Our first music festival of the summer was the Bella Coola Music Festival. We decided to take backroads and see the Cariboo and Chilcotin that we had not seen before. In preparation, we bought all-terrain tires for the truck and a backroads mapbook. To get to the Cariboo, we took the road from Adams Lake to Louis Creek and then Highway 24. Then the backroads mapbook let us down! The Raphael-Meason road looked like a good route on the map but the start looked like a tractor path through a farmer's field! We ended up taking the Gustafsen-Dog Creek road from 100 Mile House. It was pretty bumpy and rocky.
After camping at Brigham Springs, a short morning side-trip took us to Dog Creek Bluff.
On the road to the Gang Ranch, we were glad we had all-terrain tires. They cleared mud from the treads quite well once they started spinning. Unfortunately, the mud was cleared onto the trailer. The mud-terrain tires on the trailer, however, were happily flinging large globs of mud into the air. No extra spinning required.
At Fletcher Lake, Jim started taking photos at sunset and sunrise, sometimes of the same subject.
Ellen's butterfly hunting usually starts at about 10:00am.
Our next night two nights were at Tatla Lake. The access road is a test of ground clearance.
White Pelicans are easily disturbed by humans. Therefore, White Pelican Provincial Park is closed to humans in the summer. There were two at Tatla Lake but they stayed well away from us.
A family of river otters swam by one morning.
Before our descent of The Hill into Bella Coola, we stopped at the cross-country ski area. It was a quick stop because the flies were numerous and aggressive.
We stayed at RipRap Campground in Hagensbourg, again.
We hiked up to Medby Rock Lookout, again. This time we saw the view.
We saw cultural trees and giant cedars in Walker Island Park.
The music festival focused on local musicians for two of the days and the local butcher also stepped in when one of the main performers fell ill. What a talented community!
We stayed at Pyper Lake on the way home and, when we arrived, a White Pelican flew low over our heads, gave us the evil eye, and never came near again.
The minnows are friendly to humans.
We decided we had time for a side trip, so we went to Nemiah Valley and Chilko Lake. Twice we were asked, "Are you going all the way?"
Our campsite at Chilko Lake was very nice.
And Chilko Lake is very picturesque.
Our windshield met its demise a few minutes after we stopped to take this photo in Nemiah Valley.
There was a lot happening at McIntyre Lake: clouds, cows, geese, ducks, vultures, butterflies, crows, ravens, fishermen...
After a quick trip to Vancouver to move Jessica, we went to the Kaslo Jazz Etc. Festival. A lot of other people were going to the Kootenays, too. A two-and-a-half sailing wait!
We were glad to see Harry Manx perform after his illness in Bella Coola.
Ruby Waters was a favourite with the younger crowd.
Corb Lund was the first night's headline act. He is contractually obligated to play Truck Got Stuck.
Another footwear photo!
Shred Kelly and Moontricks weren't there this year but Five Alarm Funk is also a Kaslo favourite. They have performed at Kaslo five times. However, the bass player who played with six different bands during this festival has them beat!
Lights was the headliner on the second night.
Being front row gets you some great looking video but THE BASS! My poor little camera microphone overloaded.