Last evening at Pend Orielle (ID) Rocky Mountains across Columbia Lake (BC)
The Rocky Mountains west of the continental divide in British Columbia
Castle Mountain approaching Alberta from west
Day 23 June 27 2011 Crossing the border into Canada.
So how was the border crossing you ask, Well hand on and we will tell you in some detail. VERY interesting, indeed. But first let’s get to that point some 25 miles north of Bonner’s Ferry ID. We did get a good start at 8:15 and were into Bonner’s Ferry by 9:00 AM. We crossed the Kootenai River , not for the last time as it now comes down out of Canada where it is spelled Kootenay and is very long and makes a hairpin turn in USA and returns to Canada. It eventually drains into the Columbia River system and the Pacific Ocean at Astoria OR. This is similar to what the Fraser River does as well. I digress!
Before we reached the border at Eastport Idaho, we stopped at an ver look of the Kootenai Valley. What a wonderful sight from high on the bluff with wheat fields and hay and cultivated fields showing their patterns . Then we arrived at the border.
They are “redoing” the border here at Eastport and it as a mess, temporary roads and tight turns and temporary buildings, but efficient in its own way. All vehicles pulling a trailer or motorhomes, had to stop, be checked o the computer inside the building and then hand the keys t the inspector while he goes through the trailer. Of course we had no guns, drugs, ammo, etc, but he did find Ruth’s Krispy apples she had just bought and those were confiscated. We had to remake the bed as their os storage under the ebed and he found it. He did not find the storage under the breakfast table where we store our vacuum and extra juices. (All the travel stuff (loose) in the kitchen is stored on that pad and it was intact. About 30 minutes to do that and we were given our passports back and headed for the Free Duty store to exchange some money into Canadian (.94 for the USA dollar) . They had a temporary shed to drive under but it was 8’ 6” and when I started to pull in I realized that my vents would not make it so I backed out.
Then the trip got really interesting in a visual sort of way. The mountains of the Rockies began to appear. Remember we are coming from the south and heading north and east to get t Banff area. So we cross from British Columbia to Alberta to pick up highway #1 (The Queen’s Highway) which goes north so we will connect to the Alcan HIghway eventually.
So it was the Moyie River that we crossed eight times which comes out of beautiful Moyie Lake . Then the larger town of Cranbrook as we started to get onto more Lodges, Hotels and large tourist accommodations. Some were “spa “ oriented. The historic site of Fort Steele a heritage town, the the statue of ‘Skookumchuck” the Native Canadian who’s statue stands by the side of the road. He is a legend here. Then the rolling hills and in the distance the Rocky Mountains. We get closer as we pass through Windemere and near Invermere, both resort towns. At Radium Hot DSprings, however the road heads directly onto the Mountains to the east. Got gas here for $1,27 /Liter or about $4.00 US. Last fill in USA was $3.55/gal.
Ruth was able to get some beautiful mountain shots on this stretch and we will share them with you when we get Wi-Fi. (None in the Park) From Radium Hot Springs to Banff is about 133 Km or about 78 miles .(Remember to multiply Km by .6 to get the miles.
We did find the park easily (Tunnel Campground #2) and got set up quickly on site number 423. Although t isn’t as beautiful as some parks, it s surrounded by the mountains and very quiet considering there may be 1,000 rigs here this week. *Canada Day is July 1, and we will be “out of here”. There is no question that the mountains are spectacular and still snow capped in some paces above 7,000 feet. There has not been the run off here nor the rain . Tomorrow we wilo drive the Bow River scenic road and scout for birds,. IT was pretty thin today with only 12 species and no new birds.
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