Friday July 27th, 2018
It was a late morning, not waking up until 5:30 am and Simba was shivering. I was very glad that there was no dew on things this morning. Since I was planning a very short 142 mile drive today (a semi-rest day), I eased into the day with the dogs all wrapped up, Simba on my lap and Kili at my feet. It was around 54 but we still have Florida blood. I took my time breaking camp (as usual Kili does not want to leave a campsite and will try and keep me from rolling up the tent – guess he does not have the wanderlust I have. Made the final visit to the pit toilet – I mention this because I am starting to notice all of the pit toilet “architecture’ and variability. The one here at Mountain Shadow Park believe it or not brought on a wave of nostalgia. It reminded me of the pit toilet we had at our summer cabin in Michigan when I was a child. So naturally I took a picture of it.
We took a nice walk down to the lake and then finished packing up camp. I went to use the wifi up by the office/house as I could not get the signal at the campsite. So I started my hour and was kick off in about 10 minutes. I went to complain to the management and it showed I had use my 100 MG. I have come to understand that data availability is a precious commodity in these remote areas. Since I had only sent three text with a couple of pics I was puzzled. The owner looked on my IPad and I came to find out that I had the automatic update buttons on so in that short time the apps were updating in the background using up the allotted data. One can learn something new every day the hard way. They were nice enough to let me use their signal to send the last three texts I wanted to send to let family know I was ok. She did sit by me the whole time though so I couldn’t go crazy with their data.
So we got on the road around 10:30 for a leisurely drive up to Boya Lake. This road continued with its steep grades, tight curves, no center line or shoulder and numerous gravel breaks in the pavement to watch for.
Since I was not pressed for time to get to the destination, I found myself in the mode of stopping way to often to take yet another picture of the beautiful azure lakes and many hued mountain slopes. I was able to stop lakeside a couple of time and take short shore walks. There were many many turnouts but most were never in the spot where one could capture, what would have been in my minds eye a never to be forgotten picture, so I restrained myself somewhat and committed the view to emory rather that digital recall.
I had planned to stop in Jade City which upon arrival appeared to be a one family tourist attraction, selling jade products from the jade mined in the Cassiar Mountains. There was not even a convenience store or gas station. There were many lakes with certainly some interesting names which would not particularly entice me to stop such as Gnat Lake (pics) and Mud Lake. A rests area that I just had to stop at was named Rabid Grizzly – and fortunately not populate by the carnivora ursus. The mountains though quite varied, from some that look like hump backed whales to jagged multicolored peaks.
As on the previous day, what I thought would be thriving little communities where really one building and a gas pump. Shortly before I I got to Boya Lake there was a warning of no fuel stops for many miles so I thought it best to fill up, get ice etc. The Hope Lake “store” had a single pump with gas in a large above the ground tank. Mileposts said it was an unreliable source but there was gas on this day. However the inside of the store was as larger than most 7-11’s but it had 1 shelf with a few items and naturally NO ice for the cooler.
Just when I was beginning to think I did not need a reservation for the provincial parks in Canada I was very glad I had one at Boya Lake. This is an aquamarine jewel of a lake and my campsite was shaded on the lake with a view of the lake through the trees.
But more importantly I arrived around 3:30 and by four thirty the steady stream of traffic in their massive RV’s looking for sites in the park was amazing to me in that this area which seems very remote from any populated area. They kept coming and by 5:30 there were not even any of the less desirable site for the taking. It was a beautiful afternoon and the boys and I hiked a 1 mile nature trail with wonderful views of the lake.
Even with all 44 sites filled I felt like I had my own little island of natural beauty.After writing this it is now about 9:45 and the sun has not yet set so this will take some getting used to. There are no blackout curtains or shades in a tent.
Uniquely Theo 