Close Encounters!
There are just a couple of highlights from our trip to Smithers today.

We were hoping we might see a Komode Bear (or Spirit Bear) as these are known to be resident in the area but we were not lucky this time. We did though see a Coyote at the side of the road and Jan took some great shots of it:

A short diversion from the appointed route took us to a First Nations museum village. Sorry, but we just didn't get it! It just looked like a small village to us that was in need of some funding to up-grade it. Sure, there were a few totem poles but not enough I fear to interest the casual adventurer.

But we did cross an interesting ravine on the way, over a scary bridge which was undergoing some repair:

Believe it or not, that's a pedestrian walkway along the side of the single lane road track and the side barrier is about two feet high. So falling off is a destinct possibility; particularly if there is an unexpected gust of wind! But your's truly made the perilous journey just to get a shot of the canyon. Completely bonkers!!

Talking of which, we have now arrived at our accommodation for the next four nights just outside Smithers. Well, when I say 'just outside Smithers', what I actually mean is that it's in the middle of nowhere. A nice enough place I guess if you like seclusion but not quite what we expected - thanks Booking.Com! So chances are we will either be forced to 'do nothing' for the next three days or we will just have to move on and take the hit financially - we shall see. Nice views of the mountains though!

Incidentally, the Yellowhead Highway along which we travelled to get here is known as the 'Highway of Tears'. I think it's because people just go missing - we have seen several 'reward' posters! It's a real wilderness out here and it would not be a good idea I think to be travelling alone.