Day 33 – Wednesday, August 31 2005
Kettle Falls, Washington – Donnelly, Idaho
Miles Driven: 373
After a good nights rest we were ready for the home stretch. We left Kettle Falls, Washington and followed Highway 385 south through Spokane. Getting through Spokane from north to south is not easy. The highway goes right through the middle of town and is confusing. Once out of Spokane we followed Highway 195 to the Idaho border, then Highway 95 through Lewiston, Idaho south to New Meadows and Highway 55. After 33 days and 5,703 miles, we arrived in Donnelly at 3:30 PM Mountain time, very glad to be home and happy to say “Safe Passage”. We camped in 20 different campgrounds, stayed in some rather interesting motel rooms, and saw so much beautiful scenery it is hard to believe. This was without a doubt a trip that we will never forget and one we are so glad we took while we were still young enough to enjoy it.
I hope you enjoyed this travel diary and that you will be inspired to take the trip yourself, you won’t be disappointed.
Hixon, British Columbia - Kettle Falls, Washington
Day 32 – Tuesday, August 30 2005
Hixon, British Columbia – Kettle Falls, Washington
Miles Driven: 603
We were up early and ready to hit the road by 5:30 AM. Normally we would not start driving until daylight but we wanted to try to make it across the border before stopping for the night. The first hour was tense, driving in the dark and watching for wildlife. By 6:30 we were in Quesnel where we gassed up and as we were driving out of town saw a small deer lost on the city street, the only wildlife of the morning. We followed Highway 97 south to Cache Creek, then turned east on Highway 1 toward Kamloops. Just before Kamloops we turned south on Canadian Interstate Highway 5. We were only on the super highway about 50 miles before we exited at Merritt and followed Highway 97c to the Okanagan Lake area. The valley from Penticton to Osoyoos was covered with orchards and vineyards. It is said to be the wine capital of Canada, you can believe it. The view driving up out of the valley from Osoyoos was spectacular. We followed Highway 3, a twisty mountain road to Christina Lake, British Columbia where we turned south on Highway 395 and crossed the border for the last time. Of all the border crossings on this trip, six in all, this was the only time we were questioned and asked to open the van for inspection. Once across the border we were only 31 miles from Kettle Falls, Washington where we found Barney’s Café and Motel. The room was cheap but the meal at the café was the best of the whole trip, good old USA beef! The TV didn’t work but we were too tired to care.
Hixon, British Columbia – Kettle Falls, Washington
Miles Driven: 603
We were up early and ready to hit the road by 5:30 AM. Normally we would not start driving until daylight but we wanted to try to make it across the border before stopping for the night. The first hour was tense, driving in the dark and watching for wildlife. By 6:30 we were in Quesnel where we gassed up and as we were driving out of town saw a small deer lost on the city street, the only wildlife of the morning. We followed Highway 97 south to Cache Creek, then turned east on Highway 1 toward Kamloops. Just before Kamloops we turned south on Canadian Interstate Highway 5. We were only on the super highway about 50 miles before we exited at Merritt and followed Highway 97c to the Okanagan Lake area. The valley from Penticton to Osoyoos was covered with orchards and vineyards. It is said to be the wine capital of Canada, you can believe it. The view driving up out of the valley from Osoyoos was spectacular. We followed Highway 3, a twisty mountain road to Christina Lake, British Columbia where we turned south on Highway 395 and crossed the border for the last time. Of all the border crossings on this trip, six in all, this was the only time we were questioned and asked to open the van for inspection. Once across the border we were only 31 miles from Kettle Falls, Washington where we found Barney’s Café and Motel. The room was cheap but the meal at the café was the best of the whole trip, good old USA beef! The TV didn’t work but we were too tired to care.
Prince Rupert, British Columbia - Hixon, British Columbia
Day 31 – Monday, August 29 2005
Prince Rupert, British Columbia – Hixon, British Columbia
Miles Driven: 500
The ferry docked in Prince Rupert, British Columbia at 5:45 AM Alaska time, 6:45 Pacific Time. It took about forty minutes before we were off the ferry and through customs. The original plan was to drive the 1,500 miles from Prince Rupert to Donnelly in about five days, taking our time and camping along the way. However; we decided on the ferry that we had seen what we wanted to see and were anxious to get home so we would pick up the pace and make the trip as quickly as possible. About 50 miles out of Prince Rupert we spotted a pack of wolfs on the side of the road but couldn’t get a picture of them. We traveled east on the Yellowhead Highway that follows the Skeena River and then turns south. South of Smithers, BC we saw Babine Lake, the largest natural lake in British Columbia and said to have the biggest sockeye salmon run in the world. It would be fun to come back to this lake with a boat to do some real fishing. We had planned to stop in Prince George, about 450 miles from Prince Rupert, but I was driving at the time and drove right past a couple of motels thinking there would be others once we turned south on Highway 97. Well I was wrong, and we ended up driving another 50 miles to Hixon, British Columbia. Lucky for me there was a nice little motel, the Kreekside Motel and Campground that had a vacancy. We ate some sandwiches we had picked up along the way and crashed after a long day. No pictures of this part of the trip, we were out to make time and didn’t stop for photos.
Prince Rupert, British Columbia – Hixon, British Columbia
Miles Driven: 500
The ferry docked in Prince Rupert, British Columbia at 5:45 AM Alaska time, 6:45 Pacific Time. It took about forty minutes before we were off the ferry and through customs. The original plan was to drive the 1,500 miles from Prince Rupert to Donnelly in about five days, taking our time and camping along the way. However; we decided on the ferry that we had seen what we wanted to see and were anxious to get home so we would pick up the pace and make the trip as quickly as possible. About 50 miles out of Prince Rupert we spotted a pack of wolfs on the side of the road but couldn’t get a picture of them. We traveled east on the Yellowhead Highway that follows the Skeena River and then turns south. South of Smithers, BC we saw Babine Lake, the largest natural lake in British Columbia and said to have the biggest sockeye salmon run in the world. It would be fun to come back to this lake with a boat to do some real fishing. We had planned to stop in Prince George, about 450 miles from Prince Rupert, but I was driving at the time and drove right past a couple of motels thinking there would be others once we turned south on Highway 97. Well I was wrong, and we ended up driving another 50 miles to Hixon, British Columbia. Lucky for me there was a nice little motel, the Kreekside Motel and Campground that had a vacancy. We ate some sandwiches we had picked up along the way and crashed after a long day. No pictures of this part of the trip, we were out to make time and didn’t stop for photos.
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