Surfaced in Smithers
July 8: Greeting from the beautiful town of Smithers. For us it is deja vu all over again. Another Saturday night at the Municipal campground on the river. Last time we were here we went hypothermic at night in our tent. Although I mildly complained at the time, okay more like a Kiddel kind of whine, which is pretty serious, we would trade those conditions for what we are having tonight. It is hot here and the mosquitoes seem to be having a bloody good time, at our expense. Plus, it just started to rain. We don't mind sleeping when it is raining. What we hate is putting a wet tent away in the morning. I see a motel in our future.... But I digress....
Yes, we are in Smithers. I last posted in Haines, Alaska. Seems a very long time ago. Since then we spent 2 nights on the Alaska Marine Highway M/V Matanuska, and one night camping in Terrace. Has it only been 3 nights since we left Haines?
Our ferry ride was very peaceful. We were able to spend most of the days on the outer decks, watching for birds, whales and whatever else there was to see. The scenery was spectacular. After awhile one tends to get a bit cavalier about the beauty on offer. We got the stage where we were comparing glaciers and the height of mountains. "No, that one is certainly not as big as the one outside of Juneau", or "Yes, that is high but really, you can't convince me that it is high as the "Martha's Thumb. Come on...." This is the point that one knows that you have seriously overdosed on the majesty that surrounds you.
On the birding front we picked up 2 life birds on the trip from Haines to Prince Rupert. They are Yellow-billed Loon and Black-legged Kitiwake. We also saw both Orca and Humpback whales. Throw in 3 Dolphin as well. (Yes, I know these are not birds....)
We arrived in Prince Rupert late afternoon yesterday. We stopped at a city park to make tea and Aero Press coffee. When we opened the back of the 4Runner we noticed that the area at the back where we store the cooler was wet. Oh, oh.... Somebody drained the cooler then forgot to put the stop back in the side of the cooler. This after we just put in a fresh bag of ice - 3 days ago.... Ok, I have to tell you that I am not one to duck responsibility. I think that when someone makes a mistake they should be an adult about it. Owning up to our misdeeds and mistakes is what separates adults from say, people like Donald Trump. So, in the case of the cooler capper, Dana is not responsible. As our friend Bud would say at a time like this, "Nuff said".
We made a quick stop at the Prince Rupert library to connect to their free wifi. I hope everyone knows that when travelling, always go to the local library to find free wifi. Most time it is free. In Haines, Ak., they let you use it but asked for a donation. Fair enough. After the wifi stop we headed up the Skeena River bound for Terrace.
Terrace was a nice stopover. We had to get the oil changed on the 4Runner this morning so we took the opportunity to do some laundry at the local laundromat. By 11:00 a.m. we were on the road. Rather than head east on Hwy 16 we went north on Hwy 113 to New Aiyansh and into the Nass Valley to Hwy 37, then south to Kitwanga on Hwy 16. We then traveled on Hwy 16 to Smithers. It was a terrific day, although a bit longer than I had anticipated. This part of the province is fascinating. The Lava Bed Provincial park is something to see. Miles and miles of lava. The history of when and how this occurred is a bit sketchy but in short an eruption occurred in the mid 1700's resulting in a lava flow in the area. The impact of the lava flow was significant for the people in this area. It is believed that over 2,000 people lost their lives to the lava flow. Whole villages were buried. The Nass River was "moved" many miles from where it ran to the southwest where it is today.
The last 60k of Hwy 113, or as it is called the Nass Wilderness Road, it a narrow gravel road and extremely rough. We popped out onto Hwy 37, the Stewart/Cassiar Hwy, and headed south. About 20k from Kitwanga we spotted a Black Bear. I got off a couple of shots (with my camera) but the bear was moving away fast.
We rolled into Smithers around 6. It was a good day, but a long one. We will sleep good tonight as we are far from the bloody train tracks!
Tomorrow we go east, then south. We do not yet know our route back to the coast. While we have been away it seems the Interior of B.C. has been in flames. Our route will be a game time decision.
That's all. No photos tonight. Will post a few next time.
Yes, we are in Smithers. I last posted in Haines, Alaska. Seems a very long time ago. Since then we spent 2 nights on the Alaska Marine Highway M/V Matanuska, and one night camping in Terrace. Has it only been 3 nights since we left Haines?
Our ferry ride was very peaceful. We were able to spend most of the days on the outer decks, watching for birds, whales and whatever else there was to see. The scenery was spectacular. After awhile one tends to get a bit cavalier about the beauty on offer. We got the stage where we were comparing glaciers and the height of mountains. "No, that one is certainly not as big as the one outside of Juneau", or "Yes, that is high but really, you can't convince me that it is high as the "Martha's Thumb. Come on...." This is the point that one knows that you have seriously overdosed on the majesty that surrounds you.
On the birding front we picked up 2 life birds on the trip from Haines to Prince Rupert. They are Yellow-billed Loon and Black-legged Kitiwake. We also saw both Orca and Humpback whales. Throw in 3 Dolphin as well. (Yes, I know these are not birds....)
We arrived in Prince Rupert late afternoon yesterday. We stopped at a city park to make tea and Aero Press coffee. When we opened the back of the 4Runner we noticed that the area at the back where we store the cooler was wet. Oh, oh.... Somebody drained the cooler then forgot to put the stop back in the side of the cooler. This after we just put in a fresh bag of ice - 3 days ago.... Ok, I have to tell you that I am not one to duck responsibility. I think that when someone makes a mistake they should be an adult about it. Owning up to our misdeeds and mistakes is what separates adults from say, people like Donald Trump. So, in the case of the cooler capper, Dana is not responsible. As our friend Bud would say at a time like this, "Nuff said".
We made a quick stop at the Prince Rupert library to connect to their free wifi. I hope everyone knows that when travelling, always go to the local library to find free wifi. Most time it is free. In Haines, Ak., they let you use it but asked for a donation. Fair enough. After the wifi stop we headed up the Skeena River bound for Terrace.
Terrace was a nice stopover. We had to get the oil changed on the 4Runner this morning so we took the opportunity to do some laundry at the local laundromat. By 11:00 a.m. we were on the road. Rather than head east on Hwy 16 we went north on Hwy 113 to New Aiyansh and into the Nass Valley to Hwy 37, then south to Kitwanga on Hwy 16. We then traveled on Hwy 16 to Smithers. It was a terrific day, although a bit longer than I had anticipated. This part of the province is fascinating. The Lava Bed Provincial park is something to see. Miles and miles of lava. The history of when and how this occurred is a bit sketchy but in short an eruption occurred in the mid 1700's resulting in a lava flow in the area. The impact of the lava flow was significant for the people in this area. It is believed that over 2,000 people lost their lives to the lava flow. Whole villages were buried. The Nass River was "moved" many miles from where it ran to the southwest where it is today.
The last 60k of Hwy 113, or as it is called the Nass Wilderness Road, it a narrow gravel road and extremely rough. We popped out onto Hwy 37, the Stewart/Cassiar Hwy, and headed south. About 20k from Kitwanga we spotted a Black Bear. I got off a couple of shots (with my camera) but the bear was moving away fast.
We rolled into Smithers around 6. It was a good day, but a long one. We will sleep good tonight as we are far from the bloody train tracks!
Tomorrow we go east, then south. We do not yet know our route back to the coast. While we have been away it seems the Interior of B.C. has been in flames. Our route will be a game time decision.
That's all. No photos tonight. Will post a few next time.
Stay safe you guys. The fires have a grwat hokd on this province so I know you both will choose your route wisely,
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