Day 7 (Aug. 7, 2009)

Woke up at "Helmcken Falls Lodge Campground".

Took showers, went to the bathroom, cooked on picnic table.

Oatmeal and coffee for breakfast.

Since we got in so late the people at "Helmcken Lodge" said to

just pay in the morning.

Meant to stay here.

Ended up staying here. Right next door.

When we went to pay we found out that we had stayed in the

wrong campground last night.

The lady had given Cecil bad directions that led us down a hill,

across a golf course to an R.V. park with tent sites. Oops!

Well we kinda wondered last night why the place had two offices. : )

So we went back to the place we stayed and told that office our

situation, they laughed, asked "Well, was it comfortable?" and

took our money for our nights stay at their R.V. park called

"Wells Gray Golf Resort and R.V. Park."

Dawson Falls had tons of water dropping across the elevations.

Headed up to Dawson Falls. Biggest falls we have seen yet, not the tallest though.

Heard a tour guide say the falls spanned about 90 meters.

Helmcken Falls falls further than Niagra.

Next we went to Helmcken Falls which was narrow but extremely tall.

Heard several people say it is taller than Niagra. Fell into a big bowl,

with the walls covered by moss.

Saphata Falls is very scenic.

Went to another falls called Saphata Falls. Very cool! Worth the stop.

Headed on to Kamloops. From Kamloops we took 5A.

Scenic Highway taking us to Merritt. We've been going through the Nicola Valley.

Very beautiful country. High rolling hills with sparse patches of pine trees.

Mostly yellow grassy farming country separated with homemade barb-wire fences.

The landscape from Kamloops to Merritt.

Occasionally there will be a lake surrounded by tall green grass along the perimeter

with ducks and birds. Reminds you of oasis's in a dessert of yellow grass.

Cecil and I both think it is gorgeous here. Peaceful ranch homes and many

barns and corrals for horses and cattle.

More scenery between Kamloops and Merritt.

Must go along this highway again.

Along the way to Merritt we travelled through a place called Monch.

Very scenic. Larger green fields and yellow rolling hills with the sparse pines.

Merritt is a very nice sized town. Well populated. About the size of Wasilla.

Spending money has become easier and more frequent.

We would drive miles through Alaska, Yukon, and B.C. without any place to stop.

The only thing we spent was hours enjoying the vast beautifulness of the landscape.

Should be at Wildcat Lake tomorrow evening.

Just ate fast food at Tim Hortons in Merritt.

We just drove down the longest hill ever.

From Merritt there was a long hill that the Jeep seemed to be struggling with.

Then, even downhill it wouldn't coast properly. RPM's too high for coasting.

We stopped at a rest stop near Brighton Creek.

Jeep seemed to work itself out of the funk.

Drove through Hope, Chiliwack at night with intentions to stay at Harrison Hot Springs.

Harrison Hot Springs was busy!

Many young people in a partying type of atmosphere.

Tried to stay at a campground / R.V. park.

The lady got too pushy saying "we must stay there, it's too late to go down towards

the border."

Maybe we should had taken her advice, it would

prove to be a long miserable night!

-Cecil and Anne