6.10.23
Hitting the road north west to Prince Rupert where I grab a ferry on the 15th heading out to Haida Gwaii…
99 was insanely gorgeous. I will do a separate log full of map screen grabs of the best roads driven and ridden.
10 Mile Lake Provincial Park
6.11.23
On the road to Babine Lake
Failed to slow down through a town, off with a warning. Phew!
Forgot to do stops for these shelves 🤷♀️
Read about local mining politics: https://raventrust.com/campaigns/lake-babine/
Swallowtails sucking salt
Smell amazing
6.12.23
Ghetto green fix 🤙
This is apparently the butterfly bonanza place. They were here yesterday as well.
I've been sitting here going on 3 hours now…. This is where I am writing JN3 and the last 2 entries from. :)
A gift from a tree…. Watching the clouds roll in….
Accidentally ended up on private land
Inaugural stickers on the water tanks.
6.13.23
Watched a beaver swim across the lake with this morning's tea.
Timber wolves howling last 2 nights.
Checking my reservation for today's camp spot, I surprised myself realizing I had an extra day… I guess I will go to the lava bed after all.
I haven't reserved any spots on my trip, however thought it wise to reserve the one before my ferry sailing as there are not many campgrounds nearby. I've been enjoying the roll in and park mentality. It's also less expensive because booking online has a CA $6 fee!
I guess I was really zoned out becauase I also miscalculated my drive time. 4 hours became 5.5 hours. I was laughing at myself for being so crabby in the gorgeous Nisga'a region.
Lava bed.
Another campground all to myself. Left the fee on my windshield but no attendant came by.
The view from my bed at almost 10PM. Amazing the light hours up here.
That's my road bike out for the night. She travels inside for the long hauls.
Also amazing is the concept of it rains it pours, right. I started my cycle so I'm crampy and meh. I drove 1.5 extra hours. And drum roll. 🥁🥁🥁
A mouse came into my van at 1AM last night. Very smartly, I went into mouse war with all of my none mouse tools at my disposal, such as bear spray which I sprayed at the base of my van and the vents where I thought I heard the little guy enter. Such a great idea that I immediately thought twice about the vents and cleaned those off with isopropyl alcohol, getting a mild layer of bear spray on my hands which later ended up in my right ear when I put my earplugs in. The vents had already taken in the bear spray, so I also had to air out the van. I've never had such a fun night!
6.14.23
I went into Terrace this morning for mouse trap bonanza. We got 4 sticky pads and 2 clamps. And some peanut butter…
Prudhomme lake, just outside of Prince Rupert, from where the ferry to Haida Gwaii departs tomorrow. It's quite cold with a cold breeze and that's okay because I don't feel like being in much motion anyways.
I took a nap on the floor of the van, made some lentils, and set up moise sticky strips. Apparently last night's mouse gold were my strawberry flavored Shok Blox, so I put a little down and hid the rest. Later tonight I'll get around to setting up the peanut butter traditional snap traps and a peanut butter water death bucket. 💀
Now to make some more tea…
Just about everyday, I am getting new little cuts on my hands and I have no idea from where they come… Gotta keep in eye on this mystery too!
I figured if the mouse gets peanut butter I should have some too. PB&ghee… and salt…
6.15.23
Ferry to Haida Gwaii day!
I guess the mouse disembarked in Nisga'a. Must have been a mouse racquet. Set 3 types of traps and nada!
Backing into the ferry
Ferry Tetris
6 meter (20ft) seas through Hecate Straight.
The shallow seas with the winds being funneled through have given this place a reputation.
I have a video somewhere in my email with the waves hitting the 5th story forward windows. Will post later.
The 7 hour ferry ride got us to Skigedate in none piece. I suppose if they had forgotten to chain down the big rigs with may still be lop sided out at sea.
My stop for the next couple of nights is the northern town of Masset at a place names Copper Beech House, owned by one of Canada's prizes poets, Susan Musgrave. And a well known writer's retreat.
We didn't get a chance to overlap, but I delivered her a package from her former UCB (University of British Columbia) student all the way from Coquitlam! :)
Super stoked on hot shower and big plushy bed!
The dock just out my door. Apparently red docks are government docks built for public use.
Would you like a gun case, or some tools perhaps?
Neighbors
Walking back to my room, I bumped into the lovely couple I met on the ferry (they are the ones who took the 6meter seas videos and have since emailed them to me!)
6.16.23
We ended up walking the town of Masset together and going to a pub with surprisingly good food and fresh salad. Then we took a drive down the way to Old Masset and went into a gallery. We later made dinner together.
This guy eas outside my door in the morning. I would see lots of these over the coming days!
A nice breakfast set up everyday except the staff's day off, at which point it is help yourself. The fresh baked sourdough was a real treat. And a little orange juice, assortment of teas, jams, some granola for the yogurt, and of course filtered water. ;)
I approve of Susan's humor.
Cruising through town with my ferry friends…
Of course, what would a journey be without encounters of the crow kind? :)
Setting up for gay pride parade
Get your EV charged
Thanks to recommendations from multiple people, I have started to read this book, a true story set on this island. Highly recommend The Golden Spruce, captivating and well written. Applicable to the Pacific Northwest in general.
6.17.23
We had such a wonderful time that we decided to spend another day together. High praise from a creature of solitude.
Also, please don't mind my crazy. I left it where because i think it's funny.
And with that, I will start Journey North 4. :)