Day 6: Seattle, WA to William’s Lake, BC (439 miles)

Avg. Gas per Gallon $2.98
Music: Girl Talk, Shout out Louds, Gnarls Barkley
Podcast: Dan Carlin ‘Common Sense’


I awoke with the big bay windows letting in mild morning light. The Seattle skyline wasn’t entirely visible, enveloped in a blanket of fog. Light rain followed us north on I5. Every so often the clouds would lighten and allow me to glimpse the passing mountains with antique barns and farm homes tucked back at their feet. Even with limited views, northern Washington is a beautiful area, reminiscent of 1950’s rural America.

I had read our guidebook and checked the internet multiple times to prepare for the crossing into Canada. We had our passports handy, Sam’s vaccination papers and were willing and ready to get rid of all of the meat, cheese and liquor we had with us in the car. Expecting a delay, we drive up to the Sumas border crossing with only one car in front of us. Within 2 minutes we were being questioned by a young, good looking Canadian man with a strong accent. Not even looking at Sam’s papers or asking us about food (only if we had weapons) he sent us on our way. Canada, we had finally arrived!

Canadian Highway 1 was four lanes, busy and flat. Not exactly what I had expected entering into our northern neighbor. However after about an hour of driving the road became a two lanes highway that was curvy and mountainous. The mountains were arid. Scrub brush dotted the landscape. I didn’t see much snow, or pine or moose! Where was the Canada I was expecting? Where were the elk and the bear? Where was the freezing weather? It was only in the 40’s. Although it was not what I expected, the drive was still beautiful. I observed the differences in the road signs, calculated kilometers to miles and admired how little population we passed. It was very different from the desert we had driven through in Arizona and New Mexico. No billboards or McDonald’s littered my vision. Lakes began to dot the countryside as we drew further north. Even though we lacked the site of large mammals, ducks, swans and geese filled the wetlands. Our goal for the night was William’s Lake. We approached the town and began looking for campgrounds. Behind a gas station and atop a hill we found one. There were picnic tables and firewood, but no other souls. We went up to the house on the property and startled a lady in her nightgown. She had nothing to do with the campsite. Then we went down to the gas station and asked the young clerk there. But again, she had nothing to do with the campsite. And so we got a night of free camping and firewood with the property all to ourselves. So far Canada was treating us well.