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“HOT!!! …Waaaaaay too Hot” by N&J
Whistler, BC (Jun 27/2021) – The ongoing heat wave is intense (+40C), thankfully made easier sitting beside Lake Tuc-el-nuit. Camping with friends & family (Covid precautions observed) at the Lakeside Resort in Oliver, BC, beautifully kept campsite, lots of shady trees, surround by grass & a nice sandy beach. The excitement of seeing family, perculating over the last year and a half, hitting crescendo proportions over the days and weeks leading up to this beach side get together. The intense wind seemingly unaware of the magnificent importance of this family gathering raged on. Spirits not dampened by the intense heat and unrelenting gale force winds was like a sign of…
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“Happily Anniversary-ing !!!” by N&J
Oliver, BC (Jun 23/2021) – Finally!!!… after a ‘hard fought battle’ against Covid-19, the Province of British Columbia relented and reduced some of the restrictions placed on us all for such a long time… but not out of the weeds yet, it is a start and the reprieve from lock-down is most welcomed! The weather had been consistently wet & rainy for the past couple of weeks, so when the sun finally re-appeared ‘Like a New Day Dawning’…. ‘life’ pulsing again through their veins, the road calling…. N&J loaded up Hobbes and headed for the hills. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery Rogers…
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“Tis’ the Season to be…” by N&J
Whistler, BC (Dec 25/20) – Jolly??? After all that has transpired in 2020, what is there to be jolly about? Considering the billions who have been touched by Covid-19 and how it has impacted our World, the millions who were sickened & of course the almost 2 million who have lost their lives… ‘jolly’ does NOT readily come to mind…. Fortunately for those of us who live in what is probably the ‘best country’ in the world (although not perfect, it is close in comparison), it is certainly a blessing to be here. Canada, so vast, open and beautiful. The small things in life have now come in to the…
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“The Bingo Halls are Busy in Heaven” by J
Whistler, BC (Oct 24/20) – It is with great sadness to announce that J’s big sister Wendy, after a short hospital stay, passed away quietly in Langley Memorial Hospital early morning, Saturday October 17, 2020… Wendy, forever the social butterfly, the ultimate organizer, the best friend of many, an amazing aunt, cousin, daughter & a loving sister will be greatly missed by all who knew her. After working a lifetime in the financial services sector, Wendy retired into a more relaxed existence living in the Surrey/Langley area where she continued to dote on her ‘assumed’ children (the nieces, nephews & their children). Wendy also enjoyed her life living at Bethshan…
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“Just Drive !!!!!” by N&J
Whistler, BC (Oct 09/20) – After C&O departed for home, N&J toured through the small town of Hudson’s Hope and spotting an outdoor deck serving a Mexican style brunch they couldn’t resist stopping. After a delicious meal a drive up to BC Hydro’s ‘W.A.C. Bennett’ hydro-electric power dam was in order. Although the dam tours are not open (due to covid), the effort was worthwhile. The immense size of the dam’s structure & Williston Lake (251km long; 155km wide) behind is overwhelming…25% of British Columbia’s electrical requirements are generated at this site. Construction of the new Site C dam is well underway in the area, the amount of activity of…
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“Where the (Buffalo) Bison Roam” by N&J
Hudson’s Hope, BC (Oct 01/20) – The weeks cozying by, the first signs of snow blanket the morning mountaintops, so with obvious signs that winter was on its way… the Westfalia Crew pointed their wheels south. The Yukon experience was well worth the effort, definitely a return visit to be considered once Covid-19 has resolved itself (next time Alaska would be an added attraction). After passing back into British Columbia, signs along the highway warning motorist to be aware of bisons on & along the roadway began to appear. Not to be disappointed, the ‘Westy Gang’ were so excited when ‘bisons by the boatloads’ appeared on the horizon… click on…
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“The Arctic… Oh so very close!!!“ by N&J
Watson Lake, YK (Sep 28/20) – This is not a sign you see everyday… “Arctic Ocean 880 km”. The location of that sign was at the intersection where the Dempster Hwy meets the Klondike Hwy, south of Dawson City… the sign beckonds the travelers to make the turn, enter a new world of possibilities. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery Driving the almost 900km to the end of the Dempster Hwy terminating at Tuktoyaktuk, NWT, was not considered (nor possible at this time of the year; the last portion is an ice road and only passable in the winter), but the 100km drive…
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“Yukon Gold” by N&J
Dawson City, YK (Sep 24/20) – Something magical about entering the Yukon Territory, at first the terrain looks similar to BC, the mountains, the streams & rivers… but interspersed with the green evergreens are the golden spruce & birch trees…. catching the eye so profoundly they are alive and produce a guttural feeling, a yearning, and their call entice you northward. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery Upon crossing the border from BC you are welcomed by a Yukon health official asking the usual ‘Covid’ questions. As BC residents are permitted without quarantine, the process was quick. C&O went through first and were…
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“Bear!!!…. necessities” by N&J
Dease Lake, BC (Sep 19/20) – Leaving Fraser Lake, the journey made a hard right onto Hwy 37 at the junction near Kitwanga, BC. New territory for J who has never been up this route, considering the reputation of the northern roads, J was pleased with the condition of the pavement and happy the potholes were few and far between… click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery N drove this highway in the middle of winter over 25 years ago while on a northern community speaking tour. At that time the passage narrow, snow piled above the tree line making the vehicle feel like…
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“Chasing Blue Skies” by N&J
New Hazelton, BC (Sep 15/20) – The air quality in Whistler (and a good portion of the province) was fast declining due to the invasion of smoke particulate from the wildfires raging to the south in California, Oregon and Washington States. Hazy infiltration of the mountaintops evident upon rising for the day, the smell of smoke & the visual impediment was startling noticeable, gone were the pristine green mountain vistas & robin egg blue skies that were prevalent all summer. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery The road north of Whistler through Duffey Lake was rather quiet considering it was a weekend, testament…