Sep 08, 2021 – When we were in Kelowna for the Winter we tried to get to the lookout. That was on Dec 08, 2020 Click here for attempt one.
First a quick walk to Wood Lake Beach, on the park grounds
Anxious to see the likely spectacular views from the lookout, off we go!
It’s not that bad!
Bob is built for this 🙂
Are we??
This is where we turned back in the Winter “End of Maintained Public Road”
Anything around the corner?
Bumpy! Should have videoed more but I was too busy hanging on
Hate to do so, but, we smartly admit defeat, again. This is our turn around point; the potholes were the worst we’ve experienced, much worse than the Sicamous Lookout.
The views we missed out on, photos by others
Views we did capture on the way back down the mountain
Today’s silliness.. What is the oldest thing in your home/office? Our’s 20 year old @VaselineBrand
From here, on to Enterprise to hopefully, get the slide repaired. Enterprise is looking for a replacement slide motor, regular spot they get it from is, grrrr, out of stock. They have located one in the States, hoping they get it ordered and here in time.
We take a walk around the campsite to the marina. It is nice but still smoky.
Yum delicious BC corn
Back in March we had FibeRenew plump up our sofa cushions and repair a hole in our lazy boy chair (was done in their plant), Allan’s captain chair was repaired in Bailey. That repair didn’t turn out well, Steve the owner, agreed to come back and make it right. He did 🙂 So much repair stuff = looks great now.
Next up – a walk on the rail trail to Ribbleworth Falls and our reward!
Friday, Sep 03rd… Costco restock day. Since they have set aside the 8-9 o’clock hour for “old people” we have taken advantage of it. I set the alarm, we make it to there just after 8, to find only one car in the parking lot, doors not opened. Did they cancel the early hour without telling us?? Yes they did. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. We take ourselves to McDonalds for breakfast to wait until 9.
Looks like this sign works, no panhandlers on this corner
Google when we got home and discovered “old people” hour is now only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The sky is clear today
Today’s cute story… Allan is texting with his friend Wilf who lives in Coaldale AB. Back and forth they text. Wilf say’s he’s at a pub having a quick one and sends this photo
Allan sends him this photo…
Cheers!
Wilf follows up with
“Just about done, hope you have more beer, we’ll be there in an hour!”.
HUM, what does that mean?? Allan googles Post Haus Pub; yep it’s in Kelowna! 🙂 We are full of questions “We’ll be there” who’s we?? Wilf & Brenda with their bus for the long weekend? Wilf & buddies on their bikes?
Detective work!!
Brenda normally drinks Bud Light, the second beer on the table is too dark to be a Bud. We lean towards the bikes.
Soon we hear the roar of the engines, such a super nice surprise!
Quick but fun visit, off they roar!
Sep 5th HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLE!!
Omi & Kyle
From this little guy to this handsome guy, showing off his new t-shirt
Kyle in Victoria, us in Lake Country means we ship his presents directly to him. We normally get a “wish list”. This year we decided to wing it, sending Lululemon t-shirt and shorts.
Apparently, the other gift should have come with instructions LOL.
Is it an ergonomic mouse pad?? Is it a funky hat??
Wrong!! It’s a floor mat!
We should have included a pair of socks!
Kyle & Megan recently bought a desk you can stand at, thought this would be an ideal additional to that…
Sep 06 – Labour Day on our walk we see this friendly notice. FYI: we’ve walked past this property a few times, so far no dog. Sure hope that continues.
Later in the day: While sitting at the picnic table playing card I see a mouse run by on the concrete fence. Time to add the amonia, done. Allan wants to add a battery charger to the, yep, battery. Gets hissed at by a snake basking in the sun. Hopefully, the snake will eat the mouse!
Last weekend of Summer, please don’t go. Can we stick these leaves back on the trees?
Aug 23rd – Allan loves Sicamous a 30m drive, off we go. We did our “usual” walk around town, then the trail ending up here, at Moose Mulligans Public Eatery’s patio for lunch. This is the view 🙂
A little, crowded island out there
Great idea! Most of the lakes have these well stocked life preservers
If I liked boating, this would be the place for me
We’d love this fuel price, alas, it is missing the 1
Aug 26th – We need some veggies so were heading to Pedro’s Market. We missed the turn, a bit down the road we turn into DeMille’s thinking we’d u turn. It looked so inviting we parked.
