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Sunrise in Hope,BC. Home that same evening

We finished our journey as we begun, on the shoulders of Summer. Crisp, sometimes frosty mornings, hot days, and cool evenings. In between we were baked in 34c in the Kootenays and 38c in New Brunswick, drenched in torrential downpours in Quebec with accompanying thunder and lightning (one strike far too close for comfort) and endured the odd hazy wildfires day in Ontario.

On our penultimate day, we drove the Coquihalla Highway, where a few days earlier a wildfire had closed the road.

Charred trees lined each side of the carriageway, and isolated plumes of smoke rose from parts of a still green forest untouched by the initial inferno.

On the far side of the mountain smoke billowed from the fire 'being held'. No sign of the frightening flames rushing up the sides of conifers or water bombers or indeed other activity trying to suppress the fire.

On the highway, incongruously, maintenance crews were renewing the white lines.

At our final overnight camp in Hope we walked down to the Coquihalla River to watch the spawning Pink Salmon thrash about in their literally dying dance as they birthed the next generation, shortly thereafter to be picked off by the crows and other carrion feeders as they gasped their last.

Jack, a 'bird dog' as they are called this side of the pond, is now a 'fish dog', and instinctively knew what he should be doing, before we hauled him out. He'd caught a couple by the dorsal fin. Smart dog. He was promptly ordered to 'leave' so they could complete their lifecycle. No sign of bears getting stuck in to the feast. We are told, that it's been a great season for the salmon runs. No statistics yet, but I'm sure they will emerge in time.

The scenery has provided the most amazing backdrop to our journey. We have enjoyed many beautiful sights, made new friends, been inspired by the geography, and helped by caring strangers when the odd challenge arose.

If asked what our favourite part of the journey was, our answer would be that it's impossible to say. The mountains of BC, the oil and grain prairies of Alberta and Saskatchewan, the rolling hills of Manitoba, the lakes of Ontario, 'vieux' Quebec city, the stunning coastline of PEI and Nova Scotia, the list goes on.

The enduring memory, will be the sheer scale of Canada. Driving on a dead straight roads for hundreds of kilometres and seeing only a handful of other vehicles; the days it took to drive across Ontario; the lakes, reed beds, creeks and rivers, rocky outcrops that provide the geographic relief to this amazing country.

And to know that at the end of our 19,991 kms we have not scratched the surface.

We have been travelling for 108 days, stayed at 48 campsites, visited 9 provinces and spent $7400 on fuel. The numbers though do not really convey the enormity of the trip.

The final leg of the trip was not without its challenges. After dropping the trailer at the dealer to get some pre-trip outstanding warranty work finished, we headed to Horseshoe Bay to get the ferry home. An early service notice advised that the upper loading ramp at our destination ferry terminal in Gibsons, was broken, so only the lower deck was being used (50% capacity loading). As we neared HSB, sailings were full until the last two late night ferries. Fearing they would be full before we got there and with 'gethomeitis' firmly set in, we left the truck at the terminal parkade (no idea why they don't call it a car park), re-packed limited carry-on gear and went over as foot passengers. Our Ottawa friends were on the Coast, so they gathered us up and dropped us home. Lifesavers!

With no food in the house and milk acquired from a neighbour, supper was a Dominos delivery pizza, as was breakfast the following morning! Friday I returned to pick up the truck. Saturday the chores commenced.

It is lovely to be home. To walk down to the beach and look across to Vancouver Island; to see the familiar sunrises and sunsets and catch up with friends.

We are already starting to think about next year. Back to parts of BC and Alberta, the Icefields Parkway, Jasper and Banff and then on up to the Yukon, or maybe the Yukon will have to be yet another trip. Probably not another four month trip though!

As I finish this last blog of our journey, the crickets are chirping and the skies clouding over. Tonight it is due to rain and quench the parched Sunshine Coast that has enjoyed only one day of rain while we have been away.