On the Road - Day 30

Yesterday we stopped to help a family with car problems. Gave them water for their radiator which had a leak. Sent them off with another bottled gallon should they need it on the road. Gas station just 2 miles further on. It is so difficult to have such problems while on vacation, especially with 2 teenagers. They said they would pay our kindness forward.

Had a pleasant leisure morning taking photos of Dutch Lake in early light and full daylight. The water was still and mirror like. Vance checked the Internet to find out what is going on in the world. We have not watched TV or listened to radio for a month now - and do not miss either. Started the day's travel at 1 p.m. The dots on the map for this part of Rt. 5 are few and far between. We stopped for a photo op where the Mad River enters the North Thompson River which is the palest creamy green. A turbulent mixing.




When canoeing, you don't know what is just around the next bend until you get there. So it is with driving. We were often delighted with views of far off mountains or with making acquaintances at rest stops. We met fellow travelers from Bristol, England, The Netherlands, Pennsylvania and Edmonton. Also a couple of young women from Frankfort, Germany who had stayed at Dutch Lake last night as well. All good folks who shared their journeys and passed on tips of what not to miss since they had just come from where we are going.

I napped while Vance drove to Blue River. When I awoke and looked out the window I saw daisies and snow capped peaks, quite a thrilling alpine feeling. Vance then napped for half an hour while I read. We are learning to slow down without guilt.

We saw gorgeous country
while passing mileage sign
- 28 km to Valemount -
the bias cut of hills and mountains
unfolded before us
greens and blues
of forest and hills
rivers and streams









A pointilistic arrangement appeared
of trees on the hillside -
ruby rust and sage,
evergreen and slivery Aspen
embroidered by their white trunks
French knots - the glistening of leaves
which fluttered in the breeze










Then patches of sunlit grass
drew the eye
this view was decorated at the hem
with festive yellow and pink roadside flowers

Below the pattern - like stitching - the river ran
turning back and forth
so that we crossed it many times

Arrived at "iRVin's" RV Park in Valemount, B.C. Settled in and got the badminton gear out. Found that the light breeze was just enough to make the birdies act like curve balls! So made dinner of salad and pre-cooked chicken which we ate on the picnic table. Vance noticed that the pattern on the table cloth was all hearts. How us! Since Arrowhead water is not available here, we bought the local brand - Pure Life - which is bottled in Hope, B.C. I am going to keep some of these bottles!

Saw along the way: Our first sighting of three black bears! But I did not have my camera in hand to get the photo -- "Clear cut" logging, close up, with left over fallen logs that were not harvested -- An interesting phenomenon: as we get closer to mountains, they grow taller, except where there are roadside trees. Then the mountain slides lower behind them.

Ended at iRVin's Park and Campground, Valemount, B.C.
(Still on Highway 5 between Kamloops and Jasper)
Odometer 60,651.0 (127.7) Total: 2506.5