I went on a trip through *Hell* to go *home* to Oliver BC. I was not happy in Tagish Yukon, and I noticed that the people of Tagish are not really happy either. I was beginning to get depressed, so here I am again in Oliver. Now I *am* happy once more. I think it is extremely unlikely that I will ever return to Tagish . . . even for a short visit. There is *nothing* there for me.
The trip thru Hell:
Before leaving I had tried very hard . . . unsuccessfully, to get somebody to make the trip with me. But not having a co-pilot was *not* going to keep me in Tagish. The first approximately 200 kilometers from Whitehorse was amost glare ice. The next 200 kilometers was through a full blown blizzard, followed from Watson Lake to Quesnel BC, with rain and/or snow. The leg from Fort Nelson to Fort St. John was the most difficult, with hundreds of large trucks, going in both directions, carrying “wide loads” of drilling rig equipment and gasoline. With only a few opportunities to stop safely, it was next to impossible to keep clear headlights, windshield and mirrors. I *really* needed a co-pilot!
Some stats . . .
Departed Tagish 12 noon on November 6th.
Arrived in Oliver at 6 pm on November 9th.
Total time traveled, including stops: 78 hours.
Total kilometers traveled was 2561 (1591 miles)
Average miles per gallon of fuel: 8.9 mpg
Total fuel cost from Whitehorse to Merritt BC $970. (I have not refuelled yet since Merritt)
Was “the trip through Hell” worth it? YES! Where but from *home* would I, while enroute, receive telephone calls (on my cell phone), welcoming my return before even getting to Oliver. Where else but *home* would I receive unsolicited help to wash the motorhome upon arrival. Where else but *home* would I upon arrival, receive invitation after invitation to attend various events. Where else but *home* do people happily greet you with kind words and hugs. People here are happy. People here are busy. People here are friendly and happy to help each other, and enjoy life. I *am* home!
