Monday Sept 17th - Bella Coola to Clearwater Lake Lodge

Sept 17th – The Hill is calling.

Update: Today is Friday, Sept 21 and I try to give a little more details on the past days. Leaving Bella Coola we had originally planned to stop at the Atnarko River Campground. We heard it was very nice and good for bear spotting. Unfortunately it was closed for the season (maybe due to heavy bear activity) so we stopped at the Park Ranger’s office, ranger seemed to be roaming free in Tweedsmuir (South) Provincial Park. We briefly thought to take Tote Road -which is just slightly before The Hill starts – down to the river. A wise decision we did not. Bernward and Gisela later on told us that this is really winding gravel road with lots of holes in it – and we are not supposed to drive off-road with our truck camper. Stopped at a resting area and went for a little walk towards Atnarko river. Again, very strange feeling when you know that bears are around. Although bears usually do not attack unless they get really scared, think their cubs are in danger or are mad. Still we, especially I, were busy ringing the bear bells. The Hill was really an experience – I guess you can tell from the few pictures. Since there isn’t too much traffic it was okay, although I was happy we climbed the hill and did not descend. On our way to Kleena Kleene we stopped in Nimpo Lake which has a general store, some fishing lodges and seaplanes. Arrived at Clearwater Lake Lodge in Kleena Kleene in the afternoon. What a beautiful place. Bernward and Gisela have been living here for 14 years now and run a lodge with 5 guest rooms, one chalet, one cabin and a couple of RV sites (no hook up but the shower is pure luxury). We stayed at the chalet which can accommodate 4-6 persons. Gisela prepared a wonderful dinner and the evening past very quickly.

Left the RV park and drove into the center of Bella Coola which consists of a restaurant, co-op and a grocery store. Bought some coffee filters (very important), chatted with a nice couple from Switzerland and a guy who plans on biking the Hill. He actually stayed at our RV park and had an electric fence built around his tent. When I mentioned this he told us that a little after he had got off the ferry he almost ran into a black bear. So we entered real bear country now. The Hill is part of Highway 20 and shows a steep of 18%. On route to our today’s destination Clearwater Lake Lodge in Kleena Kleene (a quick and very warm Thank You Gisela and Bernward for your hospitality and for pampering us. You are wonderful, and so is your property! - more detailed report to follow) we saw some beautiful landscape, ran into Joan and Chris again who spent the night in Hagensborg and stopped at the Atnarko River, the latter famous for the bears. Today is Sept 20th, just a quick update on the day above. I have a new toy ;)