Day 250 - Fri 3 Apr 2020 - Canada, eh!

We're all keen as custard today and are driving before 9am. We head east to Vantage and then head north along a canyon called the lower Grand Coulee.

Millions of years ago fingers of glacial ice extended all the way into present day USA. Repeated flooding stripped the land of all soil and carved deep canyons into the landscape. The region is known as the Channeled Scablands. Today a chain of lakes of various sizes remain in the ancient river bed. Soap Lake at the southern end of the Grand Coulee is pretty unique in that it has two distinct layers that have not mixed thousands of years!

We climb out of the canyon along State Route 17 and cross the Columbia river again. Then we join the US Route 97 where the Okanagan river (or Okanogan and the Americans call it) empties into the Columbia river. We now follow the Okanagan river all the way to Lake Okanagan and Kelowna.

We stop off in Omak for some lunch and the very last supplies. The border crossing is surprisingly easy. Now hazmat suits, just a friendly border patrol agent welcoming us back to Canada.

The drive is very scenic with beautiful lakes and lots of wineries. Then we finally get our view over Lake Okanagan, it is absolutely huge.

We are all super excited that we managed to make it to our apartment before dinner time so we unpack and settle in.

Since we are in quarantine and not sure how things will change over the next few weeks this will be the last blog post for now. We will be working on adding the missing days from the beginning of our trip. If and when travel is back on the menu we will continue with the blog again.

Thank you all for your interest in our travels!

Be safe!

Today: 463km - 6h38m

Total: 29,766km - 574h33m

Day 249 - Thu 2 Apr 2020 - Ready, Set

Another day spent indoors. The kids try all the TV channels. Janine manages to get the last supplies for the pantry. All set for quarantine in Canada... sounds exciting...

Today: 0km - 0h

Total: 29,303km - 567h55m

Day 248 - Wed 1 Apr 2020 - Washington

We follow the Columbia river for another half an hour on the Oregon side, then we cross into Washington State.

We immediately rise up out of the gorge onto a plateau. The temperature drops and soon we find ourselves in snow again!

Just as sudden, the snow is gone again. The drive is very scenic and the steep gorges have made way for rounded grassy hills. Many kilometers of nothing and then we drive through a pass and approach Ellensburg which is surrounded by hills.

We'll be staying here in our hotel for 2 nights before our big drive to Kelowna, BC. Again we are able to plug the trailer into electricity!

Today: 222km - 2h57m

Total: 29,303km - 567h55m

Day 247 - Tue 31 Mar 2020 - Moving on (Updated with history)

We pack up and are on our way to The Dalles in the Columbia River Gorge. We stop at a few supermarkets along the way and finally manage to replenish our flour stock!! We are filling our pantry in preparation for our 14 day quarantine when we get back to Canada.

Unfortunately all the scenic stops, viewpoints and waterfall trails are closed along the gorge. Another place to come back to, it is stunning. It is also still very wet outside. At one point we are pommeled with hail. We can see Washington State on the other side of the Columbia river.

Thomas Jefferson acquired Louisiana from Napoleon in 1803 and funded the famous Lewis & Clark expeditions from 1804-06 to find a route from the Missouri river to the Pacific ocean. They blazed a trail connecting to the Columbia river gorge and onto the pacific providing a route for the american fur trade using what would be known as the Oregon Trail. The British however also laid claim to the Columbia river watershed in 1811 as part of their fur trade in the Columbia District and had established Fort Vancouver. For many years the "Oregon Dispute" would go on.

By the late 1840 the fur trade started to slow down due to fashion changes and the value of the area diminished for the British. Few British subjects were willing to move 2,500 km to settle in the area. The Americans were far more successful in convincing settlers with the promise of fertile lands in "the garden of the world" and by 1843 the first permanent settlers started to arrive using the Oregon Trail. In 1846 Britain and America signed the Oregon Treaty and Oregon (including what is now Washington State) was ceded to the Americans whilst still retaining good anchorage for the British in Victoria (Vancouver Island). The border was established at the 49th parallel.

