The end of the camping season was signalled as we descended from summer in the mountains to autumn on the coast. It seems the colours of fall now includes the all too familiar orange smoky conditions from forest fires with resulting air quality alerts.
The fires we passed last year were tame compared to this out of control blaze .
The Hope/Flood fire grew to ten times this size with seven full time helicopters employed to dump their buckets of river water high on the mountain’s ridge.
On the positive side, the change of seasons on our second trip this year to Lake Pinantan, gave us spectacular sun rises.
Wildlife-wise is was the quintessential Canadian camping trip as we saw bear, beaver, deer, and were awakened in two locations to the howls of large packs of coyote. We successfully fished for trout and Kokanee.
In between the two lakes we spent two days in Kamloops visiting friends, Mack and Rika, who toured us around and hosted us at their beautiful home.
Winterizing the trailer is next on the agenda, unpacking the food and linens, filling the water lines with non toxic antifreeze. In denial, I’m scheming one more quick trip out.