Leaving Buckinghorse Wayside Provincial Park, the road was very remote heading to Fort Nelson for 111 miles. I felt like I was the only one out there and this is what it looks like.
Victoria Day and the Triple G
Canada was heading into a long holiday weekend called Victoria day. I asked a couple of people (Yes, they were Canadians) what they were celebrating, and believe it or not, they were not certain. So, I looked it up. Queen Victoria’s birthday was May 24. She was the Queen when Canada became a sovereign country, and thus they declared her birthday a national holiday in celebration. I’ve seen a couple of different dates, but looks like this was back in 1845. Since then, they decided holidays are better on Monday’s, as we in the states have, and thus it rotates dates a bit. In the end, it is a celebration of Canada and the Queen’s birthday no matter when that birthday really is anymore.
I did not want to rush through the upcoming area if campgrounds were full, so I decided to stay three nights at the Triple G Hideaway RV park in Fort Nelson. I was probably being overly cautious in retrospect, but it was a cute place to spend some time and that’s where a couple of posts got made.
Fort Nelson musings
Fort Nelson turned out to be a really neat community. As I sat in the bar late in the afternoon, I watched the owner on a telephone call. A lady was on her way there and had broken down. She did not travel light as she had 3 horses and a mule. She was frantic and needed a place to house them while she got her rig fixed. No telling how long that would be! Apparently they could not be housed in the same stalls and needed separate quarters for the mule versus the horses. The lady tapped a local guy sitting at the bar and clued him in on the issue. He got on the phone and organized a place for her to house her horses and mule, and took care of the whole issue.
I mentioned my awe of them being so helpful to the owner the next day. She told me, that’s what they do in Fort Nelson. If someone has an issue, they help. So wonderful!
The waitress I had was originally from Vancouver Island and had moved to Fort Nelson for work. I had run into another guy in Dawson Creek that had moved there from Vancouver Island for work, too. Must be hard to get jobs there.
I tried to ID them but have not been able to. They are bigger than Buffleheads which are my favorite ducks!
Drive to Muncho Lake
Leaving Fort Nelson in a clean RV, stocked with groceries, but light on wine because I did not think about the fact that it was a holiday on the day we were leaving, we headed through the mountains. Here are some of the views along the way.
Silence
Can you feel it looking at these pictures? It is the most amazing silence I have ever experienced. No planes overhead, no cars, no people, nothing. You hear the wind, an occasional bird and the water if you are near a stream or lake. That’s it. Complete beautiful and profound silence is here. A loud noise is out of place.
Mucho Lake – Strawberry Flats Campground
I spent two nights here, it was just too beautiful. Muncho Lake is 7.5 miles long and is a beautiful color even with ice still on it!
We are 433 miles along the Alaska highway now.
Such beautiful blue-green glacial fed water! And, yes, the silence is golden. Just you, God and his creation :). I love it. Enjoying your journey with you (virtually)!
The silence is so profound! I love it!
So amazing!
I took a break from packing up our motorhome after de-winterizing on my own for the first time and after getting the catalytic converter replaced that was stolen! I grabbed a cup of coffee and caught up on your journey & loved the pictures! I do worry about you & the dog traveling in such desolate areas at times but know you are cautious. You are a brave woman but your sights and experience are gold! Thanks as always for sharing! I’ve enjoyed every post!
Congratulations on de-winterizing yourself, Cindy! Hope you are getting out soon!
I’m so sorry to hear about the catalytic converter! That is really terrible and expensive, which I suppose is why they steal them.
I am being cautious and have limited my hiking much to my dismay as I am more fearful about bear than I realized. I don’t know about brave…my father used to say “I went where angels fear to tread”, so perhaps it is more of a lack of common sense on my part? 🙂 In any event, I have decided not to let fear dictate too much in life, but to be cautious about the bear. I trust my gut reactions to places, too. Please do not worry.
Seems we’re not doing a very good job in our Canadian schools teaching our children why we celebrate Victoria Day. This Canadian is very embarrassed that you had to look it up. Great post, Karen. Your pictures are beautiful. Thanks for taking us along.
So sorry, Angela. I did not mean to make you feel bad, and I totally understand. I bet there are many kids in the US who do not know what Labor day or even Memorial day is about either. They are just days off and the meaning has been lost for many. I hope you had a wonderful Victoria day celebration!
So glad you are enjoying the posts!
Muncho Lake and your comment on the‘silence’ look and sound like heaven to me. Thank you so much for taking your friends along with you on your journey! Excited to see your next discoveries!
🙂 That does not surprise me at all! Glad you are enjoying the journey!
Wonderful thank you adventure Lady!
My pleasure, Chris! It is definitely an epic journey and I’m so glad I decided to do it despite the gas prices and world affairs.