04-AUG-2006
Friday, August 4
9:12pm: Coquitlam - The bus picks up/drops off a few cargo items and a couple new passengers at most stops along the way.
9:50pm: Abbottsford
10:20pm: Chilliwack
12:35am: Merritt
1:40am: Kamloops (we have an extended stop here for refueling)
3:00am: Cache Creek (we have a driver change here)
3:45am: Clinton (3 people get off the bus here)
4:45am: 100 Mile House (we drive into town and it is very foggy--the new day is also beginning to break--Welcome to Saturday)
5:50am: Williams Lake (coming into town, the bus has to slow for two deer crossing the road)
7:12am: QUESNEL!
Once again, I am saved by NOT leaving something at home that I didn't think I'd need. I took my Zen Micro MP3 player with me and ended up listening to it all night long on the bus. The driver played 2 movies (Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas with Brad Pitt as the voice of Sinbad and The Fantastic Four) but for the most part, I listened to my own tunes. I only got off the bus once (after checking out the sloshing toilet in the back I decide I need to get off and go). I have a window seat most of the way and probably slept for a few hours here and there. The night is clear and even though the windows are tinted, the multitude of stars are clearly visible away from any big city lights. The Big Dipper is my companion for much of the trip.
05-AUG-2006
Saturday, August 5
This is the clock I watched all morning as the hours ticked slowly by. The gals at the Quesnel station were very nice and were as accomodating as possible during the hours I waited to be picked up (7:15am - 12pm). Once I knew when I was going to be picked up, I was able to go get something to eat. They've got a cute cafe/coffee house nearby that reminds me a lot of Papaccino's.
Merlin picks me up at 12pm noon, just as the gals are about to close for the day and kick me out. We pick up Cheryl at a nearby store and drive to Wells (about 1 hour away and basically the only way to the Bowron Lakes).
05-AUG-2006
Saturday, August 5
This is the Wells Hotel where I stayed Saturday night and where we will all spend the night and begin our trip from in the morning. I had a reservation for Friday night as well, but called from PDX to cancel when I missed my initial flight. Thankfully, they didn't charge me for a same-day cancellation. Very nice foks who also gave me a couple rolls of TP as I forgot mine. Wells is a kind of artsy small town (very small and isolated) located on the way to the Bowron Lakes and they were having some sort of art show/festival on this weekend so there were lots of folks in town for the event. Unfortunately, I was not able to explore the town due to my flight fiasco.
05-AUG-2006
Saturday, August 5
We got into Wells at about 2pm so first thing I do is check in to the hotel. All I want to do is get out of my stinky, sweaty clothes and take a shower. Regulating the water temp was a challenge but I finally get it stabilized. I get in and am all soaped up when the water turns scalding hot. I have to get out of the shower to turn it off-Yikes! I finally finish my shower and feel refreshed but tired. I opened the window over the bed and there is a gentle breeze blowing. There is no TV or phone so I set the alarm (to test it for tomorrow morning) for 3:45pm as we have a group meeting at 4pm. As I'm laying there trying to doze off, I hear this noise that sounds like a really bad radio. It can't be a radio though as we are far out of range of any station so I look out the window and see a guy standing there--right across the street with an electric guitar and an amp strapped to his back, dare I say--singing/humming--and playing in the most awful way. I was about to yell something to him to move along but he moved on his own. I was then able to doze off for a little while and woke up with the alarm at 3:45pm (it worked!) feeling good.
05-AUG-2006
Saturday, August 5
Here's the rest of my room. You can't see this sink in the prior entry -- it is very small but adequate.
At 4pm we meet in the common area downstairs for introductions, to discuss the trip and go over any questions that any of us might have. There will be five paying customers and our guides, Merlin and Cheryl on this trip: myself, Susan (From Victoria, BC), Dave (Abbottsford, BC?), and Barry and Patty (Prince George, BC). Merlin lets us know that they have a reservation at the Bear's Paw Cafe for anyone who wishes to join them for dinner. Patty, Barry, Dave and I join them. As isolated as Wells is, Patty sees two people she knows. Undoubtedly, the Art Festival has swelled the population of Wells for the weekend.
I am too tired after dinner to do any more exploring of the town, and Merlin gives me the items I rented (sleeping bag, river bag and thermal pads) so I can pack. I set aside my clothes for the next day and pack everything else as I don't want to have to do it in the morning--at the last minute.
When I am finally settled, I take two benedryl, read a couple pages in my book, get sleepy and turn off the light at about 9pm. It is still light and I hear the really bad guitar player again but it doesn't matter, I fall fast asleep until my alarm wakes me in the morning.
