Tuesday, August 2, 2011 (Fort Steele Resort & RV Park, Fort Steele, BC)

We pulled into Runners RV at exactly at 9:00 this morning...our appointment time. Steve went in to let them know we had arrived and find out where they wanted us to unhitch. After getting the paperwork going, we were off for the day...so the techs could do their thing on our 5^th wheel.

Steve dropped me off just before 10:00 at Tamarack Mall where I would be getting my hair done at Chatters Salon.  While I was doing that, he was going to wash the truck as there was no rain in the forecast. I had a lovely time being pampered...for 3 hours...rarely have I spent that length of time just getting my hair done!  But it was 1:00 when I finally was out front paying...and found Steve who had finished washing the truck and shopping at Wal-Mart and Lordco long ago, waiting for me.

By this time, we were both ready for lunch so we walked across the parking lot to Boston Pizza.  After a great lunch, and a stop at Zellers for a couple of things, we headed back to Runners to see if they had finished the service on our trailer.  Unfortunately, the tech was only about half way through the “18 point check”...well since it was now 2:30, I doubt that they actually started work on it right after we dropped it off.  Since the fellow that we had initially talked to when we booked the service wasn’t there today, we think there was a bit of a communication gap.  We were under the impression that they would do the over-all check in the morning and should the wheel bearings need to be greased, they would take care of this in the afternoon.  So we were surprised to find that they were nowhere near finished.  Steve explained to the woman at the service counter that the brakes and bearings were our main concern and that we expected the work to be finished today as we live (and travel) in it.  Okay...they would drop the rest of the “check” and start work on the wheels...but it would be at least 5:00 before they were done...sheesh!

Well...what are we going to do for the next 2 ½ hours?  After sitting in the truck for a few minutes discussing our options, we decided to drive to Wycliffe Regional Park...we had passed the park entrance on our way to quad riding the other day so thought we would go back and check it out.

Rather than take our freshly washed truck down a narrow, gravel road into the park, Steve decided to park up on the main road.  It was a beautiful hot afternoon as we walked down into the park.  It is sectioned off into 6 areas where there are picnic tables, playing fields, horseshoe pits...and hiking trails connecting them.  We chose to take the trail to area 6 where there was beach access to Perry Creek. We walked down a narrow, steep trail and once at the bottom, found the trail to the creek.

We continued along the trail that lead to the adjoining area 5 where there was a group of kids...I think it was a day-camp out spending the afternoon at the park.  We rested at one of the picnic tables for a bit and then continued along the trail. 

Well...since we had come down a steep trail, I guess it was common sense that the trail would eventually lead back up...and up we went. 

The kicker though, was that it went back down again...and then we had to walk back up the hill on the road to get back to the truck.  By the time we got back to the truck...almost an hour later...we were hot, thirsty and I had some lovely big welts on me, thanks to the many mosquitoes that I kept swatting off me!

We arrived back at Runners shortly after 4:00 and settled into the comfy chairs in their waiting area.  At exactly 5:00, the tech came in and after explaining the work he had done, we paid up and were finally able to get going.  After getting the trailer hitched up, we were on our way to Fort Steele, just 12 kms away. The clear sky has now clouded over and it looks like thunder storms are on the way.

This is taken as you come down a hill into Fort Steele...

Fort Steele Resort and RV Park is a large campground just across the highway from the Heritage Town.  After paying for 2 nights...a bit rich at $44/night plus tax...we headed to site 80, a big pull-through with full hook-ups (and 50 amp power) but no cable...but they do have free Wi-Fi (with a good signal, I found out later).  The park is situated in a large flat area bordering the mountains.  There are lots of trees in the tenting area with the RV sections fairly open bordering on pasture where there are horses and donkeys fenced in (and quite popular with the kids). 

Although the site didn’t look very level as we pulled in, the spot where the trailer is parked is actually perfectly level.  We got all set up and then decided to take a short break before setting up the satellite dish...and relaxed outside in our chairs with a drink. 

While Steve started to get the dish set up, I made a quick dinner.  We didn’t have any problem getting a good strong signal on the satellite but we couldn’t get any stations...service had been temporarily suspended.  I guess since we hadn’t used it for over a week, our system had to be refreshed.  After trying to refresh by going on-line to the Shaw Direct website, we still couldn’t get any stations, so I ended up phoning.  As we were waiting for a call-back, the stations started to come in but the tech stayed on line with us to make sure both TV’s were fine. 

By this time it was almost 9:00...we were going to go for a walk around the campground, but decided to just stay put.  We watched TV until 10:00 and then headed to bed...to continue watching.  It wasn’t long after we were in bed when we started to see flashes of lightning followed by the rumble of thunder.  I decided to get up and sit on the couch watching the great display.  Then the rain started...it’s all Steve’s fault—he washed the truck today!!  But the rain really didn’t last long as the storm passed through.