Day 12 - May 2 - MAKING A LITTLE SOMETHING OUT OF WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS NOTHING

Dease Lake is the last major centre (though it's impossible to imagine this tiny community as a major anything) before the Alaska Highway when driving northbound in British Columbia. The name of the lodge in which we are staying comes from its location on the Continental Divide where water drainage is divided between the Pacific Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.

The rooms have a rustic charm and are quite comfortable with free wi-fi and ROKU TV.

The hallways in the lodge are like an art gallery, the log building featuring beautiful handmade craftsmanship bringing boutique style with a log cabin flare. I must say though, I have mixed emotions about the murdered stuffed wildlife heads mounted on the walls.

It seemed, by any internet research I did, there was nothing to do in Dease Lake. There's lots a fair distance away but nothing right here. Fate stepped in when we ran into the chambermaid this morning. She was a charming young lady from Germany who was familiar with the area so pointed us to the Allan Lake Recreational Area about a kilometre from the lodge. Perfect. We didn't want to drive anywhere today.

Allan Lake is a popular spot for camping and fishing, neither of which particularly appeal to me. Located on the Bonaparte Plateau, the higher elevation apparently provides a nice place to escape the summer heat. I'll have to take their word for that. It was a nice spot for a hike.

The lake loop trail is just under 5 kilometres. We only managed to do about half of it because the trail was very soggy in spots and/or was blocked or extremely hazardous due to snow and ice. We did about 4 kilometres out and back where the trail was manageable. These impediments actually added to the visual appeal quite substantially.

Dease Lake Super A Foods is a snap shot of the community. The vehicles pretty much say it all. One of these is probably not a local.

This place is the winner for scary gas prices. 260.9 for regular is the highest we've seen on this trip...so far! I expect that's not the upper limit. I am biting my tongue refusing to comment on the reason for this atrocity. 

There's nothing we can do about it so it will not dampen our spirits or enthusiasm. We're loving this adventure!

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Day 11 - May 1 - LAST STOP IN BC

Today and tomorrow are our last days in British Columbia so it's only fitting today started nicely and turned into a lovely day. We left late because Dease Lake is not too far from here.

The mountain scenery leaving Bell II was awe-inspiring as it always is but the snow adds another dimension to it all.

Quite a wide variance with the lakes as we changed altitudes several times. Though the waters changed the temperature remained fairly constant around 9 degrees.

There is just something so captivating about BC's mountains. It's impossible not to enjoy your day.

As we arrived in Dease Lake the vista opened up and the mountains ultimately seemed to fade from our earlier drive. The perfect sky made everything look perfect.

There's not much around here so we'll have to wait and see what tomorrow brings - or doesn't bring.

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Day 10 - April 30 - FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

Today was a great day - the scenery was better than yesterday - the weather not so much. The temperature was fine but it was overcast and rained on and off most of the time. We left Burns Lake and passed through Smithers about an hour and a half later. I see a pattern forming here. What kind of trip is this?

The Highway of Tears is a 719 kilometre corridor of highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert in British Columbia. It has been the location of crimes against many women and the phrase was coined during a vigil held in Terrace, BC in 1998. Florence Naziel was thinking of the victims' families crying over the loss of their loved ones when the phrase came to her. There is a disproportionately high number of Indigenous women on the victims list so the highway has a strong association with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement. The highway passes by Hazelton where we were this morning.

Historic Old Hazelton remains much like the original settlement founded in 1866. It was closed but we did wander the grounds exploring. It reminded us very much of the museum in Charlotte on Haida Gwaii complete with the overcast sky and drizzle.

We have a very similar photo to this one from our trip here in 2024. It's a great place to stop if for no other reason than a photo. Isn't it funny how every time you're standing there with your phone held high above your head looking like an idiot trying to take a selfie someone steps up and offers to take the photo for you?

From that junction of BC highway 16 (the Yellowhead Highway) and highway 37 we headed north toward the Yukon, now in northern British Columbia.

At Meziadin Junction, things got really interesting for us...we have not been to this part of BC before! As if to help us celebrate, a bear scooted up a hill on the side of the road. I backed up just in time to catch him as he turned as if to say, "What do you want?"

It was evident we were ascending as we made our way north. We had an overnight stop in mind because accommodations here are few and far between. However, we were not in any hurry as we enjoyed the mountain scenery immensely. There is still quite a bit of snow left in some areas. Several feet in spots.

