Liard Hot Springs was our ‘decompression’ stop.
It takes a lot of work to get ready for five weeks on the road. That must come as no surprise. Still, here’s a from-the-hip list of departure planning and challenges that we faced in the run-up to our trip at the end of this post. Maybe it’ll be a help for someone planning a similar trip.
Getting ready to roll:
- Prep the house and garden for the housesitters (this deserves a list/book of its own!)
- De-winterize the RV
- Weatherize and water proof all seals, windows and seams
- Rebuilding the cab-over bed… again (Long story. Don’t ask.)
- Get the tires inspected and aligned
- . . . and, SURPRISE! Replace the break pads and rotors, too.
When it all goes wrong:
- That new carpet we’re having installed in the bedroom and office the week before we leave? Yeah. That’s delayed.
- . . . the water tank on the RV won’t fill
- What do you mean the insurance card for the RV is expired?
We were able to slow down and enjoy the ride once we were on the road, but we didn’t truly start to relax until we hit Liard. We knew we were close when we started seeing these familiar guys.
When we came through Canada on 2014, these guys were all over the road around Liard. Zuzi and I bumped into small groups of them when while out for a run.
Needless to say, we ceded them the road and beat a quick retreat. If you ever get to see (or smell!) one up close, you’ll know why. These guys are ENORMOUS!
It’s easy to see why they were so valued by hunter-gatherer peoples. A single animal would probably be too much meat for an individual or a single family without refrigeration. But a larger group would likely be thankful for the protein.
Liard Hot Springs
I’m not going to say much about the hot springs themselves. They’re fantastic; a family favorite.
Rather than do a write up on our time there, we offer these photos of our stay. Look up the particulars if you plan to visit.
There is a quarter mile boardwalk separating the campgrounds and picnicking areas from the hot springs. A welcome distance that keeps the pools quiet and remote.
The springs creates an ecosystem of its own that is both unique and also excellent for exploration!
Nature keeps the hot side HOT.
Caption contest!
Both of the kids took swim lessons since they were three or four-years-old. Last time we were at Liard, Eva had just finished her first round of lessons. Diving for rocks in the natural pools at Liard is what made her actually comfortable with being submerged and playing in water.
This go ’round, Eva’s got it alllll figured out.
WARNING: Daddy-displacement may raise water levels to heights that threaten floods!
I don’t know how long this log has spanned the cooler end of the shallow pool. But I DO know that my kids have jumped off it approximately 74,391,462 times.
74,391,463
“You want me to take a picture of the whole family?” YES!
… and drying in the late-May sunshine.
And in the morning – before we left for B.C. and the U.S. beyond – we had a visitor pass through our campsite.
Farewell, Liard River Hot Springs.
Until next time, farewell.