We were all packed up and ready to hit the road this morning by 9:00. After a stop at the sani-dump, we drove through Logan Lake...it was a beautiful morning!We're approaching Kamloops....
Just on the outskirts of Kamloops, we took the exit to Hwy 1 (Trans-Canada Hwy)...
Shuswap Lake is huge and very busy in the summer time!
We stopped in Salmon Arm to fill up with fresh water. The sani-dump is right in the parking lot of the Piccadilly Shopping Centre, so not only is there good access to it, but it's handy for shopping...there is a Save-On-Foods and liquor store...you know...the essentials!
Once finished with our shopping and fresh water fill-up, we continued east. We passed through Sicamous...houseboat capital of Canada (sorry about the reflection from the window)....
As I mentioned, the Shuswap area is a summertime hot spot and draws a lot of people who enjoy all sorts activities on the water...We're starting to see glimpses of the Rocky Mountains in the distance...
And here is our turnoff onto Wap Lake-Mabel Lake FSR (Forest Service Road). A short distance on the lumpy road...and up a bit of a hill to the right...we joined the group assembling for the event this weekend. The area is really just a big gravel pit and definitely not level but we managed to get backed into the spot beside Orval, Edith and Travis (thanks for saving us a spot, guys!). The fun part was getting level! After leveling side-to-side, we unhitched and then discovered that we couldn't get the front jacked up high enough...we weren't anywhere near level! The motor for the front jacks has been getting sluggish and because the front end was so sloped and had all the weight, the motor was stalling out...Great!!! So, Steve backed the truck back under the overhang and with the help of Earl...and a 4 ton bottle jack under the king-pin, they managed to adjust the front jacks of the trailer up on boards and raise it enough to level off. Thanks for the help, Earl! Whew...that was a lot of work on a very, very hot afternoon!!This is the highest we have ever had to raise the trailer...
After we got leveled off, Earl and Allison got set up right beside us...then it was time to relax with a cold beer! We both have our awnings down but tomorrow we will be adding our sun screens...there's not much shade here!
We had a nice visit with the crew from the Poker Ride...most had arrived over the last few days. Orval and Edith had their motorhome beside us, then Jeff and Marlaine; Ralph and Sheila; Greg and Susie; Gordie and Dave; Wayne and Vicky...and Mario was just across the road. It's good to see everyone again!
One remarkable thing is that we have a great cell/internet signal here in this somewhat remote gravel pit! Last year a new tower was put up...how nice of them! So guess what I will be doing over the coming days?!
The first thing we did Thursday morning was put the sunshades on the awnings!
Steve climbed on some rocks across the road from us and took a couple of pictures. Orval's motorhome on the far right, with us in the middle and Earl/Allison beside us...the rest of "our" group are just to the right of the rock pile beside Orval...
Some of the other campers already here...it's going to get way busier!
It was just after 11:00 when we decided to head out on the trails to do a little geocaching...there is a long string of caches hidden along the FSR...
More beautiful British Columbia scenery...
Allison trying to figure out how to get up to this old cabin...there's a geocache hidden somewhere around it...Earl found it...
It was going on 4:00 by the time we got home...very hot and dusty! But we'd had a great ride...about 50 kms return...and 28 geocaches.
After dinner, I was back inside on the laptop (working on the blog) when Steve said that he and Earl were going to ride up the mountain behind us to see the view of 3 Valley Gap. One thing about the heat...it is smokin' hot during the day, but once the sun goes down behind the mountain, it cools off quite quickly, which is very nice! So we had a nice "cool" ride up the mountain and took in the spectacular views.
We were a little late because the sun was no longer shining on the lake...we'll have to try another time. Still pretty spectacular, though....
Friday, we really didn't do much of anything...well, I worked on the blog inside the sweltering trailer. Too bad we couldn't set up a proper table and chair outside...it's just too awkward with the hot laptop on my lap while sitting in my lawn chair (besides I find it difficult to see the screen when outside).
Quite a number of campers arrived throughout the day...the event starts tonight with the drawing of the hands and everyone has all day Saturday (although everyone must check in by 6 pm) and up to 3:00 Sunday to find their markers.
Orval took Travis up on the sightseeing helicopter that takes off from 3 Valley Gap Chateau. There they go!
