July 17, 2014 – Ft. Nelson, BC

We left the RV park around 9:00.

We stopped in Watson Lake to coin-op wash the trailer (mud, bugs, road dirt, etc!!). The wash is a Tooney for 4 minutes ($2). I took 7 Tooneys and we left Watson Lake at 10:00.

The drive started well – then we blew a tire!! This tire was the spare that I put on two days ago because the original tire looked like the tread was about to separate. This tire had never been on the road!! Brand new!! Oh well. It could have happened at a much worse location. In 15 minutes, we were back on the road :-)

Then...construction, construction, construction. We were delayed at 3 locations for ½ hr each. Oh well – it could have been worse.

We did have several sitings, though. Apparently there is a herd of woodland buffalo in northern BC. We found it!! We counted 110 buffalo along side the road. We also saw 8-10 black bears along the road. We figured that the vegetation along the road is easier picking and tastier than the stuff growing in the thick timber.

We know we have mentioned the scenery...but it is magnificent!! We drove Hwy 97 through some of the highest peaks and past glacier lakes. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!!

This area is also quite remote. No phone lines, no power lines, etc. When our tank was down to ½ empty, we decided to stop at the next available gas stop. We pulled in and were absolutely shocked to see $1.75/liter (that equals $6.09/gallon in US $$$). I would not pay that amount, so we drove on.

The terrain is very rugged. Grades exceeded 10% and you could literally hear the gas being sucked form the tank. At ¼ empty, we decided we had better get gas at the next available stop. Muncho Lake Lodge and Resort. Boy, we sure showed the last place!! The gas at the resort was $2.00/liter. ($6.85/gal.) I stopped the pump at $150 and we drove on to Ft. Nelson.

The Ft Nelson area scenery is quite different than what we have been seeing for the last month. The crags and spires have changed to lower, rounded mountains and farm ground – mostly hay ground. And all surrounded by pine, spruce and tall birch trees. Very neat and nice looking.