A Qweek Trip South...

Last week, Meg and I hopped on a WestJet flight to Puerto Vallarta. WestJet flies non-stop from Vancouver to PV in a little over 5 hours for less than half the price of a flight to Manzanillo. It was too good a deal to pass up. Originally Meg was going to go by herself but when I realized when the bus leaves PV for Manzanillo - not at a convenient hour - or what the drive from PV to Manzanillo involved - ~6 hours drive on a treacherous jungle/coastal road - I decided I should tag along as shotgun and navigator. It was a good thing I did.

  

After arriving and running the gauntlet of hungry timeshare hawkers, we were treated to a not-so-pleasant encounter with the car rental at the Hertz office - the shuttle bus did not arrive to take us to the across-the-street building; we couldn't walk across the street due to a divider barrier; the taxi we grabbed cost 150 pesos ($13) for the 3 minute trip; the fellow behind the counter used scare tactics to try to coerce me to purchase more insurance than I needed and, to top it off, the final rental price was twice the price quoted on-line.


It was nearing 5:30 pm. It was incredibly hot (37C) and humid (85%). We knew we had an estimated 6 hour drive down Hwy 200 and we knew we shouldn't be driving at night (according to the gringo Mexican driving bible). With Meg at the wheel and me as navigator, we pointed our hot, little Jetta south and began winding our way through the crazy, cobbled streets of PV. Unlike other trips through PV, this time we took the Libertad route through the tunnels skirting downtown PV...it was a little unnerving with all the water splashing down inside the tunnel and all the potholes on the road. That was just the beginning... 

The summer rains had come early, in great abundance and with a particularly vicious bent this season, throughout most of Mexico.  The first 20 kilometers of the road leaving PV had suffered a lot of damage from all the water, rock and debris that washed along in it. Huge axle-shattering potholes stretched across the roadway. Cars, trucks and buses were creeping around the holes, squeezing waytooclose to each other as they passed between the deep puddles. Huge boulders, that not so long ago perched up the hillsides, now clung to the edge of the road ready to continue their tumble to the sea. And to add to the pressures of driving , it just happened to be Independence Day and the roads were packed with happy Mexicans celebrating their favourite holiday.

At least we had driven this road a few times before on previous trips to our casa in Cuyutlan. It was familiar. I had Googled our route before we left home, trying to locate a hotel or motel but was not successful. There was a dearth of accommodation for the 285km portion from PV to Melaque...we were destined to drive and, after 2 1/2 hours, night was upon us. Beyond the washed out portion of the highway were well maintained sections of road.  Fortunately the topes (speed bumps) were well marked. Meg kept up a good clip...until the skies opened. For the next 3 hours we drove through numerous squalls with torrential downpours with thunder and lightning, down through the coastal mountain along the twisty jungle road, frogs hopping and flopping in our path, bats flying into the headlights. It was very memorable. By 11pm we had skirted Melaque and Manzanillo and were so happy to see the toll booth near Cuyutlan. A few minutes later Mac, Juan and Chapporo welcomed us back to our village. Ole!!


For the next 5 days, Meg and I arranged for some projects to be completed at our casa and guest house, visited with friends, picked up some things in Tecoman and even got to spend an hour in the pool (92F). 


 More time would have been better but it was too difficult to change plans so we packed up the Jetta and were back on the highway, this time in the early morning, pointing northward. With no tropical storms, frogs nor bats, just sunny skies and fairly manageable traffic, we were at the airport in Puerto Vallarta in a little over 4 hours...gosh, there must have been a tail wind (0: 

Just as we had settled in our seats on the plane, the rain gods  opened the heavens with yet another torrential thunderstorm....closing the entire airport and delaying our flight for over an hour. It turned into a very long day. Needless to say it was so good to see the lights of Vancouver and to return to our comfy wee home. 

Hasta pronto, Mexico.

Beautiful B.C...

Earlier this month, Meg and I packed up our truck and 5th wheel, along with Meg's sister, Dine, and 2 daughters, Bonnie and Shannon, to deliver Shannon to the University of Northern BC in Prince George to begin her course of studies. 

The route we chose included the breathtakingly scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway up Howe Sound to Whistler, then up the Duffy Lake Road through Marble Canyon to Lillooet, connecting with Hwy 97 near Cache Creek , then north through the Cariboo to Prince George. 


The 'new and improved' Sea2Sky Highway is very nice. I suppose it was worth all the bucks that the government threw into the pot to provide an easy route to the 2010 Olympics even though the majority of BCers will never drive it. Under beautiful blue sunny skies, the drive was awesome - Howe Sound and its islands on the left, Garibaldi with all its peaks to the right. 


We stopped at 'the Chief' in Squamish to show Shannon what rock climbing is all about in BC. BTW, there is an excellent movie about the first successful climb of the Chief at the visitor's centre...well worth seeing!

Whistler is ever-expanding...more and more tastefully designed West Coast-styled condo and housing developments abut the highway and peek out from behind the trees. It seems to be a 'happening' place - mountain bikers, paddlers, cyclists, hikers, tourists swarming the promenades in the town; colourful bistros and pubs full of happy campers.

 

My memories of driving the Duffy Lake Road have faded in time. I did not recall (from my days of tenting, in the bush, many moons ago) it having so many steep elevations, switchbacks and nerve-jangling drop-offs into the canyons far below. Nevertheless, the scenery is quite spectacular. 
 


