I was awake well before 5:00...ugh! I know we wanted to get an early start today, but...sheesh! Consequently, we pulled out of the campground a 7:40 a.m....that doesn't happen very often. Again, there was beautiful scenery as we continued south. This is the Nass River...
Just past Kitwanga, the Stewart-Cassiar Highway (37) ends at the Yellowhead Highway (16). We turned left and headed east. We stopped at the visitors centre in the town of Hazelton...We needed a sani-dump and there happened to be one here...
While Steve was finishing up at the dump, I walked around the park area and took these pictures...
Further along the highway, we came across some repaving...
...and then some construction...
We arrived in Smithers at about noon and immediately found the Laundromat. After our usual "fun time" there, we continued a little further along and stopped at a mall where there was a Safeway and a liquor store (how convenient). I walked out of Safeway with a buggy full of groceries to find Steve talking to Theo and Loralee. We had tried calling them but they were out...I guess they decided to "hunt us down". We chatted for a bit and then we put our groceries in the trailer and all climbed in Theo and Loralee's truck...they are taking us on a tour of Smithers. Unfortunately we forgot our camera.
End of the Smithers Airport runway used to be part of their property...
After the tour, they dropped us off at our truck and fifth-wheel...we'll see you back at the house. This is the road to their place...their property starts at the tree line...the fence line to the right is the end of the airport.
They own a beautiful 240 acre ranch and used to raise cattle. They now like to travel so have no animals of their own but do allow others to board their horses here. That's their house in the distance that overlooks the Bulkley River Valley...
Moochdocking!...
Leo said we could park inside...there is a sanidump (inside) power and a full bathroom. I bet you could park three of us in here with room to spare!
We got leveled off and I put the groceries away and did a minimal setup. After getting cleaned up, we jumped into Theo's side-by-side and drove up to the house.
Before going up to the house, we drove to the entry to take a picture....
This beautiful fellow greets you as you approach the gate...
We were greeted by Theo holding his 2 year old granddaughter, Emma...
Glacier view from the front of the house...
That's our rig in the distance between the trees by the workshop...
The back deck...
And the view of the Bulkley River from the rear deck...good steelhead fishing here...
They have an absolutely beautiful home that they designed themselves...with beautiful views from every room...
Then it was time for dinner...Theo and Loralee's daughter and granddaughter were invited to dinner as well as their son and his friend...
After a delicious dinner, they took us out for more sightseeing. They started with a tour through their acreage down to the Bulkley River...
This is an island in the river...
Theo logs in the winter and has rented out a piece of equipment he wanted to check out. Actually they wanted to show us some of the 5 log homes being built for a fellow from Quebec for his family. If I remember correctly I believe the owner has a Natural Pharmaceutical Company and has obviously done very well for himself. This is a rear view of the main log home which will be used as a customer retreat...I think it's around 15,000 sq./ft.Front view...
This was built for one of the kids...(wonder if he adopts) It's currently being occupied by the developer/caretaker...
A beautiful sunset as we were leaving...
We were home and in bed by 9:30. We've had a wonderful visit with Theo and Loralee! Although our visit was very short, they sure managed to show us a lot of the area! They went above and beyond in their hospitality and we very much appreciated it. We will be leaving early in the morning, so after hugs and handshakes, we thanked them very much and said goodnight. We are already starting to plan next summer, and we think that we may come back up and explore this area a little more. Theo had wanted to load up our ATV's on his flatbed trailer and take us into the backcountry and up into the alpine...hopefully next year. Thanks Theo and Loralee!
Very nice article, Thanks for sharing this wonderful post.
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