D124 - 08/30/24 DAY OF NOTHING

Late last night before we went to bed we peaked outside not to see the aurora but to see the stars. It is so dark here we could see hundreds. This is what we saw that stood out the most … the Milky Way, Small Dipper, the Big Dipper and the North Star. Can’t believe they sorta showed up on photos taken from my phone. I kinda felt that the Big Dipper and the North Star was Alaska calling us back since that’s what is represented on Alaska’s state flag. 

Then no sooner did we get in bed we could hear a squirrel (hopefully) on the roof of the Airstream. Shouldn’t they be sleeping? It was walking back and forth on the roof and we eventually heard him slide off. Best guess he jumped from a limb onto our awning that was out last night then onto the roof because we never heard him fall onto the roof. 

What a lovely day we had today. We slept in. It was definitely a two coffee morning. Breakfast/lunch was cooked outside on the grill. Bacon, eggs and toast! It was pretty easy with the griddle on one side of the grill and the grate on the other to toast the bread. The weather was perfect again. We stayed outside all day enjoying some music and our nice campsite. 

The rest of the day was pretty much spent doing nothing. Birding. Watched the wild mallard ducks eat and bathe all day. So cute seeing half with their butts up in the air as they foraged for food. Then splash water and then begin preening themselves. The loons on the other hand are a bit more elusive. Always out on the far side or in the deepest section of the lake. My view of them is best through the binoculars. I would so love to see one up close. Their calls are both eerie and beautiful. 

Today was a much needed day to rest and reset. We also had research to do to fill a few gaps on our calendar. Hopefully we won’t bore you all again tomorrow … it could be a repeat! 

Sunset: 7:54 pm

Sunrise: 6:20 am

Wildlife viewings:

Loons and Wild Mallards  

D123 - 08/29/24 MARBLE CANYON

 

Jett and I got out the door early this morning for a long walk. Lac La Hache Provincial Park has a day use area across the highway. And there is a tunnel under the road giving you safe easy access to both the campground and day use area. We enjoyed being out exploring and the mindfulness of our early morning walk. 

On a sad note we departed ways with Cliff and Linda, our Airstream New Hampshire friends, this morning. We have really enjoyed our time with them. Great company. Great conversation. Great new friendships. They love Jett! And Linda makes the best cookies! Thank you Cliff for starting to ‘follow us’ down the road! They will enter the lower 48 by way of Montana. We will enter through Washington state. We will see you guys down the road again. Miss you guys already! 

Once on the road we continued on CARIBOO Highway (97) … ooops I had spelled it wrong yesterday. When we reached and turned onto Highway 99 … the Sea to Sky Highway … we began heading even farther south. All throughout the day it was incredible the change in scenery again from one turn to the next. Rolling hills. Farmland. Spruce trees. No trees. Mountains. High alpine. Skiing areas. Rugged exposed cliffs. Beautiful sparkling lakes. And even a limestone canyon. Some humidity to a much lower humidity.

Basecamp for this evening is in that canyon … Marble Canyon Provincial Park. Beautiful. There are two maybe three sites out of thirty that we could fit into. The one we choose we had to hang the bumper over the back edge of the site in order to fit the Airstream in. Then the truck almost has to straddle a small boulder to stay off the campground road. This is probably one of the shortest sites we have ever squished into. But oh so worth it!

Two reasons why. One we didn’t have a reservation for this holiday weekend. Everything is booked. We have totally gotten relaxed about making any reservations. I kinda had this weekend on radar but was only able to get Monday night secured. I knew this campground was first come, first serve but never knew most of the sites were small. Second reason … the lakes here and the surrounding beauty of this spectacular area. We are camped on Turquoise Lake and right next door is Crown Lake. Just gorgeous. Both with crystal clear water. 

We love our campsite. Two tiered with a tent pad on a lower level closer to the lake. There are nice hikes nearby. Swimming. Beautiful day use area. Ducks in the lake .. even a few Loons that we have been watching with the binoculars. Jett has had her eye on them too. She’s been up on the bed in the Airstream watching them all through the back window down on the lake. This will be the perfect spot to begin processing (in our heads) our re-entry into the lower 48. Today has been warm compared to what we have been use to. It got up to 76*F in the Airstream today. But perfect for us with the light wind off the lake, all the windows open and us still thawing out. 

Tomorrow should be a pretty chilled/ relaxing day for us (staying put) after all the miles we have put behind us over the last couple of days. 

Sunset: 7:56 pm

Sunrise: 6:18 am

Elevation: 2,660’

Miles from home: 

3,182 miles 

Wildlife viewings:

Brown Squirrels

Ducks

Canada Geese 

Loons