Friday was the day to explore the area. First we went to check for dispersed camping in the Dunvegan Wildland Provincial Park. It is a park that goes for miles along the Peace River. We followed our backroads maps to no avail. After numerous gravel roads we gave up. It doesn't look like there is road access into the park, so one would need to boat the Peace, which is running pretty fast at this time of year. We then stopped at Blueberry Mountain store for a treat. Our next stop was Moonshine Lake Provincial Park.
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| Moonshine Lake |
We completed a 3 km walk around the lake. The park has a fairly large campground, a number of sites have electricity only. Surprisingly the campground was almost empty, since this is the Friday before the May long weekend. I guess the gov'ts decision to raise the campground prices is effecting campground use. After a picnic lunch at the park we stopped at Jack Bird Pond, a wildlife viewing area. Eventually we got back to the trailer in time to complete our 8840 forms. We have to fill out these forms proving we have closer ties to Canada than the US and that we did not make any of our revenue in the US, therefor do not have to pay US taxes.
Saturday we went back to the library to use the wi-fi, then back to spend the late afternoon watching Nascar.
Sunday was a day for exploration. Our first point of interest was Historic Fort Dunvegan.
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| Dunvegan Mission |
We walked through the site, reading all the interpretive signs. Dunvegan was one of the first HBC trading posts in Alberta. The fort is located at the site of the Dunvegan bridge, built in 1960, over the Peace River, the longest suspension bridge in Canada when it opened.
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| Dunvegan Bridge |
We also discovered that the Peace River got its name because it was the site of the signing of the peace treaty between the Cree and Beaver e tribes. Our next stop was Pratt's Landing district park. We had found it on the internet and it looked interesting. It was a neat little park, no services, but free wood, washrooms and tables, all for free. There were large sites from which we could get satellite signal. We sat and had lunch at the boat landing. While there we watched a boat pull up and a truck come down to the landing to fill the boat up with gasoline. We had never seen a truck drive into the river and pull up beside a boat, with the boat between the truck and the shore.
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When we left the park we realized the road out was very steep and had an abundance of gravel on it, which would make pulling the trailer up out of the campground very difficult, Maybe we will pass on this site for now. Our next stop was Highland Park, as it turned out no stop as the only thing remaining of this little community was a community hall. We then stopped at Hines creek for a treat and to check out P.J.'s RV park. We couldn't find it, so have assumed it has closed. Our next stop was Lake George, an interesting little lake that does not allow motor boats on it with a lovely campground. Perfect. We have found our next stop. We then checked out Hines Creek Golf Course and RV park. RV park is not to our liking. but at 12.00 a round, golf is a possibility, and it is about 10 kms from George Lake campground.On the way back to Spirit River we decided to check on Broncho Creek, but like many little places marked on the map, it no longer exists. We followed the road it was on until it ended with a view down the Peace. We then turned around. After a few kms we spotted a moose enjoying its lunch in the ditch. It ignored us and continued eating as we stopped and took pictures.
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Monday we took the day off and wandered around the town of Spirit River. Because it was the end of the first long weekend of the summer we were glad we were off the roads. The road past the campground was very busy, as was the RV dump station here at the park.
Tuesday off to do some more exploring. We headed for Hilltop Lake County Park. It has a small campground and is a small lake that would be perfect for our small inflatable boat. Maybe a place for later in the summer. We chatted with a retired couple who had come to the lake to see if the swans were still there. They live just a few miles from the lake. They gave us information about other lakes in the area. On our way back to the trailer we stopped at Chinook Valley Golf Course and RV park, another possibility for later in the season. We then stopped at the ghost town of Silverwood.
Wednesday we decided to stay one more day in Spirit River to be sure we could watch the season finale of Survivor. The weather was great, so John finished the roof caulking and Joan finished spring cleaning.
Thursday morning, we are packing up to head for Lake George.
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