Across Continents

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Campfire musings

November 16th, 2011

Ken decides to have a camp fire…. it’s a male thing

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Night at Deep Creek

October 18th, 2011

Night at Deep Creek from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Ken stops short of Williams Lake, camping at Deep Creek

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General knowledge

October 17th, 2011

Who wrote "I Claudius" asked Carl? I’d absolutely no idea. Vague recollections of a BBC television series in the 70’s. Derek Jacobi. Brian Blessed. Frankie Howard. Perhaps I was getting confused with "Carry On Cleo". Next question. What symbol associated with Joan of Arc did De Gaulle and the Free French adopt during the Second World War? A burning stake didn’t seem quite right, so suggested it must be a cross. Warm. But not quite right.

Fortunately I’d made something of an inspired guess at the first question. Santa Fe the Capital of which US State? Sounded Mexican to me, but we were talking USA. So went for New Mexico. Bingo. Playing for what Carl the warden had described as a substantial discount on the camping fee. Get one question out of three right and it’d be mine. Done. Five bucks rather than fifteen.

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A curious end to a long day. Eight miles or so to Vanderhoof. Reaching the campground at dusk. Greeted by Carl as he’d been out collecting dues. In his hand a small receipt book and a quiz manual.

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Adults only

October 16th, 2011

Adults Only from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Ken chances on a sign for an Adults Only park. Cyclists welcome. Unable to resist, he goes off to investigate… and spend the night there..

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Early morning in Hazelton

October 14th, 2011

Early morning in Hazelton from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Ken awakens – eventually – next morning to find his quite pointless bear defences in tact….

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Sheltering under the gazebo

October 14th, 2011

Sheltering under the gazebo from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Ken seeks shelter from the rain under a campground gazebo. And from a bear rustling around in nearby bushes… Admire his pointless ingenuity… In Old Hazelton, British Columbia.

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Silver linings

October 12th, 2011

Silver linings from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Ken discovers that even the wettest of clouds can have a silver lining. At the end of a particularly cold, wet and miserable day. And why it’s always good to wave to the traffic…

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Warning signs

October 10th, 2011

Warning signs from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Ken discovers a sign warning of bear presence at an overnight stop along the Skeena river between Prince Rupert and Terrace in Canadian British Columbia. But it’s not a deterrent, it’s encouragement. Still to see one of the cuddly critters in the wild… Outside of his tent of course..

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Strange events at Three Guardsmen

October 4th, 2011

Pick-up I thought. One. Or was there a second? Then voices. Two, perhaps three, people. Close by. Out of the vehicles. Had they seen me? I wasn’t sure. I hoped not. And what exactly were they doing here? There was nothing – and nobody – for miles. Except for the US border, maybe twenty miles away. It didn’t look good.

ThreeGuardsmancamp (2)

I’d been asleep for a few hours. Woken by the engine noise nearby. At first worried they might inadvertently drive over my camp. I’d followed a rough track off the highway, found a secluded spot and pitched the tent amongst some bushes. Concealment as much as shelter from the wind. My bright red food bag was a short distance away, but well hidden.

Contemplating their motives, I’d found myself dwelling on the relative closeness of the border. Smugglers perhaps? Seemed plausible. And worrying. They’d hardly want witnesses. Considered my options. To hand I’d my bear spray, a field knife and my emergency satellite phone. Knew exactly where I was in case I needed to summon help.

ThreeGuardsmancamp (1)

But what to do? I was vulnerable in the tent. But, in the heavy mist, it seemed that, despite their close proximity, they’d not spotted me. Probably weren’t expecting to encounter anyone out here, and my green tent hard to spot. This at least gave me an edge. Surprise. If they stumbled on my deserted camp they’d have no idea who they were dealing with, or where I was.

I looked at my watch. The border would soon be closed so almost no chance of traffic along the nearby highway until the morning. Quietly collecting my warm clothing, waterproof jacket and bear kit, I edged cautiously out of the tent. Visibility was still just a few tens of yards. I was pleased. Confident I could evade detection until dawn, or until any help I might summon could arrive. Most likely from the Canadian Customs Post on the border.

Keeping low to avoid silhouetting, I circled round in a large arc to the north, sticking to the bush rather than tracks. Navigating using the compass on my watch. Planning to observe undetected, but, if spotted, not drawing anyone towards my camp. Soon the dim red glow of brake lights in the mist. Engine idling. I lay concealed amongst the various shrubs for a while. Watching. And they then were gone.

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Concealed camping

October 4th, 2011

ThreeGuardsmancamp (1)

Concealed campsite, just off the Haines Road highway, close to the summit of the Three Guardsmen Pass. In Canada’s British Columbia.

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