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Maligne Falls (Maligne is french for evil)

Medicine Lake - this lake drains each year 

Every time we came to a water source the boys would throw rocks in the water !

Maligne Lake

Maligne Lake as a storm threatened

Jasper National Park Campground

A Step Back in Time

If ever you are in the Cariboo up Williams Lake Way make sure that you head up to Barkerville and visit the historical village there.  This was our second time there and it was brilliant.  The buildings are all housed on the original townsite where thousands of men and women from Canada and abroad worked hard in the 1800's to find their fortune in gold.  During peak season workers dress in period costume and many roam the streets talking to guests along the way.

One of the highlights of our visit was participating in a ‘schoolhouse session”. An actor in role as a schoolmaster kept us on our toes as we sat in a classroom from the mid 1800’s.  Mel and I had to don bonnets as apparently our hair would distract the boys from their schoolwork.  The teacher first said a prayer then our hair and nails were inspected for lice and dirt.  We were told to answer questions in full sentences ending our response with ‘Sir” and then not sit down until we were told to do so.  If we didn’t sit tall with our hands crossed we were reprimanded. Thankfully none of us did anything to warrant the use of the cricket bat as a discipline tool!!!!  Part of the lesson required us to practice handwriting on slates and then participate in a spelling test.  I got 100% on my spelling test and after looking a bit smug about it all was told in no uncertain terms “pride cometh before the fall Miss Nichole”.  That took the smile off my face in quick smart time. 

The boys quickly fell into line and sat still, answered questions in the correct manner and I think were mighty relieved that they go to school now rather than in the 1800’s. 

The actor was so good in his role that later on during the day when we saw him walking the streets of Barkerville we all tipped our hats or curtsied to say hello as he passed by!!! The teacher even remembered our names when addressing us in the street a few hours later.

Another highlight was visiting the theatre royal and watching a fantastic musical production called ….. The calibre of the performance was outstanding.  The singing was top class and the overall story that wove the musical pieces together funny and heartwarming at the same time. 

Without doubt though the highlight for the boys  was panning for gold.  An oldtimer named Gary helped the boys pan and they were fortunate enough to find a few small pieces of gold. Gary had a wonderful, patient way with the kids and told them that if they didn’t keep smiling then they probably wouldn’t find the gold.  He told them “if you stop smiling you stop relaxing, if you stop relaxing you get tense and then you won’t find the gold”  I reckon that’s good advise for all of us!!!

Simply wandering the streets, looking through the displays of houses and stores and listening to actors as they played out scenes and converstations from long ago kept us enthralled.  It has a ghost town like feel to it nowadays – especially of an afternoon when most of the visitors have left but it was once a bustling hub.  Commentators in the 1850’s even said of Victoria and Vancouver that they would never amount to anything as they were too far away from Barkerville. 

If you ever come to the Cariboo – get yourself to Barkerville.  Don’t forget to get to the bakery and make sure your nails and hair are clean if you go to school!!!

We experienced a cracking good series of storms in Barkerville our first night.
The storms kept coming for hours but the ever faithful TT held up beautifully.

Puddle Fun

I'm not sure which season I like best in Canada.  Winter is great fun - lots of snow fights, snuggles and snowboarding.  Spring is ever so pretty with warmer days and the earth waking up after a long rest which is inspiring to watch.  And summer?  Loooooong warm days, cracking good storms of an afternoon, loads of unbelievably good fresh produce to eat and opportunities to lap up all this deliciousness by the water. (Oh and no lunch boxes to pack and homework to complete!!!)

Nope - I can't choose - I'll take them all.  

The day before heading off to the Rockies was spent lapping up the glorious sunshine which welcomed our stay in the puddle.  We drove out to a cabin at Tyee Lake owned by our friend Laureen and enjoyed a few hours by the water.  We were even lucky enough to see a family of Loon on the lake.  

aaaaaah - this is the life (Cest la Vie) 

Oh and afterwards Bren and Caleb got their  biking fix at a nearby park.  

Boy Stuff 101

As any mother of boys will tell you, one needs to develop a taste for fart jokes, dirt, high thrill pursuits and anything with wheels that goes fast (or has the potential to) if one is to remain in that mysterious inner circle related to boy hood.  So it is that I am beginning to know the make of cars according to their badge, have a couple of fart jokes in my joke repertoire, and am not averse to the boys playing outside until they are covered in a thin film of grime (I am sure I heard somewhere that it helps them develop their immune system!).

Whilst in Williams Lake I undertook further study into the mysteries of boyhood by attending my first speedway event.  The smell of dust, grease and oil and the sound of suped up speedway cars accosted my senses as we drove into the speedway venue and found a parking space close to the track.  As we did not come prepared to view the event with appropriate seating we improvised and took the back seats from the back of the van and used them.  I'm not sure if this should be classified as 'redneck' or not.  All I know is is that it was an awesome way to avoid bottom cramps from sitting on ones derrière for too long. I think it would be fantastic seating for a drive in movie - almost like the gold class cinemas we have in Australia (perhaps it could be named 'redneck class').

Thankfully for me my study into speedway events needed little in the way of explanation or rules.  Basically it's go flat out around the track and try to get past the finish line first.  I did observe however that it requires quite a bit of skill on the drivers part to negotiate his/her way past the other competitors and to avoid collisions and other accidents.  Unfortunately one driver had a nasty accident during his race and wiped out on a sidewall - his car exploding on impact.  Incredibly he escaped relatively unharmed save for a few burns.  There were a number of intensely frantic minutes where no-one in the crowd knew if the driver was ok or not.  It was during this time that I came to the steadfast conclusion that my boys WILL NOT be partaking in this kind of thing for as long as I have anything to do with it (which unfortunately for me if I am to be a realist about these things may not be for all that long).

I have also posted a gratuitous picture of a rainbow which appeared over Williams Lake on our way home after the speedway.  1.  because its very girly and very pretty and 2.  because maybe its a sign of hope that I'll be able to "get" the boy thing one of these days (as much as any mother can).

Yee-hoo in the Cariboo

They sure do breed em tough in the Cariboo. Not only do they have to endure long, cold hard winters but  then in the summer they have to do the mosquito slap dance with an enthusiastic vigour.  We got first hand experience at performing the slap dance on our first night of camping at Birch Lake Campground which is on the way to Williams Lake.   Not only was it our first night of camping but it was our first night in our lovely tent trailer - aptly named C'est La Vie (which is french for "This is the life", or "Stuff happens (I have young people reading this so I'll keep it PG).  We are already in love with our TT.  It goes up in a flash and is mighty comfortable.  It may not be as gigantic and palatial as some of the RV's touring around Canada but it's our version of pamper camping - it's well and truly a step up from the four man pup tent and swag we are used to.  It even has a portable loo which sure beats peeing in the woods while whistling or making loud noises (of the verbal kind) in the middle of the night to avoid a potential encounter with a bear!!!  

Our second and third nights in our TT were spent in Williams Lake where we got to see some really tough cowboys from all over Canada and the US compete in the 87th annual Williams Lake Stampede. These boys and girls put on an amazing show of skill and bravado which was enthralling to watch. 

Yeehoo Cariboo!!!! Cowboy up......