Road Trip 2010: Day 58: Cache Creek to Seattle (almost), WA

Thursday, August 5

We drove south on Highway 1 from our campground in Cache Creek along the Thompson and then the Fraser Rivers. The scenery would have been absolutely stunning if not for the smokey pall from all the wildfires. Steep-walled canyons with train tracks--and roadways--clinging precariously to the walls or snaking their way through tunnels and sheds drilled into/build onto the canyon walls. Raging waters deep below passing through a mixture of wide valley bottoms and narrow constrictions such as Hell's Gate. If not for all the S-curves and steep grades to be negotiated--and, of course, the smoke--it would have been a pleasant ride.

Then we got to the border.

It took us slightly over an hour to pass through customs. Oh, not because there was anything special done. We didn't get pulled aside and searched or anything like that. It was strictly volume. Four lanes for passenger cars and one lane for Buses, Recreational Vehicles and Trailers--oh, and anyone who went to the duty free shop. Needless to say, we crept along as slowly as a slug on a sunny day. All the while, I watched the gas gauge as it showed me losing range from 48 miles to 45 despite moving only 1/4 mile. I had decided to wait until I crossed the border before I filled the tank. Now I hoped to cross before I needed a nursing home.

We finally did get to a border agent who was a pleasant enough young fellow. We talked a bit about our trip while they ran the license plates and checked our pass ports. He sounded genuinely interested in Good Sam Caraventures by the time our discussion was over.

Then we found out the bad news: The only gas station I saw that was open in Sumas, WA could not accommodate a trailer like ours. We would have to trust that we would find a gas station in the next 43 miles or resort to the 4 gallons I was carrying in the can in the bed of the truck.

With 23 miles left in the range of the truck, we found a Shell station on the outskirts of Lyden.

We worked our way south. Terry called the place in Everett I had tabbed for tonight only to learn it was booked. (Air show with the Blue Angles.) So we looked in the book and found a place in Bothel, WA, off I-405 almost due west of Seattle that had room. Lake Pleasant RV Park is a beautiful place. Nearly everyone here is here for long term stays or for a few days as they explore Seattle and its environs. The grounds are meticulously groomed. And the setting is superb.

We'll be on our way in the morning, however, as we head down to Portland, OR, to visit with Rick and Sandy.

PS: I took no pictures today. Too much smoke where I really would have liked to take them. To many people elsewhere.