..And we are off !

Passports, did you bring them?  We are now on the Highway and almost to Washington and Jane is looking at Chuck with hope in her eyes.  Looks like it is a turn around at the Airport and a short trip back to the house before this adventure really gets started.   

Back on the road and headed North, we had to use our sunglasses because it was so beautiful.  The trip to Mt Vernon  Washington was uneventful and we enjoyed the night at the Elks Lodge 1604. I even got to meet the Bartender Debbie she really liked my new Alaskan out fit.   We woke to rain and wind during the night but by morning everything settled down and we headed for the border with passports in hand.
 It was high fives, on Monday, as the nice border guard sent us on our way and we headed for the Fraser Valley.  Light rain and low clouds that hung link cotton candy covered the steep hillsides blocking our view of the towering mountains around us. Spring was everywhere as the Dogwoods (Canada's national tree) were just starting to bloom.  The contrast of the Fir, Pine and Ceder to the Maple and Alder was striking.   As we arrived in Hope a band of clouds dropped just long enough for us to see the jagged, snow capped mountains that tower over the swollen and angry Fraser River.

Simon Fraser Memorial

Jane was checking the map and saw "Hells Gate". Now that sounded interesting! The wind was cold coming up the canyon but we grabbed our coats and walked down to the the information building.  The Fraser river narrows at this point and there is a tram that goes down to the river.
After a couple hours at the Memorial and a pound of Chocolate from the Fudge shop we headed back on the road.  At Cache Creek we fueled up and found a Bank as the exchange of money is lower for U.S than Canadian and we were loosing money as we bought gas.
We came off of Highway 1 and onto Hwy.97, the Cariboo Hwy. headed to our stop for the night Clinton.

May day! We are headed to Prince George