ON THE ROAD AGAIN

April 27, 2022  

Over three years since we did a road trip out of British Columbia.   Covid hit the month after we returned from our across Canada/the U.S. ten month trip February 25, 2019.   We originally left our Blackstone trailer in Harrisburg, Oregon with plans to return next season and do a road trip. 

Due to covid, we were unable to go across the border to pick up the trailer and did not want to leave it sitting over a year.   So, we hired a driver in March to bring the Blackstone trailer to Kelowna RV in order to sell it (intending to downsize) and order an Outdoor RV (20 ft).  Kelowna is about a six hour drive from Vancouver.

Long story, we planned on picking the new trailer up that arrived at Kelowna RV during summer 2020.   BUT, Kelowna had massive wild fires.   August 2021 we were able to pick up the new Outdoor RV and bring it to the island.   Still unable to travel to the U.S. without a lot of testing, covid passports and hassle.   

SO, TO BACKTRACK A LITTLE before jumping into this adventure.

Before picking up the new trailer, we brought a new kelpie into our lives.   

Meet Ripley!   (Born May 9, 2021).   

Ripley was the result of breeding Beam (male kelpie) from my long time friend and agility trainer and the female kelpie Skai from the Lower Mainland (near Vancouver).   A one time breeding only.  Ripley is fourth from the left.

Ripley & Molly

We did a two week road trip around the interior of British Columbia to test the trailer prior to putting it in storage on the island.

Ripley was fortunate to meet one of his siblings

To make a long story short, Ripley got ill over Thanksgiving weekend (October 10th).  We took him to the local vet as he was becoming very lethargic.   Bloodwork showed something very wrong and he was quickly admitted in a care centre in Victoria (down island  1 1/2 hours away).   We had to leave him the first night (not able to even go in the clinic with him due to Covid).   They did a blood transfusion,  more bloodwork and x-rays.    Within two days we lost him (he was only five and a half months old).

Turned out he had a massive tumour on his liver.    There was nothing they could do on such a young puppy and had never seen anything like it.   Autopsy was inconclusive (even after sending his liver to the U.S.).

People have asked if the other pups are okay, is it hereditary ...... answer is no.   Both parents had major testing prior to being bred and the pups just celebrated their first birthday by all meeting up on the mainland on Mother's Day (except one who lives too far away).     A very sad time.

This is an incredible painting that arrived when we got to Kelowna.   We are part of a Facebook group - the owners of all the puppies born May 9th and they all got together to purchase this gorgeous likeness of Ripley, painted from a photo I took.    We are fortunate to be a part of this group and we are following the growth & adventures of all the pups and owners.

Painting by:   Mirja Vahala Art Studio (Kootenay Region)

NOW, ON TO PRESENT TIMES AND OUR CURRENT ADVENTURES

April 27th we left Chemainus (Vancouver Island) to head to Kelowna to have some trailer work done.  Slept overnight behind the office until opening in the morning to have the back window replaced due to faulty sealing (fogging up).

The small window at the bottom of the big back viewing window fogs up.   They do not replace the tiny windows but the entire assembly.

A couple other small items fixed under warranty and we were done and on the road in three hours.

HAYNES POINT, OSOYOOS

British Columbia

Under two hours drive and we stay the night just minutes from the U.S. border crossing in Osoyoos.

Haynes Point (38 hectares) is managed and operated by the Osoyoos Indian Band (during Parks improvements the areas uncovered an important archaeological site within the campground).    "s-wee-yous" means a place where it is shallow or narrow in the middle of the lake.  The name explains how the area was used to cross Osoyoos Lake by foot or by horse.

The area has gorgeous campsites along the lake but we choose to stay in the overflow area which is right beside the lake, very reasonable with no hook ups and easy access to leave early in the morning.

Coming up from the lake is a mule deer

Then there were two

 

Then three

A short walk from the parked trailer is a field marsh walk along Osoyoos Lake.

Osoyoos, Kelowna, Penticton and other surrounding communities are abundant with fruit farms (cherries, peaches, apricots, apples, etc)

Of course, 

spring plus marsh = RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS

These birds in northern North America winter in the southern U.S., as far as 800 miles from their breeding ranges.     During late spring and summer breeding season, they are especially busy.   They can raise up to three broods per season.

Red-winged Blackbirds roost in large flocks all months of the year but in summer small numbers roost in wetlands where the birds Bree.   Winter flocks can be congregations of several million birds, including other species, including starlings.   

Our feeder at home was a feeding ground for several red-winged males & females and starlings always accompanied them.

Caught a snack!   Red-winged blackbirds are considered pests by many farmers because of their voracious appetite for grain in cultivated fields.   However, they are also a benefit as they eat pesky bugs.

CROSS THE BORDER in to USA 

a five minute drive from the Osoyoos campground.   No other vehicles, one border guard on duty.   A  way different experience than crossing from Peace Arch (Vancouver).

 Columbia River and in the distance, the Grand Coulee Dam.

The Grand Coulee is the largest dam run the Columbia River Basin - 550 feet tall and 5,223 feet long (57 feet short of a mile).

Shutterstock photo

50,000 SILVER $$$ CASINO & INN

one night stop over

This is apparently a "world famous" bar due to the walls which have silver dollars embedded in them.   Formerly known as the World Famous 10,000 Silver Dollar bar.  Today, the Bar has over 75,000 coins.

Web photo

   And one embedded into the floor.   

   There are two mannequins seated in the bar so no one is lonely.

Free campsite behind the casino with electrical hookup

BUTTE, MONTANA

A stop off point to turn in our old iPhone 6's and get new iPhone 13's!    What a difference!   So much crisper pics, faster in everything and clearer in everyday.   Unlimited data which is fabulous, especially while road trekking.

 

Not too shabby for a phone pic through the side window while travelling 60-65 mph.

LEWIS & CLARK CAVERN CAMPGROUND - MAY 1st - Season opening day

Montana

Arrive for four nights at the Caverns campground.   There are approximately twenty sites in our loop (40 sites altogether).   

There was a camp host and one couple that appeared to be workers as they were gone from dawn to dusk.  That's it.    Over the four nights, maybe four or five campers came and went.   Temperature near freezing at night so there was no water available (fortunately we had a tank full). 

Ending this post here for now.   Next, exploring the area and going for a cave tour.   We are getting our first rainy day/night since leaving April 27.