So who here has heard of Bell II? Anyone? Bell II? Anyone? It's an unincorporated community in the Skeena Mountains of northwestern BC. The name derives from being located at the second bridge crossing of the Bell-Irving River. In addition to being a pitstop on the Stewart-Cassiar Highway headed to the Yukon and Alaska, Bell II is a large heliskiing area. The lodge there is gorgeous. Moderately expensive with almost no amenities, the internet is painfully slow but the lodge rooms are comfortable and cozy. Our unit, one of four in a cabin complex, is the one on the bottom left of the photo, the Mink. It might be noisy and annoying at times but now is certainly not one of them. We're the only ones in this one.

A wonderful spot indeed. This posting took about two hours to set up and load (SLOW wi-fi) so I sincerely hope you enjoy it.

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Day 9 - April 29 - ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Today was a travel day. We are making our way north to the Yukon. Not in any hurry. Taking our time and enjoying everything. BC is a large province. We passed through Vanderhoof, the Geographic Centre of British Columbia. We have travelled this route before so are covering ground we have seen before. Same will be true tomorrow as we continue our northern journey.

It was apparent we were starting to ascend, gradually, and I know tomorrow we will enjoy some real mountain scenery. As we approached Burns Lake we decided to stop for today. We had nothing booked but found the place we stayed in 2024. A two-level hotel; should be reasonably quiet for one night.

The day had started cloudy and cool but by the time we arrived in Burns Lake around 4PM it was sunny and nearly 20 degrees C. A great day for a drive.

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Day 8 - April 28 - IT'S A TURN DOWN DAY, AND I DIG IT

The title, from a 1966 song by the Cyrkle, refers to a relaxing day. A 4 kilometre neighbourhood hike was well-timed as a spitting of rain started just as we returned to the homestead. The rest of the day was pretty much an opportunity for us to enjoy one another's company and prepare to leave tomorrow morning.

Once again, a big thank you to Dave and Christy. It's been a fabulous visit and your choice for yesterday's excursion was spot on.

Tomorrow we head into the unknown - not because of where it is, we are following a route over the next two days that we did on our BC visit in 2024. The unknown is we have no idea where we will land. Nothing is booked we're just hoping for the best. 

Stay with us. We're only a week and a day into this epic northern adventure.

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Day 7 - April 27 - BE HONEST. DOES THIS LOOK LIKE BC TO YOU?

Rose Lake is northeast of the city of Williams Lake in the Cariboo Region of BC. It has been home to Dave and Christy for nearly 40 years now. Karen and I went to high school with Dave so we've known him for almost 60 years. Now that we all feel absolutely ancient, we thank them for putting us up and putting up with us for a few days.  I was up early this morning to watch the sunrise and with a little bit of photo magic came up with this shot. The perfect start to any day.

We got a mid-morning start to our journey to Farwell Canyon.

Farwell Canyon is located about an hour southwest of Williams Lake. About a third of that journey is on a wicked, gravel road riddled with hairpin switchback curves. Fortunately I do not suffer from car sickness. Dave's Tundra handled the task admirably.

We were designated so on Haida Gwaii in 2018, then reunited at their home in 2024, so it was so nice to have The Explorers together again.

Danger lurks at every turn so caution and focus are required...just don't get gtoo close to the edge!

The canyon is a stunning desert-like landscape in the Chilcotin region. It's hard not to be awe-struck looking. Be honest. If I showed you this photo would BC even be on your Top Ten list for location guess?

What a wonderful day!

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Day 6 - April 26 - WOW! NOW THAT'S A WATERFALL.

Valemount was so peaceful and quiet - I did not hear a vehicle the whole time we were in the hotel, day or night. That feeling was reinforced as we left - the highway was pretty empty.

On the recommendation of a friend we took 100 kilometre detour from Clearwater, BC to Helmcken Falls. I was surprised to find such a high falls in BC. It is really quite stunning. Once again a sunny day at 12 degrees C certainly helped the feeling.

The whole approach and surroundings are majestic, almost spiritual.

The weather in parts of BC has been amazingly mild. There is evidence of this as we drove today. The trees are budding far more noticeably in areas toward the south (though certainly not that far south).

As we headed west to connect to the main highway heading north a bear ran across the highway. It was a skinny bear freshly wakened from his winter nap. He was some distance away so I had to zoom in. Phone cameras, or at least an iphone 12, are pathetically inadequate when zooming so this photo is out of focus. The bear took off into the woods.

We're staying with our high school friend near Williams Lake for a few days. Stay tuned for more adventure.

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