I started the day looking at the giant spruce tree, the
largest in BC just 11 feet thick and 36 feet around.
Next a waterfall adjacent to the Rio Tinto main offices, I
was expecting a long hike but it was not to be.
I made my way to Kitimaat Village; as I have seen almost 40
native villages on this trip the same thing seems to be the case. Wonderful public buildings; school, arena,
council, and most houses are of the same vintage and generally speaking poorly
maintained. It would seem the natives
think that when they get a free house it should come with a landscape designer,
a gardener, full service garbage removal service and maintenance staff, to do
things like repair the driveway, replace the roof after 20 years, fix broken
windows, doors, porches and paint the house, mow the lawn. It would seem they say to themselves, well I
got a new house but I dammed if I going to take care of it. Makes me wonder how these people who claim to
be great Stuart’s of the environment can’t seem to take of their own
households.
There is a lot of evidence out there to suggest that they moved on
every now and then, maybe it was because they made such a mess of things that
the elders told to find a nice clean place to live. I took pics of the school,
houses and some boats in their harbour.
Drove back to Terrace, thought about the library for a while
and found the way blocked by the BC day parade. I do find the on holiday
weekend country folks like to go where the crowds will be, whereas city folk
like to get away from everyone, I left town right away. Heading east on hwy 16 as you pass Evelyn
cattle ranching seems to start. Sharp
mountains have given way to rolling mountains and fields of hay.
To make it interesting at Houston I decide to take Morice
Lake road, my map shows it a grey line so I am expecting gravel. I pass the
remains of a West Fraser Timber Mill but Canfor still seems to be in business
here. The road seems to be a little more
direct to a BC park unnamed on my map but has 133 sites and is on Oostra
Lake. The road signs indicate one should
call ahead that they have entered the road.
Seems odd but after some time I
think these signs are for lumber truck plying the way as it would be impossible
for two of these trucks to pass on this road.
After 85km the road narrows and is really just a one lane road now. A
truck passes and I get another large chip in my windshield, that make 7 for the
trip, wonder if its’ worth getting fixed or just buy a new one for $170. The road splits and I decide to the most
traveled one, 35km later there is a 3 way split and now I’m not sure what to
do, all roads look well-traveled. I did see a small yellow sign about 4” by 15”
indicating Noralee and decide to abandon this road and head back to that cut
off. About 24km back I see a sign for Andrew Bay BC Park 23km and decide that
must be the road.
Heading down I see one
of those U-Mog like European All-Terrain SUV heading out so it looks good. Arriving at Little Andrew Bay Park, I get a
great site overlooking the lake and boat ramp, chop some wood and realize I’m
not at the right park as this park only has 16 sites.
518km today
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