Monday, July 24 to Wednesday, August 2, 2017 (Tunkwa Provincial Park, Logan Lake, BC)

Another 10 days have gone by...time for an update!

Monday afternoon we had a visit from a couple from Kamloops. Lauren and Mike are also RV Happy Hour followers and since we weren't far away, they came out to meet us. We spent a lovely few hours chatting...always great meeting fellow RV'ers!

Late in the day, I received an email from our lawyer in Sidney. Today is the closing date on the sale of our house...funds have been received, our house is sold and now belongs to our son and daughter-in-law. Congratulations, Rob and Angie!

The beautiful Yellow-headed Blackbirds are no longer around...the feeder has been taken over by the chipmunks...

Tuesday was another beautiful day. Considering all of the wildfires burning, we have been lucky recently with very little smoke in our area.

After breakfast, Steve spent time outside changing the line on his fishing rods. It was shortly after 10:00 when he was finally ready to hit the lake. He caught a couple and lost a couple...

Well, I think I spoke too soon about the clear sky we have been having. That afternoon I took Tucker for a walk and took this picture...starting to get hazy again...

The once rushing creek from Tunkwa to Leighton lake is now dry...

Tucker leading the way down to his swimming spot on Leighton Lake...

Tucker had a great time swimming...then it was time to head home...

Wednesday morning we worked while Doug and Sue went into Kamloops. They usually go Tuesdays but had changed it to today so they could pick up supplies for Hugh's surprise birthday party tonight. Hugh has been a volunteer here at the park for years and today is his 70th birthday, so a big celebration was in order!

Doug ended up having to tell Hugh we were having a gathering in the compound for him...so the 'surprise' part were all the guests that were joining us.







Left to right...Brian (co-owner of Brandywine Environmental, the contractor that runs our park), his girlfriend, Collette, Sue, Steve, Brian and Barb (volunteers over at Leighton Lake)...

Steve, Brian, Barb, Judy, Neil (he oversees a number of parks for Brandywine...including ours), Rick (Rick and Judy are regular guests here at Tunkwa and friends of Hugh), Hugh, Brian and Collette...

Doug is grilling burgers...and the table is full of food...

Dinner time! Rick and Neil filling up their plates...

Around 7:00, I changed into my uniform and headed out to check for newbies in the park. I registered/collected from a number of new campers in all 3 campgrounds. While I was gone, it was birthday cake time...

I got back just as the party was breaking up but sat outside with Doug, Sue, Hugh and Steve for a little while longer until it was time to call it an evening. Happy 70th Birthday, Hugh! Hope you enjoyed your celebration!

Thursday Steve headed out fishing again...

Because BC is in a State of Emergency with all the wildfires the military has been called in to assist. We also have firefighters from other provinces, Australia and more are coming from the US and Mexico.

I spent the majority of my day updating our Travel Maps...all done and up-to-date since we hit the road in June, 2010! Check them out.

Friday morning we woke to very smokey conditions. We puttered around the trailer doing odds and ends. Steve cleaned the air-conditioner filter...

Late morning we decided to take a drive into Logan Lake. We picked up a few groceries at the market, hit the liquor store and then went out for lunch at the Black Bull Pub. On our way home we replenished our drinking water containers at the sani-dump.

Saturday morning Steve and I both worked...doing a split shift...cleaning the outhouses in the morning and then again late afternoon. In between, we both did a little reading. Steve also started one of his maintenance jobs inside the trailer...on the ceiling. The nails on several of the molding strips on the ceiling have popped and won't stay in so Steve took them down and applied 3M Auto Molding Tape.

Sunday morning I thought it would be nice to go out in the boat with Steve. I don't have a fishing licence, not bothering with one anymore because I'm not big into fishing. I also find it uncomfortable sitting still in the boat for hours...but I must admit, I quite enjoyed our outing today!

It was a beautiful day! No smoke right now...but it was visible on the horizon. The winds are supposed to be shifting today, coming from the north instead of south/southwest...which could be good news for the wildfires in that they may turn back on themselves, but not so good for us here due to the smoke.

Steve has a nice comfy seat now....

 Awww....just a little fishy...

 You can see the smoke starting to really show itself in the distance...big billows coming our way...

Hard to see but this Osprey just caught a fish (bigger than Steve's) and was attacked by another and dropped it. We couldn't tell which one ended up with the fish but as soon as it did a Bald Eagle swooped in and chased the Osprey. They circled for quite awhile gaining altitude until you could hardly see the Osprey. The Eagle finally gave up the chase...very cool to watch!

