Wandering through Wistaria

It was much cooler camping next to the river than the forest in Stewart; we woke to light morning fog. The trains on the other side of town made a lot of noise between 5 and 6am 🚂 🔊 🔔 So much for sleeping in 🫨 Many people were already fishing at the rivers edge.

D had a good idea to head in to town for breakfast to warm up, and let the sun evaporate the dew from the tents. The four of us walked to Louise's Kitchen where A and J shared a large breakfast platter. It was surprisingly warmer and sunny up the hill too.

D's idea worked as the tents were mostly dry upon our return. A used a small cloth the remove the rest, and it was quite dry by the time everything else was packed up.

It was close to noon when we finally departed town. On our way to Houston, we managed to get a glimpse of D and T ahead of us but couldn't tuck in behind them due to traffic. We stopped in Houston for fuel. J's parents suggested taking a popular backroute near Ootsa lake through the small farming community of Wistaria.

We turned off highway 16, onto Morice River service road. Before long the beat-up asphalt gave way to a very wide gravel road. It wasn't too bad, but we kept the speed low as the top layer of gravel was quiet loose. Other road users blistfully sped past us kicking up quiet a dust storm; thankfully it wasn't too busy, so we only endured the occasional dust cloud requiring us to hold our breath and momentarily slow down.

We stopped for photos near a wetland with Nadina mountain in the distance, and shortly after found a turn off to Owen lake recreation site.

After 64km of the haul road, we turn on to a less used gravel road. We crossed the Nadina river on a very narrow bridge. The devistation of the 2018 fires was still present, but a healthy green undergrowth dominated the charred ghostly landscape. Around the 72km mark we merged with Oosta Nadina road. We continued to head further south and east at a much quicker pace. The dirt road was smooth, packed, and free of gravel.

We came upon a rise overlooking Ootsa lake and distant vistas, it was breath taking! Just like the brochures 😉 The scent of manure all over the road from the herd of cattle ranging nearby was powerful.

Once passed Wistaria, the dirt road became nice asphalt. The burnt forest turned into rolling landscape dotted by farmstead and pastures.

Arrived late afternoon in Southside where J's parents have a place. We greeted them at the dock as they returned from fishing in their canoe.

Once settled in, enjoyed the waning sun from the front deck overlooking Francois Lake.Read more