July 13, 2001, Friday- time to move south. Stopped at the office at Robert's Roost and Vivian, our host, as always, has been a wealth of knowledge. Stop here, miss that, plan for Lac La Hache, the longest town in BC. The lake is 17 kilometers long, and since it's not glacial fed, it's a lot warmer then some of the other lakes. Skip this RV park, and that one because it's not on the lake, or has a difficult entry road. Stop at Fir Crest Resort. So, down the road we meandered. While Phil and Karen did a few stops in Williams Lake, we were fortunate enough to get our cell phone service and found everyone in….Debi, Robert (and Deb), Stephen, Mom, Art, Anna, Ben, wow. Success!
Arrived at Fir Crest and Phil was in 7th heaven. Tomorrow morning at 9:30 they have a swim across the lake, about a mile and a half. All those who want to swim are accompanied by 2 skiffs, so if one gets cold or tired, there's no safety problem.
after arriving on the far side, the boats shuttle the swimmers back. Similar services are provided for mountain biking. Powerboat rentals are here along with water skis, fishing gear and licenses. Canoes and kayaks- step right up.
It was one of the more interesting dinners tonight, another join effort, with the topics of conversation including how each of us has changed over the years, and our perceived relationships growing up with siblings. Lively to say the least!
July 14, 2001, Saturday- well, Phil dove off the dock to catch up with the two boats and the 10 or so others that had started their "across the lake" swim. Off he went, got across and was panting for breath and energy, and getting into one of the boats for the return when he looks up and sees that everyone else was doing a return swim. With great pain and trepidation he returned to the water environment and finished the return swim. Susan saw him upon the return, spread out prone on the dock. He tried to get on all fours and thought that he might want to rest some more, so back down he went. Since he was surrounded by folks, and not in distress, there wasn't any emergency concern….a job well done by a guy that probably had close to 40 years on the next closest aged swimmer!
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Karen had gotten a 1:20 tee time at the Best Western 108 Mile course. It turns out that this course was tough. So tough that from the red tees it was a par 75. For the men, it was a 71, but what a 71! A 520-yard par 5. Several 225 yard par 3's. 470 yard par 4s. Wow! The 9th, 17th and 18th holes were almost straight up hill, and were in the 450-yard par 4 range, and a 480 yard par 5. Since there were threatening clouds as we teed off, I left the camera in the car. After a half hour rain delay, we resumed play on the fourth hole. We played the next three holes in the rain. Yuk! I hate playing with wet hands, wet grips, rain suits grabbing, and hoods twisting. But, what I did miss with the camera were three red fox cubs that were running, romping and playing with each other across three holes on the back. It was a joy to watch these frolicking cubs, fearless of both humans and golf balls.
July 15, 2001, Sunday- after an hour's walk for some leg stretching, we headed to 100 Mile House…..20 minutes to the south. Today was the antique car show with almost 200 vehicles on display. They ranged from the 1930's forward, some were just old, some reconditioned, and some custom flame job specials. One that caught our attention was a little travel trailer pulled behind a 1934 deuce couple. Again Susan fell in love with the 1954 and 55 T-Birds. What's not to like?
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Chatting with Jane in the campground office, we learn that there is a 38% unemployment rate in the Cariboo region, and with forestry product production being curtailed, they were not optimistic for the near term.
July 16, 2001, Monday- with our windshield in Calgary, and the possibility of getting it installed before the kids arrive next week in Banff, we tentatively set an appointment for Friday. So, jacks up and off towards Kamloops from Lac Le Heche. About 10 miles north of Kamloops Phil and Karen pulled over because one of their dogs was going berserk. So off into a highway pulloff. Guinnan must have been stung by a bee or something. She was okay. But now our coach wouldn't start. Same thing….everything is ok but the starter isn't getting the spark. I tweak the ground wire, wiggle a bunch of things, but no juice. So, call our tow insurance company in the states, and after 30 minutes of the cell phone, the tow truck should be here in 15 minutes. Meanwhile I call our extended warrantee company for authorization for repairs. Since we can't get it to our dealer in Arizona, they say have the repair company call before doing anything.
While I'm on the phone Phil notices a big tow truck going in the opposite direction. About 15 minutes later the truck arrives. He didn't think we were the ones in distress since we were two coaches. The driver plays with some of the starter wires and nothing. So, I'm getting ready to take off the tow car and get ready for our hook when another face appears from around the other side of the coach. A truck mechanic. He saw the hooks and the coach and said maybe he could help. Or maybe he could make a quick buck. Anyway, he says he can have a starter motor here in an hour and in another hour and a half, have it installed. No need for the hook. Since our windshield is still hanging on by a thread and lots of duct tape, I didn't want the hook and the twisting it might cause.
I explain our electrical problem to this mechanic wearing an earring and a black leather jacket, sporting a two day old growth and driving a truck that has some of the letters on the pickup saying "discount truck repairs". Huummm!
He asks me to turn the key to the run position and the next thing I know, the engine is running. After reviewing with me the wires to jump the starter coil, he is done. The hook says goodbye. I give this mechanic a $50 bill and he is tickled pink telling me that I'm overpaying him. Phil would have probably then asked for change, but it was worth every nickel of the $33 US dollar equivalent. How fortunate that the hook didn't think we were his "client" on his first past by us. We would have the drive line and brakes set for towing, and couldn't have tried this passing mechanic's expertise.
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Tonight we celebrated Phil and Karen's 8th wedding anniversary in a little pub outside of Kamloops. Just like the good old days.
July 17, 2001, Tuesday- after a wet night and morning, the day turned overcast and drizzly, but not the earlier downpour. Good…Hobbes needed a touchup on each end, so we did the wash and dry (as best we could), and headed down town.
First stop, a ginseng showroom tour. During our travels each summer, we pass acres upon acres of ginseng growing under the sunscreen protection from the "black tarps". Canada and parts of the northern US are prime growing areas for "western ginseng", as opposed to the "eastern" variety grown in China. The former supposedly reduces blood pressure and the latter increases the pressure. In addition, eastern culture believes in a wide variety of medical benefits from ginseng consumption.
It's a fascinating business that we witnessed. First, it's 18 months from seed production until it's germinated. Another year for a sprout. Another year for the first leaf. After 4 years, harvesting can begin. After year 6, the plant is to old. So, bottom line, $40,000 per acre of investment. Yield, between 2000 and 3000 pounds per acre. Market price from $10 to $30 per pound, depending upon the root quality. Asians have 26 grading levels for each year's harvest.
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The facility that we toured processes the dried ginseng that it purchases from the Asian farmers. It's then processed by being shredded, or chopped, or ground into a powder, or sold whole, depending on the cultural beliefs of the purchaser. Some folks believe the heads are the most potent. For others it's the root body. All in all, the end products are pricey. Many bags of product were well over $100 per package.
Next, we headed over to Wal-Mart, then a local mall, and then Costco, getting odds and ends, a birthday present from Susan, and a replacement 2 way "walk-about" radio for the one we apparently lost yesterday. Worked a deal that the single radio that sold for $90, we got a 2 pack for $129, again Canadian. Not too bad.
Good news from Steve today…..his company has a few old Gateway Computer shells laying around…so we can get one of the old ones and not have to rush into buying a new computer at the moment.
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Wonderful early birthday dinner with Phil and Karen. Since we are separating tomorrow, tonight was the night. I lucked out with goodies for the coach…..a new windsock (all I have to do is figure out how to have it fly), and an ABC fire extinguisher to replace our BC factory supplied units. Now we are set for all types of fires, and since we have the proper extinguishers, no fire shall dare cross our path.
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