Calgary and the Queen Charlotte Islands

After being away from my own home, The Silver Spirit that is, I had such a thrill seeing her again. Still patiently waiting she just glimmered in the sun when I laid my eyes upon her.

Trudy and Rod had taken good care of her, pumping up the tires and so I started a summer clean to remember what I all had stored in her holes and cavities.And what did we found there.... A little dead mouse. I suspect that it snuggled into my car during the cold months, ate all my sunflower seeds and died of thurst and hungre when everything was gone.

The battery didn't want to charge, so when I tried to get out of Cardston and the motor kept falling out. The adventure started right there and I was reminded straight away how friendly and laid back the people are in Canada. Everyone always has some time to take out a map, help or listen to your story:
I got talking to Bing at the petrol station where, once again, I needed a boost. We charged the battery for a long time, but nothing happened, so we called his mechanic, who was not at home, and went for the second option which was driving to the house of another one. You have to know that it was Sunday evening and Cardston is a little town. Besides the petrol station, nothing is open. But this friendly mechanic finished his dinner, came to the garage, figured it was a dead dead battery and put a new one in for only40 bucks.

Lets start making some new miles baby!

In Calgay the Stampede was in full glory. I had not planned it, but it started the day after I arrived. With my two friends Warren and Graham I saw the parade and spend a day on the stampede grounds watching a fenomenal show with dance and sing from both indians and cowboy, a stand-up comedian, lots of glamor and glitter and tons of firework.
With the parade they do poop-bingo: They make a huge bingo-field on the street and you can buy the square you think a horse or cow will poop in. So funny. The little street-cleaners also get decorated cause they as well are part of the parade, working hard to clean the poop.

Warren, me and Graham

After the Wagon races and the Grand Stand Show we headed back to the funfair grounds, now in full light and glory. Yes, we had a lot of fun.

My drive through the Rockies to British Colombia started after Ms. Silver Spirit recieved new tires and a few check up and my insurance papers for her safe journey were collected.

The first sunset was already spectacular.

So this is what the passenger seat looks like. A round plank is my table and the box infront of the chair is where all the food is. Here i'm making tea and reading my post, just like in any other kitchen.

More beautiful vista's the next day on my way to Prince George

Just after leaving the Rockies I finally saw my first hitch hiker. It was Kelly, a 44 year old oilrig mover and dad of a twelve year old daughter.

Kelly turned out to be the best hitcher a driver can pick up, cause when we arrived in Prince George he had put $20 in my tank and filled my head with fantastic stories. He asked me if I wanted to pick him up tomorrow too and drive him to Smithers, he would put another $20 in my tank....... Ofcourse I was there the next day.

In Prince George I had a special friend to meet.
Sall Gibson is an artist as fine as you can get. She writes her own music and lyrics and when I met her almost two years ago during her first tour through BC I extremely enjoyed her music. All that time I only listened to her first CD and for a long time I tried to get her new second one. Now I could finally buy it and even see her play again.

She had no idea I was comming so it was a huge surprise for her to see me after two years. We had only been in contact like once every six months.

Again she played fantastic and I really hope she brakes through one day.

So I picked up Kelly the next morning and we drove to Smithers where I let him out and recieved an invitation to buzz the bell in Steward, BC (I was heading that way).

In Smithers it was such a delight to see other old friends once again. John and Jenny, two lovely people living a small log cabin build by themselves many years ago. You can see them on the picture above with the house in the back ground.
They straight away asked what I was going to do in the next week and invited me all at once to come to the Queen Charlotte Islands with them. My food was already bought.

I felt more welcome then ever.

It was a days drive and a nights ferry to get to the island and I was really qurious about what I was going to see. During my visit in Prince Rupert two years ago many people had told me that a visit to those islands was a must, but because of bad weather I had no chance to go. Now the opportunity arose in the best form ever: with friends that already had been there.

John and Jenny had rented a cabin in the North side of Graham Island and when we got there is was more perfect then expected. The cabins were really rustic and cozy, with rain water for the dishes and carry-in water for drinking. A gas bottle outside for the stove and a little heater. Ofcoursre there were no showers and the toilet was an outhouse.

The owner had 7 or 8 of those wooden houses and all were a little different.

Haida Gwaii, as the Charlottes are calledin their original name, were home to the Gwaii Haanas indians many years ago. There are over more then 150 islands in an area of 300km by 100km. It lays 120km off the main land so it takes the ferry six and a half hour to cross. The west coast has tremendous amounts of rainfall, while it's not too bad on the east side. But a cloud cover and fog will be seen many many times. The climate is mild though and snow will hardly fall in winter time.

About 5000 people live on the island, many of them being indians. You can still visit old abandoned vilages and see residents of life evrywhere. The main atraction are the beautiful totem poles made by the Gwaii Haanas people for many years now.

One of the other tourist atractions is Balanced rock, we are trying to hold it straight here.

But the beauty of the islands is in the fog, everything looks so majestic and fairy like. The greens moss is even more vibrant and the trees seem to appear from nowhere.

This is pebble beach where you can look for nuggets, golden stones almost as clear as glass.

Charley with a deerpaw he had find on the beach: 'dogs heaven!'

And someone informed us about a massive Finwhale that had died. It was already two weeks old, so the smell was pretty bad, but especially the stones around him were shiny and sticky from all the ozing oil. Super interesting to see.

Foxgloves were I think the most blooming flowers at the time, so we make tons of photo's with those.

The three days beachcombing, eating king crab, visiting an old wreck, seeing many deer with their young, enjoying the walks and relaxing in the cabing flew by.

Friday we returned and I started to make ready to leave the next day. We had a ten person diner in the little cabin, with chicken, tasty potato packages and fruit pizza with a photo collage from the last days as finishing touch.

Saturday my drive to the Far Big North started. Many adventures are waiting for me and you have no idea how eager I am to have some starting.

Thanks John and Jenny for once again opening your doors and making me feel like the most welcoming guest in the world. Your home and hearts will always be in my thoughts. One day I hope to be able to invite you to my house.