Lynden KOA Lynden, Washington USA

Mileage:  49,676

We had decided that we just need to go back to the states to have the Jeep repaired.  This eliminates some of the possible ideas we had for finishing our time in Canada…but we need to have a working vehicle.  Tim made an appointment for Friday at a Jeep dealer in Bellingham, Washington.

We left early this morning and traveled past lakes and ponds and cattle.  When we got to the main road and headed south we were treated to magnificent views all day long.  Initially the scenery was scrubby brush with rocky outcroppings, ledges, and cliffs.  The hills were lumpy and rippled and rumpled.  In stark contrast there were irrigated,lush, green fields of hay and other crops.

We stopped at this produce stand.  The orchard is across the street.  The plums and peaches and apples and pears were just picked and dripping down your chin delicious.

The road follows the Thompson River through the Fraser Canyon.  There are very active railroad tracks on both sides of the river.  We saw one train that was at least a mile long.

The river is a swiftly moving torrent of water, clear and green.  You could see the river stones through the water from above.

In the town of Lytton, three rivers come to join.  The confluence caused the water to become more silty.  The scenery also changed.  The area was dense with fir trees.  Hell’s Gate is the narrowest section of the river.  Here the river is 110 feet wide.  The water passes through the gorge at 200 million gallons of water per minute.  The only way to actually see it though is to pay $24.00 per person to ride the airtram above it.

We decided it wasn’t worth it time and money wise.  We found a pullout that had a path leading down.  We walked for part of it and these are the pictures we could get from the trail.

More pictures from today’s ride.

We crossed into Washington, USA at Sumas.  The border patrol took our grapefruit…no citrus allowed back into the states.  We drove to Lynden to the KOA.  Tim spent time with our neighbors in the campsite next to us.  They are interested in maybe traveling to Alaska.  We had fun trying to convince them to go!

I am glad to have my phone back!  Yay for cell service and WiFi!!