Into the Bella Coola Valley

How fitting that we headed into the town of Bella Coola, on the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast on Father's Day. We had talked about someday seeing this small coastal town ever since watching an old Gordon Eastman video in which he goes to Bella Coola, meets with some native men, builds a 3 moose canoe and floats the Bella Coola River. Our plan was only to accomplish the first part of Gordon Eastman's adventure, go to Bella Coola. Once again the native a comes into play. There is only one road into Bella Coola which means the 280 miles in, is the same 280 miles out. This is RT 20 from Williams Lake, BC. It proved to be all that we had hoped it would be. A long, and at points, scary drive with plenty of wildlife to keep us entertained. It is a land inhabited by native people, cattle and horses. Open range. The final stretch over Heckman Pass is what those who have traveled to Bella Coola speak the most about. It's a "well maintained gravel road", although more appropriate for a small Mini Cooper than for our RV. Descending the 18 % grade with hairpin turns sent us directly to the ferry terminal upon our arrival in Bella Coola to see about taking the ocean route out rather than to retrace our steps. Imagine, Bucky preferring seasickness over driving ! Unfortunately, that wasn't an option and we retraced our steps back to Williams Lake on the Solstice, seeing many bears by doing so. Again, God working his magic. With the numerous opportunities to photograph scenery and wildlife, Bucky had one of his best thoughts yet. As he put it, "what I'd like to do sometime is drop you off on the highway and have you video me driving away and get the RV against the mountains." To which I said, "no way". Note to self, learn to drive the RV and drop Bucky off on the highway to video me driving toward the mountains !