Who would have thought Allan would turn into the “animal whisperer”??
Llamas are sweet animals but won’t hesitate to spit , PLEASE don’t!!
That’s better a nice, almost, smile!
We bought, what turned out to be, delicious London Broil, corn grown on site & cherry peppers.
Never saw cherry peppers before. I followed this recipe I don’t often say this but “DANG, they were hot!”
We leave to this 🛑
Aug 27th – hang out at the park day! Nice relaxing day doing not much of anything, except mini putt. We hadn’t done this for eons!! Kyle makes fun of my videos saying they are too short. Here’s another one for you 🙂
Allan has been lax in “smokin” photos, here’s one
Being cooked, the aforementioned London Broil, corn & cherry peppers. Forget to feature the finished product 🙁
Tip!
Aug 28th – Salmon Arm’s farmers market is today from 8 till 1. We take a drive down, take no photos and do not buy anything. While here we walk to the wharf and take the trail.
First we duck in the parking lot; duck #49
On to the trail
These are the only birds we saw. We’re not very good birders 🐦
Fallen leaves! NOOO!!!
August 30th – Drive to Lake Country day for the final leg of our summer adventure.
But first, pass through Lake Country head to Kelowna to get our slide diagnosed. The living room/kitchen slide hasn’t been opened since the end of June when we had closing issues. CoachNet, our service contract company, nor us could find any company capable of diagnosing/repairing the slide.
As we approach Kelowna we spot a hot air balloon. It’s closer to the airport than we think it should be, doesn’t appear to be advertising.
Turns out it’s a hot air balloon ride! Might be fun, if a little pricey.
Hello Enterprise, fix us up!!
Bailey has to be there for most of the day = time to kill. Start by driving back to Lake Country, the post office there is an Amazon Locker Allan had a Roku stick sent there, we pick it up then go to Wood Lake RV Park to check out our spot. It’s not going to be easy to get in but we’ll get it done!! Next stop, Holiday Park where we spent Winter. It was interesting walking through it, there are now many empty spots.
Next up lunch on the patio of our favourite local Italian restaurant…L’Isola Bella Bistro
We next go to BC Liquor cause Allan’s beer is on sale. We spot this cloud from the parking lot!
It’s now about 230, our feet have walked enough (over 11k steps). We drive by Enterprise, Bailey is in the same spot we left her. Hopefully, they have examined her there. We stop in a parking lot, play a few games of Candy Crush, still no call from Enterprise. We think that must mean they have opened and closed the slide successfully with no issues. Enough speculation, back to Enterprise.
They have done the checks, 4 opens and closes requiring 2 resets. They diagnose the issue as front slide motor.
Although the slide manufacture advised us to not open as the error was classified as major, Norm at Enterprised was confident we could open it at the campground and it would close. Sends us off with these instructions …
Off to the park
Our site #133, it is wide enough but the length is tight. The guy across comes out to say “You’ll never fit in that spot”. We wiggle, giggle, wiggle some more and we are in!! Excellent driving, or rather parking Allan!!
Are we brave enough to open the slide? I’ve gotten used to the tigher space. Allan says “Let’s do it”
From this…
To this…..
August 31st – Great for the wildfires, it’s raining and raining! Today is also dentist day, good day for rain.
Between showers we walk the park. The office and boat launch
We’re so cheesy!
There is a little beach steps away
Lots of ducks. We hear lots of “quack, quack, quack”
Lucky us, we found an article nominating the stretch of Hwy 1 from Golden to Revelstoke as one of the World’s most dangerous road. Click for article. The weather isn’t great either. We would be totally freaked, had we not have done this stretch on our way to BC.
A straight section of road, is, newsworthy!
No more straight! 50k ahead = drastic turn or falling off earth!
Allan’s favourites! Snow sheds – there is 6 in this group. Our headlights aren’t bright making it more difficult to see
We enjoyed our stay here, except for the no internet/super low water pressure. Heading to Whispering Spuce Campground in Golden. BC. The smoke has not dissipated.
Big ass smoker! Allan had pulled pork made on it, he declared it delicious.
