Highway 5 to Hope, BC
This was our last moving stop; a place to get us along the way to Vancouver, but not a destination in and of itself. I want to note that I really preferred taking Highway 5. It was an easy, no stress drive, even with gentle rain and a bit of wind. The key for me is those passing lanes. It may not have been spectacular scenery, but it was plenty pleasant, despite a rainy start to the day as we left Lac Le Jeune.
One of two RV sites not occupied
We got to the campground around noon, with lots of time left on the day but rain in the forecast. We were both a bit thrown by the RV park because I think we were expecting “resort” to mean more like a KOA or something. The people there are very nice and friendly, but this is a really small place. The hookups were not 30 amp, but rather regular 15 with an adaptor they provide. The first time Richard plugged in, the weight of the 30 amp cord pulled it out of the outlet. He had to fiddle with it to make it stay put, and it was raining, and Dory needed a charge. So that threw him. He got a little vapor locked on what to do, so I pushed him out the door and told him to go walk it off. That always does the trick.
It’s super fun to explore yarn stores in different places!
It was July 1st, which is Canada Day. There was a vintage car show going on in the park and there were signs of community celebrations, like a small open market and some food trucks. Richard sent me a picture of a yarn store, Yarn Love Studio, and that got me excited. After I had caught up on the blog, I met him in town. He was all regulated, Dory was charging just fine, and it wasn’t raining. All good. I poked around the yarn store and got a really pretty skein of wool yarn with a nice gradient in a color scheme that will remind me of the Canadian Rockies. I’ll make something warm out of it.
I don’t think I’ve seen an official Rambo statue before
I was curious why there were so many homage displays to Rambo in this town, and it turns out Hope is where they filmed “First Blood.” The town is very proud of this and you can see Rambo themed things in stores and on a plaque mounted in the main square.
Requisite Moose
We grabbed a bite at the Blue Moose Cafe and chose the Canadian panini to celebrate Canada Day. We also got a gelato next door at the Artisan’s Attic and Fudgery next door. They make their own fudge and brittle and offer free samples. The brittle was especially tasty.
Happy Canada Day!
We walked a little to see the river and then Richard wanted to go check out Marble Slab Creamery to taste the ice cream. I passed on that one and waited for him at the most Canadian place I could think of: Tim Horton’s. When he had satisfied his curiosity (the ice cream is very good, despite some negative reviews about the service), we split two Timbits (doughnut holes), one chocolate and one lime filled. Quite good, I thought and an appropriate way to celebrate Canada Day.
Hope Lookout Trail
Before heading out the next morning, Richard got in a hike up Hope Lookout Trail, which was a great way to start the day for him. Any time he can do a climbing trail from the campground, the whole day goes better for him. As our next arrival was a super trafficky, rainy, site won’t work, sewer is backed up, entry into Vancouver, this was critically important and made it so we could both deal with all of that ever so much better.
It’s a cute place in a convenient location. I’d stay there again with an adjusted expectation on the hookups.
This RV park doesn’t quite inspire a “resort” impression in my mind, but the people there are super nice, the two sites they have are level, and do have hookups. The 15 amp did work with the adaptor and some fiddling to get our cord to stay in. The sewer pipe was way at the back of the site and high, so it would have been a pain to use it. We didn’t need to, so no harm no foul there, but it’s something to know. There was cell service and workable wifi and Dory was completely safe there. There is a cute looking hotel, some nice outdoor seating areas, and they even have a “Sasquatch Cave” (this is a pile of rocks kids can climb around in and pretend it’s spooky). And there’s a good uphill hike for Richard’s morning regulation. It’s in a good spot to take a breather before heading somewhere else, so it’s a good place to keep in mind for future traveling. I don’t think I’d stay more than a night, but for that purpose, it’s perfectly nice.
Total miles from Lac Le Jeune: 108.3, 17.7 mpg, 2 hours 51 min. Site 2 “full hookups.” Very small RV area with 4 sites, two of them occupied by long term tenants. Electric hookups 15 amps, not 30, with adaptor provided. Sewer way at the back with high raised pipe; did not use. No dump. Pretty good cell. Pretty good wifi.