We have been reading a book from a travel writer that retraced Lewis & Clark's expedition using their detailed notes. It is nice to be able to see it for ourselves now. Such a shame all the trails and historic sites are closed.

We're staying in a hotel tonight and they are kind enough to let us plug-in the trailer so we can run the fridge and spare the battery.

Today: 265km - 3h46m

Total: 29,081km - 564h57m

Day 246 - Mon 30 Mar 2020 - More rain

It's really is coming down hard today so another day inside.

Today: 0km - 0h

Total: 28,816km - 561h11m

Day 245 - Sun 29 Mar 2020 - Caught in the rain (Updated with photos)

We make a break for it and see the seals on the beach.

But then it starts raining so we double time back to the trailer.

Today: 0km - 0h

Total: 28,816km - 561h11m

Day 244 - Sat 28 Mar - Shopping attempt

Janine tries to restock at the supermarket but the shelves are pretty bare.

Today: 25km - 36m
Total: 28,816km - 561h11m

Day 243 - Fri 27 Mar 2020 - Bored

It's raining pretty much all day so we're getting antsy...

Today: 0km - 0h
Total: 28,790km - 560h35m

Day 242 - Thu 26 Mar 2020 - Another walk on the beach

Another walk on the beach. We see some para-gliders.

We've got some rain coming for the next few days...

Today: 0km - 0h

Total: 28,790km - 560h35m

Day 241 - Wed 25 Mar 2020 - Walk on the beach

We go for a nice walk along the beach to get some fresh air.

Today: 0km - 0h

Total: 28,790km - 560h35m

Day 240 - Tue 24 Mar 2020 - No news

Is good news.

Today: 0km - 0h

Total: 28,790km - 560h35m

Day 239 - Mon 23 Mar 2020 - On the road again

We make another push further north to Tillamook. We grab a few more supplies along the way to make sure we keep our pantry stocked.

Unfortunately most of the rest areas and state recreation areas have closed down. We did find one interesting stop at Cook's Chasm Bridge. The Oregon coast is riddled with inlets, chasms and rivers. On the banks of this chasm is a blowhole called the Spouting Horn which gives a great performance.

Today: 247km - 4h32m

Total: 28,790km - 560h35m

Day 238 - Sun 22 Mar 2020 - Going potty

More of the usual stuff. We're going potty in the trailer so we walk into town. It's bitter cold and the town looks like a ghost town. So, back to the trailer it is... To top things off, we have a lot of rain in the forecast for the next 2 weeks...

Tomorrow we're heading further up the coast to Tillamook and try some more supermarkets along the way for supplies.

Today: 0km - 0h

Total: 28,543km - 556h3m

Day 237 - Sat 21 Mar 2020 - Planning again

We're working on our route back to Canada and making sure campsites along the way are open. One of the campgrounds in Canada has actually stopped accepting new bookings. This could get interesting...

In the afternoon we go for a walk along the canal that runs next two the campground.

Today: 0km - 0h

Total: 28,543km - 556h3m

Day 236 - Fri 20 Mar 2020 - Off to the next campsite

Today we're packing up to move to the next campground in Lakeside.

On the way we do some shopping but the shelves are pretty bare of the essentials. We manage to snag some eggs, but no flour or toilet paper...

We have food for a few days but are running low on bread. We'll try again on the way out.

The campground is really nice, but unfortunately they had to close the recreation room and games room due to the new health regulations around social distancing.

Today: 163km - 2h42m

Total: 28,543km - 556h3m

Day 235 - Thu 19 Mar 2020 - The Beach

We do our usual stuff in the morning and head out to the beach after lunch. There was going to be some event on the beach, but that got cancelled as well because of the Coronavirus.

It has been a long time since we had a nice brisk walk along the beach and it is wonderful.

