ON OUR LAST LEG IN SMITHERS

With Alaska and the Yukon behind us, we are now in Smithers, B.C. at least three full driving days from home. We drove six long hard days since leaving Eagle, getting a little respite only as we passed through Whitehorse, Y.T. After a rainy day reaching Watson Lake, we doubled back to come south on the Cassiar Highway (a very loose use of the term "highway") which was both muddy, graveled, and under construction for sections of 40 or 50 kilometres at a time.

We did stay a night at Red Goat Lodge on the beautiful Eddontennajon Lake, but it was raining and blowing and not quite the paradise of last time. Consider how long it takes to drive just a hundred miles at 25-30 miles an hour (and we have done a dozen of these) or even at an average of 50 to 55 mph (and we have done a dozen of these on the paved portions)and more.

Finally arriving yesterday in Smithers, B.C., one of my favorite communities up here, we staked claim to a nice spot in the municipal park and splurged on water, power, and sewer hook-ups for a couple of nights. Hot showers! Flush toilets! Well, it's still in our own camper but such luxuries. OK, so all of you shouild say a prayer of thanks for the basics you take for granted! We can tell you what it's llike doing without these things for over a month.

Today we are resting and strolling Smithers and catching up on e-mail, and planning on a lunch somewhere in a "real cafe" and buying some of the best landjaeger made anywhere to snack upon. In the morning we will head for Prince George, and probably will turn right so as to head toward Vancouver (the original Vancouver, that is). I've washed the van so we can identify it, and this afternoon I'll try to clean the Camper. I won't quite need a trowel, but some power washing before the brush and rag are in order. Without doubt, it will take a while to clean everything inside and restore/repair some of the effects of 1000 miles of washboard and rough gravel in a land where I learned flats cost $10 per patch, if you have a friend in town. (Elsewhere they add $10 to dismount the tire before doing the repair!)

FIY, Canadian exchange in the last bank we used was down to $1.02 Canadian to a single US dollar. The rate no longer favors the US traveler. And credit card companies are charging 5% on card purchases (per each) on this side of the border. No one told me that last May!

You know, we haven't seen Bamff and Jasper since 2004. Hmmmm.