061 EXPLORATION DAY

Onwards and upwards, tally-ho and off we go exploring.  We decided to go out and explore the surrounding area a little more and headed up to see a couple of lakes and a landmark area listed on Google maps.  Our first destination was Loon Lake.  We headed off in the truck and up the mountain where we were greeted by a chain link fence, a steel gate and a rather unpleasant lady.  The whole thing looked like a top secret military installation, but in fact, this was the UBC Experimental Forest.  How is a forest experimental?

The woman very curtly told us it was private property and that we couldn’t go in without an invitation or as part of a group.  There was also a very large sign saying NO DOGS ALLOWED.  So we turned around and headed off down the road.  Thinking like a couple of spies, we went down the road and made a different turn, thinking that a lake is public property and we would find a way around.

We went up, down and sideways through a maze of roads and ended up back at the same gate.  The rude woman was no longer there, but there was a rather geeky looking guy, dressed up like he was in a role playing game as a military guard.  He had a combat vest and boots on and I swear a fake radio in the shoulder pocket.

He was much more pleasant than the woman, and explained that yes the lake was public property but we could not drive in and under no circumstances were we allowed to take Toby, so that ended that trip.  Besides, maybe it is a secret military base and if we went in, maybe we would never be heard from again.

Our second destination was a landmark on Google maps called Webster’s Corners.  So off we went down Dewdney Trunk Road until we got there.  It’s a major disappointment as on one side of the road is Webster’s Corners High School and other is an old fashioned looking store which is basically a strip mall.  I’m sure there is some sort of history to it, but didn’t stop to find out.

We reset our goal and headed for Rolley Lake.  I camped here with my family in 1967 when I was only 12 years old.  The only thing I remember about it was playing catch with my Dad on the gravel road.  We did a lot of throwing as I was scheduled to play in the Sunrise Little League All-Star game in two weeks, with a trip to the Provincial Finals on the line.

The other thing I remember is getting eaten alive by mosquitoes.  I ended up with a bit on my left kneecap, which of course I scratched until it was raw.  When swimming in the lake itself, the bottom was just muck and if you put your feet down, you would sink.  I know this because I did and I sank.  The mud got into the raw patch on my knee and I ended up with a severe infection.  Bad enough that the Doctor was going to hospitalize me.

The infection spread up my leg and into the lymph nodes in my groin making it damn near impossible to walk.  I made it into uniform and made it to the game but could not play.  I stayed in the dugout and cheered my team on.  We lost and I had to be carried to the car afterwards.  So that is my only memory of Rolley Lake.

It is quite improved with a very pleasant picnic area and beach and a trail that goes all the way around the lake on a boardwalk.  We started to trek around, but when we ran into the “Danger Cougar in Area” signs, we decided it would be better to turn back to where there were more people around.  Unfortunately, there were more signs saying “No Dogs Allowed” so we couldn’t get down to the water.

Back to the truck and off we went.  There was some thought of trying Stave Lake, but that is basically owned by BC Hydro and because of the Ruskin Dam, you can’t get in without a key.  So it was off to Whonnock Lake.  I thought it was in the States and the place where Caitlin and Trevor go, but that is Whatcom Lake.

We arrived at Whonnock Lake and again got the “No Dogs Allowed” sign, but there was an area away from the beach where he could go, so we went down to the water and Toby wandered right in to have a drink.  This was right near the beach where the bottom was sandy, but 10 feet to the left was a sign saying “Danger Swamp Conditions”.

As we went back to the truck we saw that the parking area was full and saw a bunch of young people in suits and evening dresses and discovered we were right in the middle of a wedding reception at the Whonnock Lake Centre where this is apparently a regular occurrence.  So on that note, it was back to the truck and back home, concluding our adventure for the day.

***UPDATE***

In a strange coincidence that fits into the category, small world, isn’t it?  I just discovered that the wedding reception that we saw at Whonnock Lake was attended by a friend of mine, who I play hockey with every Sunday morning and occasionally on Wednesdays as well.  Who knew?  I only found out yesterday, when someone posted photos of the wedding on Facebook and tagged Eric in them.  It would have been fun to walk up and say hello, without disrupting the wedding of course.  Me in my black shorts  and fluorescent orange T-shirt and he in a suit.