The Hunter creek meanders it way down the mountain past our campground and connects to the pacific. It's interesting watching the little pebbles being pushed along by the creek and tumbling over the bottom. It almost looks like little crabs scurrying along.

On our way back we spot a seal in the surf!

We also see some nutter going for a surf... in full wet-suit, including hoodie.

Today: 3km - 15m

Total: 28,377km - 553h6m

Day 234 - Wed 18 Mar 2020 - Oregon

Unfortunately our pet sit in Portland has been cancelled as well due to the Coronavirus. Although we knew this was likely, everyone is pretty disappointed. We have no further pet sits lined up in the US so will make our way back to Canada as quickly as the weather will allow. We'll be taking the most rural route possible.

Anyway, it's a beautiful morning so we're going to get a walk in before we move. Close to us is a Redwood State Park. The drive through the park is glorious and our big truck suddenly seems pretty small amongst the redwood giants...

We spot the Mill Creek Trail and we go for a walk. Now that we are further north and near the coast the forest has a completely different feel. It's very moist with lots of moss, mushrooms and ferns.

After a while the trail starts to follow Mill Creek and we see a whole group of trout.

They are not moving much and look like they are suspended. Presumably they are either waiting to go upstream, or to spawn. We watch for a little while, fascinated.

A bit further on is the Stout Grove Trail with some more enormous redwood trees.

A bit later than planned we get back to the campsite and quickly have lunch and pack up.

We enter Oregon on the US-101 dubbed the 'Scenic Corridor' and it certainly lives up to its name. There are numerous stopping points along the way. Each one with impressive views over the pacific. The coast is littered with rock formations.

Today: 125km - 3h

Total: 28,377km - 553h6m

Day 233 - Tue 17 Mar 2020 - The Pacific Ocean

We continue to make our way north and slowly our road winds it's way to the coast. Finally we get our first view of the Pacific Ocean.

We also come across an elk viewing area. A whole herd of elk cows right by the road.

We set up, have lunch, get some laundry on. Janine goes shopping to find nearly empty stores. People are panic-buying and a lot of the shelves are empty. No fresh meat or chicken, no eggs. Surpsrsingly, still plenty of alcohol though...

Today: 204km - 3h17m

Total: 28,252km - 550h6m

Day 232 - Mon 16 Mar 2020 - Coastal Redwood

We break up camp for the second time, although today not in the rain which is a big improvement. Niels spots 2 nesting ospreys and takes some photos.

There are many campgrounds on the coastal route so we can break up the journey into many days with shorter drives. Our next campground has some massive redwood trees. One of the big stumps has been turned into a tree house.

Today: 237km - 3h14m

Total: 28,048km - 546h48m

Day 231 - Sun 15 Mar 2020 - False Start

The rain lasted all night and is still going when we pack up the trailer. Across the lake we can see through the fog that the mountains on other side got some snow last night.

Our pet sit in Portland starting Mar 20 is still on for now so we are slowly going to make our way north along the coast. Just as we are about to drive off the campground we check the weather at our destination for the night one more time. Brakes on!! The forecast has changed and frost is expected. So instead we turn around and head back into our spot.

We go back into our usual for the rest of the day. It brightens up in the afternoon.

Today: 19km - 50m

Total: 27,810km - 543h34m

Day 230 - Sat 14 Mar 2020 - To the coast

We're heading to the coast in search of mild nights and we have ourselves a big drive today. We have to take the Interstate for a while, but the scenery improves dramatically as soon as we take the exit to Clear Lake just after Sacramento.

At one of the smaller lakes we are treated to a vivid rainbow.

Clear Lake is the largest lake in California, and at 480,000 years the oldest lake in North America.

We set up, have dinner and then hit the showers. By the time we get to bed the rain has started coming down.

Today: 414km - 6h48m

Total: 27,791km - 542h44m

Day 229 - Fri 13 Mar 2020 - Yosemite National Park

We leave nice and early for a full day in the National Park. The entrance:

First stop is the famous view down the valley.