 Meg was a little worse for wear manoeuvring our rig on this particularly rugged stretch of the journey - smokin' brakes did not help the stress. After stocking up with supplies in Lillooet, it seemed like a good time to stop for the day just outside Clinton.

  

The next morning we continued up to PG through the Cariboo. It's a land of scrubby trees, many lakes, rolling hills and lots of wildlife. I started to snap shots of the road signage. Throughout our travels in North America, I had never seen 'Badger' warning signs - moose, deer, snake, armadillo, yes, but badger, no.

    

The campus of UNBC is small but the enthusiasm of the students is huge. Shannon was met by alumni with shopping carts who helped her move into her residence. After making sure she was set up and ready for school, Dine and Bonnie flew back home and Meg and I headed south. 

We stopped in Clinton to visit our friends, Marnie and Bernie, to check the progress of their dream home. Even though now it was unclad and bare bones, it's easy to see that it will be lovely home.












The next day we were heading into the Fraser Canyon, another famous scenic (and historic) route in BC. 


Looking down at the wild water and rapids of the river and the sheer rock of the canyon, it's hard to imagine just how difficult must have been for early explorers and, later, the Gold Rush prospectors to manage the physical constraints and barriers of the region.  


It's so easy for us to step on the gas pedal and cruise the miles of roadway, listening to great tunes and eating bon-bons. 

We were home in a few hours, ready for our next adventure.

Clearing the back 40 - finale!!

Back in May I started to rip out the cotoneaster on the embankment beside our humble abode. It took many, many grueling, sweaty hours until we got to a point to call in the big guns.

 Enter Sean with his trusty excavator and bobcat. A master at his trade and proud of his work, Sean worked his little butt off, digging and moving dirt. Then he was off to a local quarry to pick up a few loads of crushed granite and then for the BIG stones...tons of BIG stones.  


He didn't just dump the stones, he placed them artistically in a very stable configuration along the side and front of the yard. It was awesome to watch. 

Each day the landscaping job gradually neared fruition. 

It's not a speedy task lugging those great, huge heavy lumps of rock around the yard. Then he was done with his part. If you need a reliable excavator/landscaper, call Sean.


The remaining part of the project was for Meg and I to lay down landscape fabric, reposition various plants and shrubs and dump and level more gravel. Fortunately my brother, Reg, gave us a day of grunt labour to help us accomplish our goal. Another fortuitous event was the wish of our neighbour to rid her yard of small river rock - something that made walking in her yard a little treacherous for her but something that added another element of texture to our project. Many trips up the hill with the wheelbarrow loaded with stones and then many more trips using the pick-up, a little more sweat on the brow and, finally, we could check off another of our many projects. Job well done, crew!

What a road trip!!...the trilogy...Part 3

Meg and I were really bummed out, to say the least!! We wanted to head South across the border to vacation in Mexico but the signs from The Universe were definitely pointing us North. With our vehicle permit and insurance due to expire on Wednesday the 23rd, by 6am Monday morning we were up, John whipped us up a tasty smoothy, and we were heading across the west side of Arizona...through Sun City, Wickenburg and Kingman. 


Before we knew it we turned the bend in a massive highway construction zone and were surprised to see the Hoover Dam - what a magnificent concrete structure!! Having worked in concrete construction, Meg was blown away by the scope and the enormity of the project. She says it is the most incredible feat of concrete construction she has seen!

Around another bend and about 20 miles of traffic stopped in the other direction we headed down into Las Vegas. 
Our GPS decided to take us on a tour of the old section of LV, through the Fremont district...it was interesting and nostalgic if old decrepid motels are your thing...!


Leaving Las Vegas, once again we were crossing miles of barren but colourful desert. I cannot imagine how some people can exist in such a harsh climate and bleak terrain but we continued to pass numerous populated (and deserted) settlements.  The sun hadn't set yet so we kept on the road and wound up in Hawthorne, NV - the site of the largest munitions storage facility in the Western world. Miles and miles of the countryside surrounding Hawthorne is pimpled with huge earth-covered bunkers. Along the main street red, white and blue artillery shells are artistically arranged in formations. We even saw some brightly painted 'bombshell' flowers.

Before too long we passed through Reno and were into redwood forests, catching glimpses of the south side of Mt.Shasta...then we turned onto the I-5 just south of Weed, CA. We were now on a very familiar chunk of highway. 


Every time we drive the I-5 it seems to be busier than the time before...lots and lots of double- and triple-trailered rigs, RVs, trucks and cars. Meg was magnificent at the wheel! I prefer my responsibility as the navigator rather than being the driver. Meg never relaxes when I am at the wheel. We form a great team :0)  


As dusk fell we stopped in Portland...tuckered out by driving for Meg, Suduko for me. The final phase of our journey resumed early Wednesday morning. That stretch through Seattle was nerve-racking...again beaucoup de traffic rapide!! A few groceries in Lynden, a small line-up at our border crossing and we were back home to our wee abode. 

All in all we chalked up over 10,000 kilometres in 14 driving days - crossed through 4 Provinces and 16 States - said 'Farewell' Winny (the Windstar) and 'Welcome' Rusty (the Dakota) - visited with family and friends - quaffed a little wine - saw some wonderful sights - and gained an appreciation for the size and diversity of these two countries. Life is good!!