The smoke is getting closer...

We came ashore around 1:30...a lovely morning out on the lake! But, I must admit, I was getting pretty sore sitting there!

After showers and a bite to eat, we decided to ride our bikes down to meet some folks in site #25. Sue mentioned that they apparently follow our blog. They weren't there...probably out fishing...but we enjoyed a nice bike ride around the campground. We'll have to try to connect with them another time.

As we thought would happen, we woke up to smoke Monday morning. Actually, the winds are such that a thick layer of smoke covers much of BC...a "Special Air Quality Statement" has been issued.
The smoke along with extreme heat is causing difficulty for many throughout the province. Meanwhile, the winds continue to whip up the wildfires...and the province continues under a "State of Emergency".

We left the park at about 8:30 this morning...going into Kamloops for a  little shopping and to meet an "old" co-worker that I haven't seen for years!
The area is really socked-in with smoke...

We met Marika and Bruce at the Walmart Parking lot...deciding rather than try to find a parking spot downtown, we'd meet there and go with them in their car. After big hugs, we hopped in their car and headed to The Noble Pig Brewhouse.
Marika and I were trying to figure out the last time we saw each other...and figured its got to be over 30 years! We worked together in the "early days" in HR, BC Assessment and then she moved over to another office with BCA before leaving altogether for another job.

After lunch, we went back to Bruce and Marika's place...they have a beautiful view, just too bad it was so smokey today! Rabbit Island on the Thompson River...

We enjoyed a drink on their deck and then they dropped us back at our truck. Thanks so much, Marika and Bruce...it was wonderful seeing you and catching up! Let's do it again...but not wait for 30 years this time!

Tuesday was Sue and Doug's day to go into Kamloops, so Steve and I worked. The air was thick with smoke again today, making it unpleasant working outside. Steve's job for today was to take the blower and clear off all of the tables...it doesn't take long for spider webs to get out of control!
He wore a dust mask which I'm sure helped him a lot. I chose not to and must admit by the afternoon, I could really feel the affects of breathing smokey air. With not many campers in Tunkwa Hugh didn't have many sites to clean, so he helped out with the blowing too...


Leighton campground...

Leighton North campground...

Tunkwa campground. We even had ash falling on everything this morning, cough! cough! The forecast is for the winds to continue from the north for the next 5 days so that's not good.

Steve was finished and sitting inside, having had lunch and showered, by the time I came in. After showering, I joined him sitting in the trailer with the AC running...out of the smoke!

Wednesday we had a very lazy start to the day...I've said it before, but I find it amazing how we can get up at 6:00...and next thing we know, it's 8:30! We did our resistance exercises and then got on with our day...breakfast, dishes and then Steve went out to sort some recycling while I took care of some paperwork. After that, I did some laundry and Steve watched one of his shows on TV...other than that, it was a pretty quiet day.

Later in the afternoon, we decided to take a drive into Logan Lake to the Post Office. We had an envelope that needed to be sent via registered mail to Victoria. After mailing the envelope and picking up some change at the bank for Sue (long weekend coming up!), we stopped at the pub for a beer and then headed home.

We had an early dinner tonight so Steve would be ready by 6:00 to go over to Leighton Lake with Doug. Steve is going fishing with volunteer Brian in his boat, while Doug goes out in his own. Just about everyone here fish with chironomids which Steve has tried a couple of times without success. He has found it boring just sitting there waiting for a bite so usually fly casts or trolls a fly. Brian has fished here since the 70's and is an experienced chironomid fisherman so he has offered to show Steve the proper setup and technique. Within 5 minutes Brian had his first fish and a few minutes later another. About 40 minutes later Steve finally caught his first and awhile later another. Apparently it was a slow evening with only 2 good sized trout each. Steve found it difficult to get the knack of casting a 16' leader with a float indicator and swivel, so much more practice is required.

Brian's first fish around 2 lbs...

Brian is going to do a throat pump to see what this one has been feeding on but it's stomach was empty...

It was a perfect evening except for the smoke. Doug is fishing in front of that island and caught one...

Doug and Steve arrived back in the compound shortly before 9:00. Sounds like Steve enjoyed his lesson...thanks Brian!

And that brings us up-to-date once again...stay tuned for the next one!