Next we take a close look at the Bridal Veil Falls. There is a nice easy walk along the stream that leads from the fall to the Merced river. To Niels' delight there are lots of enormous boulders to be conquered. As we get near the fall we can feel the mist in the air.

As we drive further into the park, we get a great view of El Capitan. Climbing season has not started yet so we couldn't see anyone on there yet.

First view of Yosemite Fall.

Next view is the Half Dome. Again, no climbers yet. In season, climbers sleep half-way up roped in.

At the Visitor Center we learn there is no 'other half', the sheer face is due to glacial erosion. We also see a reproduced Indian village with bark houses.

Yosemite Fall is fed entirely by melting snow and usually dries up in summer. It consists of three cascades with a combined drop of 740 meters. It is the tallest waterfall in the US and the 5^th tallest in the world.

As we get close, we can only see the lowest cascade. To get to the top is a strenuous 6-8 hour hike, we'll leave that for another day...

As we leave the valley at the end of the day, the rain/snow clouds start forming. Snow is forecasted for the next few days. Great timing!

Today: 198km - 4h3m

Total: 27,377km - 535h56m

Day 228 - Thu 12 Mar 2020 - On the road again

As we drive towards Fresno we get a great view over the orchards.

All the flat land is taken by oranges, pears, etc. The cattle has been relegated to the hills.

We visit the outskirt of Fresno for some groceries and petrol, then we take the scenic road to Mariposa. A bit further still is our campground for the next two days, just outside Yosemite National Park. We're right on the Merced river which meanders through the park.

Today: 208km - 4h10m

Total: 27,178km - 531h53m

Day 227 - Wed 11 Mar 2020 - One more day

Yet another day on the campground. We're going to make a move tomorrow though, we're going to make an attempt for Yosemite National Park before it will snow again there. Tomorrow we'll move to a campground in Bagby from where we'll go into the park the day after.

I guess we can always just follow the Canada geese...

In the late afternoon we can hear the thunder across the valley. Just as we start the campfire we get a bit of rain. Fortunately it only lasts about an hour and our second attempt produces a roaring fire.

The clouds always create dramatic sunsets.

Today: 0km - 0h

Total: 26,971km - 527h44m

Day 226 - Tue 10 Mar 2020 - Another day at home

We stay on the campground and do the usual stuff. Nothing exciting today. We still trying to puzzle together were to go next. The cold snap is getting closer.

Today: 0km - 0h

Total: 26,971km - 527h44m

Day 225 - Mon 9 Mar 2020 - Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon is another National Park right next to Sequoia. We go and explore this for a few hours and start off at the Big Stump Grove. Around 1870 some lumberjacks thought that had struck gold when the stumbled upon the giant Sequoia's. Fortunately the area received protection in 1890. The huge tree stumps are still visible like giant warts. The wood is very dense and it can take another few hundred years for them to rot away.

One particular tree called 'Mark Twain' gained international fame as it was cut down and segments of the trunk were sent to museums all over the world for display. The tree was more than 90 meters tall and 27 meters around the base. It took two men 13 days of chopping and sawing to bring the tree down!

Yes, it was quite fresh up there at 2000 meters high.

At another walk there is a display telling the story of how in 1875 parts of another tree were sent to an exhibition on the East Coast, but were refused as the recipients thought it was a hoax. They couldn't believe trees that big existed.

Further on we see another world record holder. 'General Grant' has the widest trunk which measures 12 meters in diameter. You would need a circle of 20 people to give this tree a hug. It's largest branch is a tree to itself measuring 4.5 meters in diameter. The lowest branch is 39 meters high and the whole tree is 82 meters high.

Here are some more photos to give you a sense of the scale.

Some nice scenery on the way back down.

Today: 65km - 1h18m

Total: 26,971km - 527h44m