We were not going far today so we started late Also because yesterday was a long day we slept in a little longer. Another sunny day that was upper 60’s this morning.
The traffic was good, so my planning to be north of Seattle worked. We stayed on I-5 North until the GPS started routing us Northeast. I had put in Hope British Columbia so we could avoid Vancouver traffic and we did for the most part. We crossed the border with Canada in a small town called Sumas Washington.
The scenery was very good because the cascades where on the east horizon along the drive. We approached fairly close as we turned to head north to the border crossing. There was a little haze and it may have been smoke from the Canadian wildfires. I saw some posted notices in British Columbia after we crossed the border and there it definitely was smoke. We got our first look at the Canadian Rockies.
Traffic on the Trans Canada Hwy was heavy but they had lighted signs that limited the speed limit for section and about 10 miles before we exited, the speed limit finally got to 100 kilometers per hour. By that time the traffic seemed to have thinned out somewhat so maybe that is good news for the days ahead.
We arived in Hope BC early and found that they are on Mountain time so we are now loosing all the time we gained. The room was not going to be ready for a couple hours so we went to a recreation field and in the large fenced areas of 2 ball diamonds Kelso had some off leash time. We stayed they for quite a while sitting in the shade and there was a nice breeze, it was very comfortable. Later we drove thru the Main Business District of Hope and saw a large park with a bunch of vendors set up in the park. We found a place to park and walked the park. The vendors were mostly artists selling their creations and a few other like a jam lady.
The one thing I have not mentioned yet is that if you look up at the horizon it is all mountains. Hope BC is not right in the mountains but they are close. Tomorrow we will probably get into the Rockies in earnest moving thru the valleys with the mountains all around us. I just hope we do not have any wildfire issues to deal with or alternate routes.
Spent some time this evening trying to work out the final days of the trip. Almost completed but I am going to have to call on a couple of days to make sure we have a motel room for the night. I think right now, we will be back in St Clair on August 10th.
