Day 8 British Columbia




Hill across from the campground


Day 8

The meet up with the trucker from N.Dakota after the first big climb. I'm making sure everything is still OK

It was an early wake up in Grande Prairie. We both needed to use the bathroom and the truck stop across the street was full of truckers getting gas. We quickly took down the curtain put up the futon and were off. We went To a Shell gas station and filled up and checked the fluids. The folks in Alberta were very nice. Everyone we talked to was helpful and kind and this stop was no exception. The women behind the counter talked of places to visit up ahead and of the Liard Hot Springs, which we planned to stop at if we could make it up the mountains. The woman (50 something) told us of how when she sat in the hot spring her large boobs floated. It was a very strange but funny thing to tell strangers. Regardless they were friendly and helpful all through Alberta. After using their toilets and quickly washing up we were off for British Columbia.

Mountains and more mountains

We still wanted to get a new air filter and a rock had gone through the lens of the right headlight. The left headlight had no high beams. It was Saturday and we found out it was a holiday weekend (like the fourth of July in America) and most businesses would be closed. A helpful group of men at a parts store in Fort St. John gave us a place that might be open and might have the filter. Off we went, and luckily they had a filter that worked. Again some great people in Alberta. It was my first 80$ air filter and hopefully my last. We also picked up two new headlights I would put in at our next stop.

We decided that even though it had already been a long day we would push on and do our first big climb of the trip. Our plan was to make it to the Tetsa River Campground in British Columbia. The campground has been family owned for generations and is know for having the best cinnamon buns in the cosmic universe. The bus was an absolute trooper climbing the mountains with all the weight. I couldn’t believe how well it did. We pulled over at the top of the longest biggest climb 7 miles at about a 7-10% pitch. The resting area was called the Steamboat Mountain Summit. There were three trucks pulled over and the truckers were all grilling and eating supper. One of the truckers came over and it was the trucker who had eaten breakfast with in N. Dakota. He offered us Brauts but we declined having bought hamburgers for our own grill later and we didn’t want them to spoil. We all shared a laugh and we off to our destination 20-min. down the road.

A moose in the road in front of our Tetsa river campsite

More mountains

and yet more. I couldn't get enough

Tetsa River

Look going down the road

At the campsite after supper we met a gentleman from Alberta who was being inquisitive about the bus. I offered him a beer and we shared some conversation. Jess and I were going for a walk down to Tetsa River to take some pictures and asked if he could join along. I’m having a big brain fart about his name. Incredible place right in the mountains. When we got back to the campsite a Bull Moose trotted down the road. (picture) This little dog chased the moose into the woods and barked and barked. Jess came back from the restroom wondering what she missed. Glad I got a picture. The weather was wonderful and we settled in for the night. Again we had a time change when we entered into British Columbia and it was messing with my head. Bedtime at around 11:00-11:30.

More mountains

Another Tetsa river shot