18th May 2025

Said our emotional goodbyes and headed on to Whistler. First stop was the Hinton supermarket, Freson Bros, a little like a Waitrose.  They also did a good range of coffee cups, with pro Canadian slogans, see the pictures.  We also filled with fuel.

We next stopped and admired the river Athabasca / Jasper Lake. One huge plain of wet sand.  Next stop was Maligne Canyon, but alas the actual canyon was still sealed off after last year’s fire. Stopped at a viewing spot where we could look over all the burnt trees. Very sad. On the outskirts of Jasper, there were large parks of trailer type accommodation. Not sure if they were for workers trying to tidy up after the fires or for displaced residents.

In Jasper we went to pick up our National Park passes. We should have stopped at the entrance to the park with our temporary pass, but unfortunately, we were confused and slid through in the wrong lane.  I am fearful we may have picked up a fine, although nothing has come through yet. I dropped R off up to pick up the pre-ordered passes. I drove around, so that I did not have to pay for parking, nor, more importantly, work out how to do so.

Then we drove to Whistler’s Campsite. It showed the aftermath of the dreadful forest fires. Burnt trunks and ground, with just the odd tree standing. We had an off-grid pitch (for those boring campers who wanted electric hookup, there was a huge area for them as well). I love the basics; not sure R does. Let us see how the van’s solar panel keeps the fridge and lights going for the next few days. Actually, thinking about it, the van was fine for three nights parked in Hinton. There was a toilet and shower block very nearby, which also, to R’s delight (!), had two washing-up sinks. The block caters for around 20-30 pitches. More utility blocks around the campsite cater for other clusters of pitches. The whole site is pretty well-organized.

Come evening everybody seemed to be lighting their fire pits. Pitch fees include firewood, which must be bought at each campsite to avoid disease.

We now started to sleep above the cab, leaving the table erected. The first time, R needed my help & guidance to get into bed, but from then on was very adept at getting up and down. She reckoned she couldn’t have done it before her new hip. The second “step” was higher than her waist, so I suppose using it presented difficulties.

R fell in love with our pitch neighbours. Lots of marmots ( Hoary ones? ), sitting up on their hind legs on look out, squeaking, digging and other such cute activities.