Back to packing up… Allan doing his circle check
On the road again…
There is so much smoke!
These cyclists are wearing masks to protect from the smoke
What is left after a fire
When I see skid marks I chose to believe another animal dashing onto the road was saved
This is a scenic drive. Not today, just smoky
Turn here…
We’re back in BC, almost missed the sign
We can only imagine how beautiful with area is
Truck “runaway” lane. I’m surprised we haven’t seen more in the Rockies
Almost there
The last 10k were stressful. The twisty, turny, road is under sever construction
Then there is this contraption parked on a platform over the ledge
Here we are
Whispering Spruce Campground Doesn’t take long to get set up
Smoke comes rapidly. What a difference a day makes!
Our hikes today will be the View Point trail & Lake Trail, Lake Abraham. We’ve been, pretty much off the grid since we arrived in Clive Lake. There is no internet or cell service throughout the park, only limited access if you are right by the office. Before setting out, we go to the office to check if anything important is happening.
Oh no, Allan is notified our website is down. We rush back to Bailey to pick up Allan’s computer – no way is there enough strength. We’ll drive to Nordegg, 87k away, surely that town (population between 60 & 200) will have access.
Allan checks with the office, great news 12k up the road there is a large pullout with coverage.
Allan gets successfully connected and has the issue repaired within a few minutes. We discuss driving on to Nordegg but with the smoke we wouldn’t see much.
Back at the park, Bailey is still hiding. There are more tents here than we have scene in any park.
Trails, here we are
The trail is a gradual down with many stones. We hear bears, or do we?? Have whistles!
We had to do a huge up, so big I was freaked enough to not remember to take a photo.
We made it and looped back …
Turns out it is a loop, we come out here.
Fire time! Allan loves his fire gloves. Thanks Kyle & Megan!!
We drive by glaciers, fortunately no ice this time of the year
The highway turns left, then right. We end up on the mountain that is straight ahead. The road is just above the tree line.
This is taken from the viewpoint on top of the mountain. The bridge that is under construction from the previous photo. There are such big elevation changes, go figure, in the mountains there are elevation changes.
Another cyclist, high up in the mountain. I can’t imagine the ups!!
Beautiful! Breathtaking, awe-inspiring, it is impossible to describe the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. The Rockies should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Back we go to Athabasca Ice Glacier; looking to the right of the glacier
Looking at the glacier; those ants are really people making their way up the glacier.
The climb up. Like John I don’t do ups yet here we are!
Informational signs along the way
The melting ice
Almost there. I love this photo of my cute heart 🙂
The glacier! Yes, we both made it.
Look, it’s Bob way down there
The glacier as viewed from across the highway. From here it looks like a hill when it fact, it is flat.
The drive back
We stopped at Saskatchewan Crossing for dinner. That didn’t work out, the restaurant was closed, only the snack bar was open.
Love when they gouge you. We were warned so didn’t need any fuel
We leave at 1040. 73,370k. Please bridge, hold us one more time 😊, we’re good, stop for fuel, on the road at 11. Google tells us this is a 3h05m drive through the Rockies on the Icefield Highway.
We admire the many bicyclers that brave the Rockies. That is one t-shirt I will never get.
There are many school buses with rafts for white water rafting. Another t-shirt I’ll never get.
This orange hose runs for hundreds of kilometers along the highway, wonder what it contains. I’m going to ask Debbie, think she will know.
Single lane
Then clear sailing past the ice glaciers
Another single lane
We make the left turn at the Saskatchewan Crossing; Bailey’s GPS says another 15m and we’ll be there. We always verify with Google Maps but there is zero cell service from Athabasca Falls to Lake Louise.
500 meters to go, not looking like it. No buildings
A beautiful view, no resort
Halleluiah! About another 20m down the road we arrived at 242, took a little longer than 3h. Happy to be here 🙂
A little tight
Levelling is a challenge; it is hard to tell from the photo but both tires are off the ground. We haven’t had that happen before. Allan moves Bailey back a bit and tries again. It is 37degC; Allan is very hot!
This levelling job will have to do.
Bailey is hiding 🙂
Someone left us a little gift. It makes us 😊
Dinner time 😋
We are in our glory! 🔥 time!! The KOA in Hinton had a fire ban, we assumed this one would too!
