13-AUG-2006
Day 8 - Sunday, August 13
The day has finally arrived. This is the end of our voyage, the conclusion of our adventure, the close of our communion with nature. No more quiet days and even more quiet nights broken only by the gentle snoring of our campmates, the wail of a loon or the hoot of an owl. No more incredibly beautiful scenery, only accessible to those who choose to "earn" their way around the circuit. We will be rejoining civilization later this morning, and I must say that in many ways I am ready but then I also wish I could stay out here longer, experiencing nature at its finest.
I hear folks rousing from their slumber about 5am so get up and pack all my gear. We eat a light meal of granola to tide us over until we reach the Bear River Merchatile where we will have a buffet breakfast.
We leave at about 6am and quietly (no talking) paddle down the Bowron River towards Bowron Lake. The beavers have been busy building a dam.
13-AUG-2006
Day 8 - Sunday, August 13
Mr. Beaver (just off the end of Patty's paddle) gives us an escort for quite a distance as we paddle through the marsh. Then he slaps his tail on the surface and disappears.
13-AUG-2006
Day 8 - Sunday, August 13
As we round the bend, a heron takes flight upon seeing us approach.
13-AUG-2006
Day 8 - Sunday, August 13
I turn my camera to catch a shot of where we have come from. The marsh is filled with the sound of unseen birds and I occasionally hear a familiar song.
13-AUG-2006
Day 8 - Sunday, August 13
A flock of Canada Geese just before they took to the sky.
13-AUG-2006
Day 8 - Sunday, August 13
The Bowron River channel widens so we know we're nearing Bowron Lake.
13-AUG-2006
Day 8 - Sunday, August 13
Our first glimpse of Bowron Lake. The lake at this point is choked by a water plant that threatens to spread to the rest of the lake.
13-AUG-2006
Day 8 - Sunday, August 13
Around that point and to the end of the lake we go!
When we arrive at our destination, we unpack the canoes and haul them out of the water and up onto the lawn at Bear River Merchantile. We store all the paddles, bailers/sponges, PFDs, etc. in the shed. We clean out the canoes and load them onto the trailer for the next trip. Merlin, Dave and Patty go retrieve their vehicles from the park's registration center parking lot about 5 minutes away. Merlin and Cheryl have two vehicles and are leaving a car here until next week and will also be giving Susan and I a ride to the Quesnel Airport for our afternoon flight to Vancouver, so Dave has agreed to help transport some of the gear that far. After breakfast they will go get her car from the registration center parking lot and I'll get my luggage so I can give them their river bag back.
13-AUG-2006
Day 8 - Sunday, August 13
Sandy at the Bear River Merchantile sees us arrive and fires up breakfast. After taking care of the canoes and gear, we have a "celebration breakfast" of eggs, pancakes, bacon, ham, yogurt, fresh fruit, assorted juices, coffee, tea, and more. The food is good and the company is even better. We have been a pretty good group that worked and got along very well together which only enhanced the trip for everyone. We exchange addresses, phone numbers and email so we can stay in contact when we get home. We say goodbye to Barry and Patty who head home to Prince George directly after breakfast.
After breakfast Merlin and Cheryl go pick up her car but have to run an errand so I take the opportunity and pay $5CDN to take a shower and change into some clean clothes. It feels wonderful and I'm sure anyone sitting next to me at the airport or on the planes home will appreciate that I have recently bathed.
13-AUG-2006
Day 8 - Sunday, August 13
Next stop--the Quesnel Airport. You can see my canoe buddy, Susan lying on the picnic bench on the left. It was such a pleasant day. Susan and I say goodbye to Merlin, Cheryl and Dave in the airport parking lot after they unload our luggage and move gear between vehicles.
We had a little while to wait for our flight to Vancouver and while checking our bags noticed that something had changed due to all the questions about liguids and gels. Remember, we've been out of touch with the rest of the world for eight days so we hadn't heard about the newest terrorist plans to blow up planes with liquids. ; )
13-AUG-2006
Day 8 - Sunday, August 13
Our flight is finally called and we board--kind of like the Intel shuttle with no seat assignments. Only there is no door between the pilots and the passengers.
13-AUG-2006
Day 8 - Sunday, August 13
Soon we are airborne and the mountain ranges of British Columbia stretch, seemingly forever, beneath us. It is really cool to see the glaciers on these mountains and the occasional tiny turquoise blue high mountain lakes that dot the landscape.
