Manning Park, Hampton Campground, July 25, 2012
If you leave this morning remember why you’re going on the trip – to get some much needed rest, to de-stress, to see beautiful nature and to have fun! So if something is happening that is stopping you from that, then stop and refocus! I believe you will have a wonderful time and that you are full of courage and adventure to do this.
Remember to keep in touch,
Lots of Love M. xoxo
How very, very exciting Mom!
I just listened to a radio program on CBC (while I was mopping this morning) and it was all about how every woman should travel alone at least once. This woman drove all over North America and said it was the greatest experience of her life! What happy timing. Love T.
I was sitting at Starbucks when I received these emails, and I looked up from my computer screen and thought about how a few loving words in an email can make such a difference to our whole day. And the latté helped too.
Although I was supposed to have been on my way a few hours ago, it hasn’t happened, and now the guys are working to adjust the trailer height of the hitch to the new truck. Another problem has surfaced, my newly purchased back up camera no longer works with the GMC truck. The mechanic believes that a satellite signal from the truck is interfering with the camera signal. This is very bad news because I have found the camera to be enormously helpful.
In looking at the at the map of BC I decide that no matter what time the truck and trailer get united, I will not spend another night in the Zeller’s parking lot, my next stop will be Manning Park. The route is along the Hope Princeton Highway #3, and it will only take me about an hour and a half to get there, a perfect orientation drive for my new set of wheels.
3:00pm
On the road again, driving and lol with the excitement of it all! I am heading to the mountains and Hope, what a great name for a town.
Manning Park has several campgrounds to choose from, and in the morning I had tried to book a site online at Lightning Lake which I had heard was the best campground because it has access to two beaches but it is full. Coldspring is the closest campground to Manning Park Resort, but I chose Hampton because the website said it had large private sites, 99 of them, and stunning views, including a view of snow covered peaks and indeed that’s exactly what I find.
When I arrive at Hampton just before dinner, there are vehicles in only about six of the campsites. I do the campers’ walk checking out the other sites and look for hiking trails but can’t find any in this area. Tonight I am in need of good food and decide to cook a fancy dinner over the campfire, chicken, potatoes in foil, and onions, pepper, and mushrooms fried in the cast iron frying pan. Although burned in places, it is delicious, and the fire makes me feel safe and relaxed, just the way I had dreamed it would be. I spent some time reorganizing the stuff in the back of my truck because I hadn’t been in the garage when they crew had transferred my stuff from the old truck. I was glad that everything had fit. One additional activity that keeps me busy is swatting mosquitoes.
I looked up and saw a few stars through the clouds, stars that are so brilliant here in the dark mountains, and I realized that I was truly on my way. I wasn’t sure where I was going, other than east, but it sure felt good to be here.
Around ten, the weather began to change in a hurry and darker clouds rolled in, followed by thunder and pounding rain. Not being in a house and listening to the loud rumbles was a first for Baloo and he barked to show his displeasure. It sounded very loud inside my tiny trailer, but there were lulls between it all and then I could hear traffic from the not too distant highway. It’s going to take some practice to get used to all the different place noises.