I am out Of Coverage

I will not have Internet until the middle of next week.Take Care

Border Ceremony

The Border Ceremony was a very good time. As to my previous post, the Plaque had already been surveyed into place and it was placed on a reconstructed monument on the high ground on the East Side of Kootenai River (Koocanusa Lake). There were a few dignateries there and one of them who was from St. Albert Ab. didn`t show up at all. That aside the whole thing went off quite well. It started raining last night and it will rain for the next 4-5 days if you believe the weatherman. I have been looking out my hotel window trying to get it up to go setup my tent to be part of the crew. As much as the task is disagreeable it is necessary. If it was just one night I might just stay in this hotel but it isn`t.I got into town about 11 PM last night,so I hoteled it instead of sleeping in my truck. The town of Rexford gave up their gymnasium so everyone could sleep inside out of the rain. The NALS Team  presented me with dinner and a very nice NALS shirt donated by Bill Chapman from Chapman  Surveys out of West Vancouver. I have to leave my truck here in Libby so when I am done the paddle I can Amtrak back to Libby. I will officially be on the Brigade tomorrow when we move overland to Thompsons Falls.

                                                      

Dry Land

       Below is the actual Border Crossing Routine.

All brigade members had  presented our passport numbers and info weeks ago. This way everyone just presented their passports to the Border Guards and they stamped them and processed right on the beach.





The Official Plaque

I LOVE THIS AREA

   I did that TITLE IN CAPITALS because today was one of those days. I discovered Conrad Kains Cairn (say that 5 times after a few wobbly pops) in the small town of Wilmer. I then drove out a couple of miles Northerle of Wilmer for the 2 km walk down and back in an area called Richies Point, also known as Wilmer Bird Sanctuary. The views are stupendous. As if this wasn`t good enough for exercise, after lunch, I decided to walk to the top of Dutch Creek Hoodoos.wow wow wow. There were of course, 4 geocaches on top of those ridges and they certainly made the walk worth more. I would recommend this trail system to one and all if the terrain is not to much. As I was not needed by the Brigade today I had a chance to start sorting the 5 tons of gear I have spread all over the place in Fred and Joans condo. I think I should just give it up. I cannot believe I am actually going to have to leave stuff behind because I have no wheels while on this brigade.  Do you know how scary that is. ? I need at least 18 rechargable batteries and a Charging system.

 I have 2 cameras, 5 GPS units, (I will have to leave 3 of these behind, including the SPOT) I HAVE  TO HAVE a laptop, so I also need the chargers, mice , keyboards, and USB plugins etc. On top of that I will also need water bottles, clothes, a tent, sleeping bags, pillows,2-3 pairs of shoes, socks, wet gear, hot weather gear,etc etc etc....  Its just gotta be done. I am only allowed to bring it all in just 2 Hockey bags.Insane.!

Change of Topic
We had the first geocaching event in Fort Steele yesterday and it was a howling success.Over 40 people showed up and signed the official logbook.
 We sold 20 of the NALS geocoins that we had brought across the border and most of the Brigade coins. These are to help finance the brigade costs for the teams.On another note I am told that the brigade had 3 parties yesterday. Breakfast,lunch and a supper from the local communities, and then a final play was put on for the brigade at Fort Steele by the Fort performers about 6 PM. It was a play about/of David Thompson. I missed it because our old Slave Lake BM is now in Canmore. He ( Darrin Connatty ) showed up at about 6 PM and together we went to Cranbrook for one of the best meals I have had in a very long time. His schnitzels took up a platter and he couldn`t finish it all.I ate all my prime rib. Thanks Darrin.!
  Franks Steak and Schnitzel House should win awards. If you are ever in Cranbrook it is on the main drag just after you get in from Invermere or Fernie on the right hand side.

Tomorrow is June 7th. This is the big party at the border crossing. Somebody important and someone with a bunch of letters after their names are going to dedicate a plaque to David Thompson near the Koocanusa Lake on the 49th.This is beautiful country down here for sure.
    Local geocachers reported that the monuments on the Canada / USA Border are no longer at 49 degrees since we are all using WGS 84. I wonder if they will take that into account.? Has anyone thought about that?
   Which country`s soil will the plaque actually be placed on? This just  reminds me of that old childhood joke. If a plane crash landed on the Canada/USA border, where would you bury the survivors?
 I am sure that they will survey it in after the ceremony.Won`t they?
In regards to the ceremonies. I haven`t heard Rick Mercers name in months, so I guess he declined the offer for a boat ride at this event. Thats all folks.I should of been in bed hours ago.

 Here are some photos of the Brigade yesterday and the hoodoos today...man I love this area

Did I say that yet?

                                           The Geocachers Official Photo DTCB 2011 at Fort Steele

Libby Montana

I drove down to Libby yesterday June 4th for the opening of the Libby Heritage Museum.I  have never been to Libby and what a great loss that is. What a beautiful little town nestled into the valley with mountains on all sides and the Kootenai River and Koocanusa Lake with the Libby Dam. I saw at least 15 eagles with one golden nearly becoming a hood ornament. The entire town has eagles all over the place real and sculpted. They have one at the end of one street that is massive. I will get a photo next time as I was late getting into town.
   The drive down and through Roosville is very scenic. I left at 5:30 AM as I wanted to walk into two historic sites that David Thompson had been to. One was a campsite entitled Tiger Encampment where they killed and ate a cougar (They thought it was a tiger hence the name in his notes.)
and the other is the famous river crossing at the big bend.The museum is very well done and I will have to come down here and stay for a visit. The people are all very friendly. Carl W Haywood did an hour lecture on the life of David Thompson for a small gathering of about 30-40 people and then we went to lunch. Mr and Mrs John McBride from Libby and Mr and Mrs Carl Haywood and myself went to a fabulous Mexican restaurant and ate and discussed DT until we were all quite full. Mr McBride has the distinction of recently selling a civil war rifle for ".......$800,000.00 US". He is a retired soldier as was his father.The trip back to Cranbrook was uneventful and warm at 24 celsius at one point. Great day with lots of memorys.

The Ceremonies Kinsmen Park Invermere June 3 2011

Late June 3 the Brigade came back to Invermere from Canal Flats. The Columbia River drains Northward out of Columbia Lake at Canal Flats and the river is running very low.  To make it easier on everyone the run was reversed for this leg only.Here is some video I have shot of the festivities when they arrived in the town.I will upload one and see how it plays out on this blog. Someone let me know what you think.This is 36 megs and on high speed in my hotel it is taking about 1/2 hour to upload.

That was the Metis Dancing

 

Here is the Grand Entrance in two vids.