At 3:00, everyone assembled up at the tents for the opening of the ATV/GPS event. Al (aka "3 Valley Al") welcomed everyone and explained all of the rules and regulations. Purchasing of our hands would not start until 5:00.
Happy hour in the shade....Mario, Jeff, Marlaine, Sheila, Greg and me...
At 5:00, Steve, Earl and I went up to purchase our hands...we bought 3 hands, for a total of 12 GPS markers that we would have to find. We'll be riding together.
After purchasing their hands, everyone heads back to campsites to work on plotting all markers on their GPS. The markers you draw can be sprawled over a great distance and/or can be grouped closely together. Here is an example of one of our hands...
After plotting the co-ordinates on computer (using BC Backroads Maps), we found roads that we figured would take us to the markers (or as close as possible) and I drew the tracks. Now, it was 2 years ago since we did this last so we really weren't sure of the best way of doing it...but, now I plan on making notes for next time. The way I did it wasn't the best but after working on it all evening, I wasn't about to start all over again!
Here's a picture of the map showing our planned route (coloured magenta) ...the red balloons mark the co-ordinates...ours are spread out quite a bit, well, at least some are...Saturday everyone was up and out early...some even left before 6:00! We headed out at a more reasonable hour.
There was a free breakfast...pancakes and sausages...starting at 7:00...
Earl putting his dust mask on...Looking good, Earl!
That's me...with Earl and Allison behind me...the wild flowers are beautiful...
A creek to go through...
We came across Ed and Moira in their side-by-side...Ed had to widen the trail so he could get through...
This one took us forever to find...and it was in plain site!
The direct route is the road below but was flooded so we had to take the long way around...
There are great views of Wap Creek from this marker location...
We had lunch at that location, high above the river and then it was time for a long ride south down to the further marker we had, #60. It was way down next to Mabel Lake...we crossed this river not far from the marker....
We made it! That's Mabel Lake in the distance...
We had one final stop on the way home...to find the marker at this cool old cabin. Steve's fuel gauge was flashing after 139 km's so we had to fuel up here...
We were home shortly after 4:00...8 hours and 175 kms and 7 markers found and recorded. We're hot, dusty and tired! After shedding our jeans and boots for shorts and flip-flops, we sat outside in the shade for a beer...or two!
They were serving dinner from 6:00 to 7:00...either a hamburger or smokie plus pop or water for $5.00. Sounded like a good idea to us! It was too hot and we were too tired to cook.
After dinner, once it had cooled down a bit, Steve and Earl rode up the mountain behind us. There was another marker up there plus they wanted to get pictures of Three Valley Lake Chateau in the sun...beautiful!
So that was 8 markers found today...only 4 more to get tomorrow.
Sunday morning, Steve, Earl and I headed out at 8:00 again (Allison decided to stay home). The 4 markers we had to find were somewhat closer. The views and the scenery was just as spectacular as yesterday's ride! Unfortunately the sun was in the wrong position for a lot of the pictures...
We had found all 4 markers and were back home by noon...just in time for lunch! We were all huddled in the shade...man, it's hot! As a matter of fact, all of BC is going through quite a heat wave right now. Tons of records are being broken.
Generator on...Air Conditioning on...lets play Rummikub! Yup...that's how we ended up spending our afternoon...inside Earl and Allison's trailer! Good games...I think we each won one for a change.
Just before 5:00, everyone walked up for closing ceremonies...and of course, the prizes!
Here are Jeff Mohr, President of ATV/BC, along with 3 Valley Al, our host. Bob and Wayne are in the background...
We didn't win first ($500), second ($250) or third ($100) prize...but my name was one of the first called for a door prize, so I had my pick of a lot of great prizes. I chose this rain coat...very nice (and the price tag on it said $99.99!)...not too shabby! As you can see, I was very happy!
Everyone ended up leaving with a prize. It was another great event...we really enjoyed it! And that concluded this year's ATV GPS Ride at Three Valley Gap. A lot of work goes into these events...thanks for all the hard work!
That looks like such FUN! Geocache on quads! We used to do orienteering way back when the kids were little. We started to do some geocaching but haven't done much. Now that we starting fulltiming, that's something we'd like to do much more of. We'll have to settle for hiking boots instead of quads though :-) That chateau looks gorgeous. We are really looking forward to seeing much more of Canada in the next couple years. Can't wait!
ReplyDelete