Stunning drive thru the Northern Rockies

Wow, gorgeous morning!! We hoped the storm would clear overnight, and it did! Still some clouds hanging on the snow covered peaks; but beautiful, clear blue skies! We really took our time over coffee, as Tom said, "how is it we never get tired looking at these views??" It was hard to pack up and go!

Just enjoyed our drive, stopping at various overlooks to look at beaver dams, or at the current river that the road always seems to follow, it varies all the time. Some have the glaciated, opaque look and others clear water, some dark with mud or silt. But they all moved pretty quick and look cold!

But even in this remote (relatively) part of the highway, we managed to find yet another lodge with "world famous cinnamon buns", they all seem to offer cinnamon buns in Canada! Fortunately that is a preferred food group for Tom. And the ones at the Testa River Lodge were excellent!

I almost forgot to include all the wildlife sightings we had! And they were all within an hour of each other...first was the ever elusive moose! It was a cow, and she was just emerging from the woods on the side of the highway. Tom did a quick pullover, and I hopped out with my big camera. Ran back (quietly!) and did get a couple of shots. Back in the RV and maybe 20 minutes later, not one, but two black bears were on the side of the road. One crossed over, we got pictures, and then waited for the second to do the same. No such luck, so we got going again. Then in about another 20 minutes we saw a doe and fawn on the side of the road. What is kind of funny is that this is the first deer we have seen. Cute, with pretty long white tails!

Arrived in Ft. Nelson about 12:30 and started at the visitor center, picking up yet more brochures. You can never have to much info....well actually you can, especially when trip planning, because there are LOTS of brochures!

Even though there was more time in the day to drive, we decided to stay here for the night because we had the option of staying at an RV park with full hook ups, showers and laundry. We have been dry camping for three days, without cell service, and felt the need to re-connect, and re-clean up. Nice hot shower, with decent water pressure, loved it. So what if it was only 30" square with a shower curtain. The water was hot!

We did visit the Ft. Nelson Heritage Museum...omg! A ton of old stuff from the very late 1800s through the 40s, with completion of the highway. They had so much, it was almost like walking into a collectibles warehouse. Including old cars, trucks, equipment, small buildings; it was so much, that it was too much. You could visit half a dozen times and still find something you had missed before....so much we needed a break...and it just so happened that there was an ice cream shoppe right next door! Raspberry sorbet for us please, in a waffle cone!

Then we came back to camp and actually did all the previously mentioned chores. Dinner was some delicious homemade broccoli soup and bread that were also purchased at the Testa River Lodge, because why cook if someone else already had? (It was outstanding soup!)Read more