We're back to where there are more people. That's kind of a relief. I had mixed up dreams last night, perhaps to do with all the driving, or changing yesterday's flat.
We were on the road this morning at 8:45 as seems the custom now. We had to climb The Hill nearly upon exiting from the campground. The dirt road lasted for one hour. After, we accomplished the reverse of our arrival by changing back to reasonable road surface in stages. Eventually, there's gravel tar with no center line. After that, a center line comes, and before getting back into William's Lake we were back to normal highway.
Of course, a great number of logging trucks are pulling BC lumber from the interior of the Chilcotin. The trucks do three beds at a time and, of course, have to creep up over the mountains and then test brakes before heading down the other sides. Some is cut locally as we saw many train cars moving wrapped lumber southward.
We made it back up "The Hill".
We took a moment to look back.
I noticed that the spare tire is not balanced at all. The speed that is least comfortable is, of course, about 65 mph or 100 kph. Which means I should have stopped when we finally got back to the civilization on Route 97. Ah, screw it; we're now half way home. We will shimmy all the way home, hopefully. Then, I will figure out what to do with tires.
Oh yeah, I'm 56 today! (So maybe the first part of the title has two meanings!) We stopped in Williams Lake for lunch and $84 in gas. I have never seen the gauge less than a quarter full. It was resting half way between that and empty. I waited as I know that gas was a good 20 cents a liter cheaper here. Anyway, at the Safeway we had the chance to buy a birthday cake but I declined. The cookies we've been carting around with us are sufficient with this tea.
We set up at site #8 at the Lac La Hache at about 3:30. We drove over to the beach which is on the other side of the highway but didn't feel like swimming. We came and heated a whole bunch of water and washed up in it. My hair feels marvelous but I don't want to borrow the mirror that Jay brought along.
Some thoughts on the trip so far: First, damn, this is a huge province. I get the ideas of a road trip but the distances become daunting. This little trip is only 1/3 of the way up to the coast and back. Today, the odometer reads 961 miles and there are still approximately 300 left before we bounce into New Westminster. Secondly, taking down and setting up a tent doesn't take too long and I find the campgrounds enjoyable, but I'd probably opt for hotels if I had oodles of extra cash. I have to laugh at some of the monster RV's running around here. For that much money one could stay at the best hotel in every city they pass. Lastly, I do have to say that many people are perfectly contented to live in a radius of 100 miles from their bed. People might be a little more humble if they went out to explore the world around them.
Tomorrow is the last day of this little adventure. I want my TV, Internet, and a really long, hot shower.