elk! We were warned that this is bear country and that it is very important to keep an absolutely clean camp.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348433_Ema6b-M.jpg
We didn’t see any bear either. We did notice this very large bear trap located near the entrance. I wonder if it was placed there to intimidate the campers or the bears?
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348473_abAHe-M.jpg
Because of the bear danger, if you camp in a tent or soft-sided trailer, you have to keep all your food and other "people smelling products" in a bear-proof food locker. To open the food lockers (and the trash dumpsters) you have to push a locking mechanism and lift the lid at the same time.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348657_THrDd-M.jpg
More later,
Leslie
Our day started with a herd of elk visiting our campsite. This view is out our picture window.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348780_sPsFn-M.jpg
We traveled along the Icefields Parkway, along the glaciers to Jasper. Unfortunately the weather was raining/snowing and in the low 40's. I’m sure that if the sun was shining the view would have been impressive but as it was, we really couldn’t see much.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348688_8Zpgx-M.jpg
We did stop at the Visitor’s Center at the Icefield Center. Because of the low clouds, the views of the glaciers were mostly obscured.
We did visit with a Bear Mounty. He graciously posed for pcitures.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348752_VCCYU-M.jpg
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348833_sB4sh-M.jpg
Because there were few people at Tunnel Mountain in Banff, we decided to skip reservations (and saved the $11.00 reservation fee) as we proceeded to Jasper National Park. We showed up at Whispers Campground around 3:00 pm. There was no problem getting a full-hook up site (30 amps).
We were warned that the elks are calving and are very aggressive. We didn’t see a single elk! We were warned that this is bear country and that it is very important to keep an absolutely clean camp.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348433_Ema6b-M.jpg
We didn’t see any bear either. We did notice this very large bear trap located near the entrance. I wonder if it was placed there to intimidate the campers or the bears?
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348473_abAHe-M.jpg
Because of the bear danger, if you camp in a tent or soft-sided trailer, you have to keep all your food and other "people smelling products" in a bear-proof food locker. To open the food lockers (and the trash dumpsters) you have to push a locking mechanism and lift the lid at the same time.
http://CarpediemAdventures.smugmug.com/photos/300348657_THrDd-M.jpg
More later,
Leslie
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Molly Sees a Vet
Robert, Tuesday, May 20
We got the weather forecast this morning. It was for rain and cooler for the rest of this week. The high temperatures have been in the 50s for the past several days so I guess this means we will see highs in the 40s.
Last night, we discovered that Molly had an enlarged lymph node under her chin. While she seems to be fine, we decided to get her to a vet today. We went into town to the information center for where the closest vet was. There was one in Banff but when we went to the office, I was not impressed so we drove to Canmore. There we got fuel, a few groceries, a can of pressurized air to blow some dirt out of the camera, and an appointment for Molly. The vet confirmed that Molly probably had an infection and that it was localized rather than systemic. We got an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory for her. Hope this clears it up!
We drove around one of the local golf courses to try to see animals. There were a lot of elk and we also saw a coyote.
We got the weather forecast this morning. It was for rain and cooler for the rest of this week. The high temperatures have been in the 50s for the past several days so I guess this means we will see highs in the 40s.
Last night, we discovered that Molly had an enlarged lymph node under her chin. While she seems to be fine, we decided to get her to a vet today. We went into town to the information center for where the closest vet was. There was one in Banff but when we went to the office, I was not impressed so we drove to Canmore. There we got fuel, a few groceries, a can of pressurized air to blow some dirt out of the camera, and an appointment for Molly. The vet confirmed that Molly probably had an infection and that it was localized rather than systemic. We got an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory for her. Hope this clears it up!
We drove around one of the local golf courses to try to see animals. There were a lot of elk and we also saw a coyote.
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