Starr Treks Monday 6/8/15 Clinton, BC
We left the nice RV park in Surrey BC (we could see the good old USA right across the fence — this is the only RV park protected by Homeland Security) a little after 8 AM. Larry ran the car over to fill it with gas $1.29 Canadian/liter so about $3.87 a gallon American. We stopped for Diesel in the RV, and that was about $3.60 American dollars/ gallon. You need to be a good mathematician to think metric!! Larry got directions from a guy at the RV park on how to get to Hope BC — we passed many fields of grapes, raspberries, and blueberries. At one stoplight, we had our gremlin “kank kano” noise that we have had on other trips— still think our RV may be haunted! Anyhow, the guy’s directions were not perfect and we missed a turn so ended up in a turnoff for trucks where we had to disconnect the car, maneuver the RV around, and reconnect the car— we are getting faster at that tow bar! We had a beautiful view of the Cascade Mtns in the USA as we drove— one completely snow covered peek. When we finally got on the expressway, the speed limit was 110Kph! (65mph). The scenery was spectacular as we travelled.
We drove about 50 miles to stop at Hope BC— this is a pretty little town of 6700 that is famous for chainsaw carvings all over town. since 1991 We were able to park the RV at the Visitor Center, and then walked a few blocks to town. Hope used to be Fort Hope— built in 1846 when the USA got the “custody” of the mouth of the Columbia River, in the 49th parallel boundary settlement, so the Canadians used the Fraser River and the fort was used to protect them against “aggressive Americans”! There was an area by the Fraser River— a very wide river — that is a Rotary Park. Apparently the Rotary Club, along with the Chamber of Commerce, has a chainsaw carving contest every year, so they had several winners in the park. We walked thru downtown to see some more— it was a very cute little town. We saw a Tesla charging station — about 8 charging areas in a lot. We had good wifi at the Visitor Center, so got to check our email. After some lunch, we then left the RV at the center and drove about 6 KM to the Othello Tunnels. (We first drove past Christ Church which did not appear to be open for visitors— it was built in 1859 by Rev Pringle at the time of the God Rush, and continues to be the oldest operating church in BC mainland.) I had read about the tunnels on Trip Advisor (rated #1 attraction), then the lady at the visitor center recommended them. It was not a real bad road and there was room to park an RV there, but there were some VERY sharp turns that would have been a challenge— glad we came in the car.— although there was a big tour bus in the parking lot! These 5 tunnels were designed by engineer Andrew McCulloch, built thru solid granite cliffs 1922-1916 to complete the Kettle Valley Railroad. There were so many rock falls that they were closed to trains in 1959. It was about a 1.6 mi round trip hike thru the tunnels— the ground was a little uneven and rocky, and sometimes it was dark enough that we used our phone flashlight. Apparently this area is famous, because a Rambo movie First Blood (I never saw it), was filmed here. There was the lovely river and a waterfall along the walkway thru the tunnels — a beautiful day!!! So fun to stop and just take our time. (Another interesting place we did not go to was Hope Slide — a huge avalanche that occurred in 1965, blocking a highway and killing 4 people.)
We planned to probably spend the night in Cache Creek, about 120 miles north. We went thru beautiful forests along the Fraser river, and then it got warmer and warmer— very desert like mountains, tho still some pine trees. We drove thru 7(!) tunnels after Hope. We could see a lot of railroad bridges and saw one passenger train — the Rocky Mountaineer. There were a LOT of logging trucks along the way, but several passing lanes. We passed thru Lytton— called the “Arizona of BC”— hot and dry, altitude only 1299— their highest temp was 11 in 1942 — we did not imagine such warm weather on this trip— it was about 86 degrees by my RV thermometer!
We got gas in Cache Creek at a truck stop, and decided it was not an attractive place to try to stay. We had hoped to do some dry camping, but saw no place there, so I read in the Milepost book about a place in Clinton BC— another 25 KM north — the Gold Trail RV park. I called the guy and he said they took Passport America, so it was just $20 — we really needed to plug in for air conditioning! When we got parked there, we got attacked by swarms of big mosquitoes— maybe this is the type in Alaska! We climbed back in the RV and sprayed with OFF and that helped a lot! I used my fly swatter on those that snuck into the RV. They have a nightly buffet here for $9.99, but think we’ll just eat at “home”— their little restaurant area was not air conditioned and was very hot!
After we eat, we plan to wander “downtown” (population here is 740!) and see if we can steal a wifi signal to send this!! It has been fun to just meander without a real timetable.
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| hope bc |
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| beavers chainsaw carving |
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| front |
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| back |
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| Othello tunnels |
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| at the truckstop |
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